Tend Definition | Definition of Tend at Dictionary.com

tend

1 [tend]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to be disposed or inclined in action, operation, or effect to do something: The particles tend to unite.

2.	to be disposed toward an idea, emotion, way of thinking, etc.: He tends to be overly optimistic. Her religious philosophy tends toward pantheism.

3.	to lead or conduce, as to some result or resulting condition: measures tending to improved working conditions; Governments are tending toward democracy.

4.	to be inclined to or have a tendency toward a particular quality, state, or degree: This wine tends toward the sweet side.

5.	(of a journey, course, road, etc.) to lead or be directed in a particular direction (usually fol. by to, toward, etc.): a path tending toward the beach.

Origin:
1300–50; ME tenden < MF tendre < L tendere to stretch, extend, proceed

tend

2 [tend]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to attend to by work or services, care, etc.: to tend a fire.

2.	to look after; watch over and care for; minister to or wait on with service: to tend the sick.

3.	Nautical. to handle or attend to (a rope).

–verb (used without object)

4.	to attend by action, care, etc. (usually fol. by to).

—Verb phrase

5.	tend on or upon, Archaic. to attend or wait upon; minister to; serve: She tended on the sick and dying with infinite compassion.

Origin:
1300–50; ME tenden, aph. var. of attend

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tend¹ (těnd)

intr.v. tend·ed, tend·ing, tends

To have a tendency: paint that tends toward bubbling and peeling over time.
To be disposed or inclined: tends toward exaggeration.
To move or extend in a certain direction: Our ship tended northward.

[Middle English tenden, from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

tend² (těnd)

v. tend·ed, tend·ing, tends

v. tr.

To have the care of; watch over; look after: tend a child.
To manage the activities and transactions of; run: tend bar; tend a store in the owner's absence.

v. intr.

To be an attendant or servant.
To apply one's attention; attend: no time to tend to my diary.

[Middle English tenden, short for attenden, to wait on; see attend.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to have the care or supervision of: tended her plants; attends the sick; minded the unreliable furnace; ministered to flood victims; watched the house while the owners were away.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Tend

Tend\, v. t. [See Tender to offer.] (O. Eng. Law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender. [Obs.]

Tend

Tend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tended; p. pr. & vb. n. Tending.] [Aphetic form of attend. See Attend, Tend to move, and cf. Tender one that tends or attends.]

1. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks. --Shak.

And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthly charge. --Milton.

There 's not a sparrow or a wren, There 's not a blade of autumn grain, Which the four seasons do not tend And tides of life and increase lend. --Emerson.

2. 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. --Chapman.

To tend a vessel (Naut.), to manage an anchored vessel when the tide turns, so that in swinging she shall not entangle the cable.

Tend

Tend\, v. i. 1. To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; -- with on or upon.

Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? --Shak.

2. [F. attendre.] To await; to expect. [Obs.] --Shak.

Tend

Tend\, v. i. [F. tendre, L. tendere, tensum and tentum, to stretch, extend, direct one's course, tend; akin to Gr. ? to stretch, Skr. tan. See Thin, and cf. Tend to attend, Contend, Intense, Ostensible, Portent, Tempt, Tender to offer, Tense, a.]

1. To move in a certain direction; -- usually with to or towards.

Two gentlemen tending towards that sight. --Sir H. Wotton.

Thus will this latter, as the former world, Still tend from bad to worse. --Milton.

The clouds above me to the white Alps tend. --Byron.

2. To be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose; to aim; to have or give a leaning; to exert activity or influence; to serve as a means; to contribute; as, our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction.

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. --Prov. xxi. 5.

The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind. --Tillotson.

Language Translation for : tend

Spanish: guardar,

German: sich kümmern um,hüten,

Japanese: 世話をする

More Translations »

tend (1)

"to incline, to move in a certain direction," c.1350, from O.Fr. tendre "stretch, hold forth, offer" (11c.), from L. tendere "to aim, stretch, extend" (see tenet).

tend (2)

"attend to," c.1330, aphetic of M.E. atenden (see attend).

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