See Also: tend(1)(dictionary)
tend(2)(dictionary)
tend(dictionary)
tend(dictionary)

tend (iou)



tend verb2. ME.
[Old & mod. French tendre from Latin tendere stretch.]
I.
verb intrans. Direct a course, move or be inclined to move. (Foll. by from, to, towards.) ME.
P. Matthiessen The path tends west around small mountains.
verb intrans. fig. Be disposed to acquire or come finally to some quality, state, opinion, etc. Foll. by to, towards. LME.
Atlantic His poetry tending toward the Byronic.
verb intrans. Lead or conduce to some state, action, or result; loosely be apt or inclined to or to do. M16.
G. Vidal Such things tended to bore her. B. Bettelheim Children tend to dress..and talk like TV characters they admire.
Nautical.
a. verb intrans. Of a ship at anchor: swing round with the tide or wind. L18.
b. verb trans. Turn (a ship at anchor) with the tide or wind. L18.
II.
verb intrans.
a. Extend or reach (to). obsolete. LME-E18.
b. Math. Foll. by to: (of a variable, series, function, etc.) approach a given quantity as a limit. L19.
verb trans. Offer, proffer; provide, supply. Long obsolete exc. dial. L15.
verb trans. & intrans. Relate or refer to or to; concern. L16-M17.
verb trans. Stretch, make taut; set (a trap etc.). M17-L18.