TEND - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Verb
have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
Example: She tends to be nervous before her lectures; These dresses run small; He inclined to corpulence
Categories: Be
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Verb
have care of or look after
Example: She tends to the children
Categories: Attend, Take care, Look, See
Meaning 3
Part of speech: Verb
manage or run
Example: tend a store
Categories: Take care, Mind
Synonyms
Run, Lean, Tend, Be given, Incline
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "tend" comes from Proto-Germanic *tandijaną. It started in Old English tendan. Then it appeared in Middle English tenden. Later, people used it in Middle English tenden. After that, it was Latin tendere. Over time, it became Old French tendre. Finally, it reached Middle English *tenden. Many other languages have similar words:.
- Danish: tænde
- Swedish: tända
- Gothic: 𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽
- Icelandic: tendra
- German: zünden
🔗 Related Words
attend – A related word in the same word family.
tinder – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Each language in this chain added phonetic changes that transformed the original sound.