Starts to display overly tender emotions, say (5)
I believe the answer is:
dotes
'starts to display overly tender emotions say' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'starts to display overly tender emotions say' is the wordplay.
'starts to' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'display overly tender emotions say' is 'DOTES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dotes that I've seen before include "Showers affection on" , "Showers with love" , "-- on, adores" , "Shows excessive love" , "Shows great fondness, perhaps for spouse" .)