Main Entry: ¹tend

Pronunciation: \ˈtend\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, short for attenden to attend

Date: 14th century

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 : awaittransitive 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)