Word definition: tend

Etimology


From Middle English *tenden, from Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”), from Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).

verb


tend (third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended)

(law, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.

(followed by a to-infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning. [from mid-14th c.]

(intransitive) To contribute to or toward some outcome.

Examples


They tend to go out on Saturdays.

It tends to snow here in winter.

The Lords in 1722 declared that annexing such Clauses tends to the destruction of this government. And yet there are such bills every session and you pass them.

Related words


related terms

tense

tension

tent

intend

Etimology


From Middle English tenden, by apheresis of attenden (“to attend”). More at attend.

verb


tend (third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended)

(with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.) [from early 14th c.]

To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.

To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.

(obsolete) To await; to expect.

(obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.

(transitive, nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

Examples


We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.

Shepherds tend their flocks.

There's not a sparrow or a wren, / There's not a blade of autumn grain, / Which the four seasons do not tend / And tides of life and increase lend.

Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for that of the being which she tends.

Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?

Had I not. Four or five women once that tended me?

Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.

Related words


synonyms

(to look after): care for, minister to, nurse, see to, take care of

(to accompany as an assistant): guard, look after, watch

(to wait upon): See also Thesaurus:serve

(to await): See also Thesaurus:wait for

(to be attentive to): attend to

(to manage when the tide turns):

Etimology


From Middle English tenden, from Old English tendan (“to kindle, set on fire”) (usually in compounds ātendan, fortendan, ontendan), from Proto-Germanic *tandijaną (“to kindle”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Danish tænde (“to kindle”), Swedish tända (“to ignite”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (tandjan, “to kindle”), Icelandic tendra (“to ignite”), German zünden (“to light, ignite, fire”). Related to tinder.

verb


tend (third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended)

(transitive, now chiefly dialectal) To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.

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