to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
2.
to give (money) on condition that it is returned and that interest is paid for its temporary use.
3.
to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully: to lend one's aid to a cause.
4.
to adapt (oneself or itself) to something: The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.
5.
to furnish or impart: Distance lends enchantment to the view.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to make a loan.
—Idiom
7.
lend a hand, to give help; aid: If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME lenden, var. (orig. past tense) of lenen, OE lǣnan (c. D lenen, G lehnen, ON lāna), deriv. of lǣn loan; c. G Lehnen, ON lān.See loan1]
[Middle English lenden, alteration of lenen (on the model of such verbs as senden, to send, whose past participle sent rhymed with lent, past participle of lenen), from Old English lǣnan; see leikw- in Indo-European roots.]
O.E. lænan "to lend," from læn "loan" (see loan). Cognate with Du. lenen, O.H.G. lehanon, Ger. lehnen, also verbs derived from nouns. Past tense form, with terminal -d, became principal form in M.E. on analogy of bend, send, etc.
bestow a quality on; "Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company"; "The music added a lot to the play"; "She brings a special atmosphere to our meetings"; "This adds a light note to the program"
2.
give temporarily; let have for a limited time; "I will lend you my car"; "loan me some money" [ant: borrow]
3.
have certain characteristics of qualities for something; be open or vulnerable to; "This story would lend itself well to serialization on television"; "The current system lends itself to great abuse"
Lend\ (l[e^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lent (l[e^]nt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lending.] [OE. lenen, AS. l[=ae]nan, fr. l[=ae]n loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan.]1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book; -- opposed to borrow. Give me that ring. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power To give it from me. --Shak. 2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. --Levit. xxv. 37. 3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence. Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. --Addison. Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions. --J. A. Symonds. 4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig. Note: This use of the word is rare in the United States, except with reference to money. To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.] To lendan ear or one's ears, to give attention.
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Audio Help [lend] Pronunciation Key verb, lent, lend·ing. 
