tend
1 (tĕnd)
[Middle English tenden, from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere.]
intransitive verb: 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.
tend
2 (tĕnd)
[Middle English tenden, short for attenden, to wait on; see attend.]
verb: tend·ed, tend·ing, tends.
transitive verb
- 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.
intransitive verb
- To be an attendant or servant.
- To apply one's attention; attend: no time to tend to my diary.
synonyms:
tend2attend, mind, minister, watch 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.
