tend
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Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
tend¹
- /ˈtɛnd/
- /ˈtɪnd/ pin pen merger
Rhymes with -ɛnd
Where it comes from
From Middle English tenden, from Middle French tendre, from Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”), from Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).
verb tends · tending · tended
- To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
- To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning. They tend to go out on Saturdays.
- To contribute to or toward some outcome. She had found in her everything that could tend to make a farther connection between the families undesirable.
tend²
- /ˈtɛnd/
- /ˈtɪnd/ pin pen merger
Rhymes with -ɛnd
Where it comes from
From Middle English tenden (“to pay attention to”), by apheresis of attenden (“to attend”) or entenden (“to intend”). More at attend and intend.
verb tends · tending · tended · 'tend
- To look after (e.g. an ill person.) We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.
- To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard. Shepherds tend their flocks.
- To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend. Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?
- To await; to expect. Had I not. Four or five women once that tended me?
- To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to. Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.
- To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.
tend³
- /ˈtɛnd/
- /ˈtɪnd/ pin pen merger
Rhymes with -ɛnd
Where it comes from
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 tends · tending · tended · teend · tende
- To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.
