First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
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
3
: to stand by (as a rope) in readiness to prevent mischance (as fouling)
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Origin of TEND
Middle English, short for attenden to attend
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>
Origin of TEND
Middle English, to stretch, direct oneself, from Anglo-French tendre — more at tender
First Known Use: 14th century
TENDING Defined for Kids
1tend
verb \ˈtend\
tend·edtend·ing
Definition of TEND for Kids
1
: to take care of <She tends the garden.>
2
: to pay attention <You should tend to business.>
3
: to manage the operation of <Who's tending the store?>
2tend
verb
tendedtending
Definition of TEND for Kids
1
: to be likely <She tends to sleep late.>
2
: to move or turn in a certain direction <The road tends to the right.>
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