Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Tend

Tend

,
Verb.
T.
[See
Tender
to offer.]
(O. Eng. Law)
To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
[Obs.]

Tend

,
Verb.
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

,
Verb.
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?
Shakespeare
2.
[F.
attendre
.]
To await; to expect.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Tend

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

Webster 1828 Edition

Tend

TEND

,
Verb.
T.
[contracted from attend, L. attendo; ad and tendo, to stretch.]
1.
To watch; to guard; to accompany as an assistant or protector.
And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge--
There is a pleasure in that simplicity, in beholding princes tending their flocks.
2.
To hold and take care of; as, to tend a child.
3.
To be attentive to.
Unsuck'd of lamb or kid that tend their play.

TEND

,
Verb.
T.
[L. tendo; teneo.]
1.
To move in a certain direction.
Having overheard two gentlemen tending towards that sight--
Here Dardanus was born, and hither tends.
2.
To be directed to any end or purpose; to aim at; to have or give a leaning.
The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind.
3.
To contribute. Our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction.
4.
[for attend.] To attend; to wait as attendants or servants.
He tends upon my father. [Colloquial.]
5.
To attend as something inseparable. [Not in use.]
6.
To wait; to expect. [Not in use.]
7.
To swing round an anchor, as a ship.

Similar Results