tend

tend
tend1
/tend/, v.i.
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.
[1300-50; ME tenden < MF tendre < L tendere to stretch, extend, proceed]
tend2
/tend/, v.t.
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. Naut. to handle or attend to (a rope).
v.i.
4. to attend by action, care, etc. (usually fol. by to).
5. tend on or upon, Archaic. to attend or wait upon; minister to; serve: She tended on the sick and dying with infinite compassion.
[1300-50; ME tenden, aph. var. of ATTEND]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tend — tend …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • tend — [ tend ] verb *** 1. ) intransitive to usually do a particular thing: tend to do something: He tends to exaggerate. The gym tends to get very busy at around six o clock. We tend to take technology for granted nowadays. These arguments tend merely …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tend — W1S1 [tend] v [Sense: 1, 3, 5; Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: tendre to stretch , from Latin tendere] [Sense: 2, 4; Date: 1100 1200; Origin: attend] 1.) tend to do sth if something tends to happen, it happens often and is likely to happen …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tend — tend1 [tend] vt. [ME tenden, aphetic < attenden: see ATTEND] 1. to take care of; minister to; watch over; look after; attend to [to tend plants or animals, to tend the sick] 2. to be in charge of or at work at; manage or operate [to tend a… …   English World dictionary

  • tend — /tend/ verb 1 tend to do sth to often do a particular thing, especially something that is bad or annoying, and to be likely to do it again: Sally tends to interfere in other people s business. | The car does tend to overheat. 2 tend towards sth… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • tend — tend, attend, mind, watch are comparable when they mean to take charge of or look after someone or something especially as a duty or in return for remuneration. Tend usually retains some notion of an earlier sense in which it means to pay… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • tend*/*/*/ — [tend] verb 1) [I] to usually do a particular thing He tends to exaggerate.[/ex] I tend not to go out so much in the winter.[/ex] 2) [I/T] to take care of someone or something Eddie kept himself busy tending the garden.[/ex] Doctors were tending… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • Tend — Tend, v. i. 1. To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; with on or upon. [1913 Webster] Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. [F. attendre.] To await; to expect. [Obs.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tend — Ⅰ. tend [1] ► VERB 1) frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic. 2) go or move in a particular direction. ORIGIN Latin tendere stretch, tend . Ⅱ. tend [2] ► …   English terms dictionary

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