1896, Daniel DeLeon, Reform or Revolution? (An address delivered at Wells’ Memorial Hall, Boston, Mass.January 26), Remember the adage that the tenderhanded surgeon makes stinging wounds, and lengthens the period of suffering and pain. The surgeon that has a firm hand to push the knife as deep as it ought to go, and pulls it out, and lets the pus flow out, that surgeon makes clean wounds, shortens pain, brings cure quickly about.
1961, Motive - Volume 22, A foreign government always has to be rather tenderhanded in dealing with its subjects, because foreign rule is always rather explosive.
2005, Nitoo Das, Love Song: IX, A playsure, an erasure/a damn cocksure toiffurier./Leave me to my/bewoahing, you tenderhanded hoisterier.
Adverb
tenderhanded
1832, Aaron Hill, The Nettle, Tenderhanded, press a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Press it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains : So it is with vulgar natures, Treat them kindly they repel, — Use them rough, like nutmeg graters, And the rogues will serve you well.
