Crossword Genius

Sore head getting gentle treatment (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tenderness

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'gentle treatment' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'sore head getting' is the wordplay.
'sore' becomes 'tender' (synonyms).
'head' becomes 'ness' (type of geographical point).
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'tender'+'ness'='TENDERNESS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tenderness that I've seen before include "Compassion" , "Heart" , "sore?" , "Gentleness, sensitivity" , "Gentle quality" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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