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

²tend

intransitive verb

Definition of TEND

1

: to move, direct, or develop one's course in a particular direction <cannot tell where society is tending>

2

: to exhibit an inclination or tendency : conduce <tends to be optimistic>

Origin of TEND

Middle English, to stretch, direct oneself, from Anglo-French tendre — more at tender

First Known Use: 14th century