tend

¹tend

verb \ˈtend\

Definition of TEND

intransitive verb

1

archaic : listen

2

: to pay attention : apply oneself <tend to your own affairs> <tend to our correspondence>

3

: to act as an attendant : serve <tended to his wife>

4

obsolete : await

transitive verb

1

archaic : to attend as a servant

2

a : to apply oneself to the care of : watch over <tended her sick father> b : to have or take charge of as a caretaker or overseer <tend the sheep> c : cultivate, foster d : to manage the operations of : mind <tend the store> <tend the fire>

3

: to stand by (as a rope) in readiness to prevent mischance (as fouling)

Origin of TEND

Middle English, short for attenden to attend

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with TEND

bend, blend, blende, end, fend, friend, lend, mend, rend, scend, send, shend, spend, trend, vend, wend, Wend