Also 4–7 tende, (5 tenne). Pa. t. and pple. tended (5 tende). [Aphetic form of ATTEND v., ENTEND v., INTEND v., F. attendre, entendre, which largely ran together in sense in OF. and ME.]
† 1. To turn one’s ear, give auditory attention, listen, hearken; = ATTEND v. 1. a. intr. Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 2542 (Gött.). Abram … all bad till him tendand [Cott. tentand] be.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 7. Tend yee tytely to mee & take goode heede.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg., 99. To þe ten heestis y haue not tende Þoruȝ slouþe, wraþþe, & glotenie.
a. 1500. Friar & Boy, 6 in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 60. God … gyue them good lyfe and longe That lysteneth to my songe, Or tendeth to my tale.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. i. 8. Take in the toppe-sale: Tend to th’ Masters whistle.
1816. G. Muir, Clydesdale Minstr., 61. ’Tend to my plaint, ye bonny lasses.
† b. trans. To turn one’s ear to, listen to. Obs.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 997. Whan þis tale was tolde & tended of all.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 365. Tale tende we non þat turneþ to harme.
2. To turn the mind, attention, or energies; to apply oneself. a. intr. with to, unto: to attend to, look after (a thing, business, etc.); = ATTEND 2, 4. Obs. exc. dial.
13[?]. Cursor M., 255. (Gött.). Sum quat to þat thing to tende [C. tent] Þat þai þair mede may wid amende.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 655. Þat scheo tende to no þynge elles.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5122. Þe Amyral … ne miȝt noȝt tendy þer-to.
c. 1460. Play Sacram., 195. Ye owe tenderli to tende me tylle.
1523–4. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 323. For blowyng the Orgons and tendyng to the chirch euery sonday, to haue ij d.
1901. Cornh. Mag., Nov., 678. Some folks … cassn’t be satisfite wi’ ‘tendin’ to their own [business].
1901. J. Prior, Forest Folk, ii. 14. To let me tend to the commoners first.
† b. with inf. To turn one’s attention, apply oneself to do something; = ATTEND v. 4 d, INTEND v. 9.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 14100. Þey tenden nought hem self to fende.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 846. Ȝe tende nauht to tulye þe erþe.
1623. Whitbourne, Newfoundland, 82. Three men may fetch a-land salt, and tend to wash fish, and dry the same.
1682. Bunyan, Greatness Soul, Wks. 1853, I. 136. He could tend to do nothing but to find out how to be clothed in purple and fine-linen. Ibid. (a. 1688), Accept. Sacrif., ibid. 691. There is none else that either understand or that can tend to hearken to Him…. But now the broken in heart can tend it.
c. trans. To attend to, mind (a thing); = ATTEND v. 4, INTEND v. 12. Now rare.
1549. Chaloner, Erasm. on Folly, O ij. How many princes … dooe … onely tende theyr owne pleasure.
1594. Barnfield, Affect. Sheph., II. lvi. Speake ill of no man, tend thine owne affaires.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, iv. § 6 (1727), 224. We rest also that we may tend holy duties.
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 7. To tend Her household cares, a woman’s best employment.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. i. 11. Your business … will be best tended in this way.
1866. Jul. Kavanagh, Sybil’s Second Love, i. Tending the fire.
1881. J. Long, Eastern Prov., 14. If a dog enters a house will he tend the hearth?
3. trans. To apply oneself to the care and service of (a person); now esp. to watch over and wait upon, to minister to (the sick or helpless); ATTEND v. 6, INTEND v. II b.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxv. 539. I … praye you that ye tende well my children.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. xviii. 520. Jeoly … had been sick for 3 months: in all which time I tended him as carefully, as if he had been my Brother.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 91. Our humbler province is to tend the Fair.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1840), 84. Nurses to tend those that were sick.
1805. Scott, Last Minstr., I. Introd. ii. That they should tend the old man well.
b. To have the care and oversight of; to take charge of, look after (a flock, herd, etc.); = ATTEND v. 5. Said also (now dial. and U.S.) of a shop, toll-gate, bridge, etc.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, iv. (1570), C iv. Nedes must a Shepheard bestowe his whole labour In tending his flockes.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 31. So many Houres, must I tend my Flocke.
1602. Rowlands, Tis Merrie, 16. My Husband’s forth, our Shoppe must needes be tended.
1702. Pope, Sappho, 100. Bid Endymion nightly tend his sheep.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., IV. i. Gurth could only tend pigs.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 359. The horses had been ill fed and ill tended among the Grampians.
1889. Farmer, Dict. Amer., s.v., Shops, stores, and businesses of every description are in America tended and not kept.
c. To bestow attention upon, attend to; esp. to foster, cultivate (a plant, etc.); to work or mind (a pump, a machine, etc.).
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 95. 367. By peace … gardens, vineyards, and other like fruitfull places [are] tended.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 206. Well may we labour still to dress This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb, and Flour.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3915/3. The Men … not being able to tend the Pumps, she sunk.
1838. Arnold, Hist. Rome, I. xi. 203. This Lucius Quinctius let his hair grow, and tended it carefully.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., x. He … tended the graves hewn in the living stone.
1885. S. Cox, Expositions, xxix. 386. Always seeking to multiply the seed they sow and tend.
1895. Austin, Sunday at Home, XLII. 535/1. You will tend your garden with your own hands and discover its needs with your own heart.
4. To wait upon as attendant or servant; to attend on; to escort, follow, or accompany for the purpose of rendering service or giving assistance; = ATTEND v. 7. Now dial.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4534. Appollo with a quite swan is paid him to tende.
c. 1500[?]. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 418. It is ordered … that the new Mayor tenne the old Mayorat his owne house and goe home with the sword before him.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. i. 93. Go thou to Richard, and good Angels tend thee.
a. 1625. Fletcher, etc., Fair Maid Inn, II. ii. By your leave, Sir, I’ll tend my master, and instantly be with you.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xii. 248. The man that tended the carpenter had a great iron ladle in his hand.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., A mason’s labourer always describes his work ‘I do tend masons.’
b. intr. To attend on or upon; spec. to wait at table; = ATTEND v. 7 b, c. Also fig.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 304. Three-fold Vengeance tend vpon your steps.
1641. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 117. The bridegroome and the brides brothers or freinds tende att dinner.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 41. Not [to] expect till Elisha tend upon him.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1840), 106. I tend on them, to fetch things for them.
1818. Mrs. Shelley, Frankenst., i. (1865), 35. I loved to tend on her.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1772. And Enid tended on him there.
5. trans. To give one’s presence at (a meeting, ceremony, etc.); = ATTEND v. 12. Now dial. and U.S. Also intr. with † of (obs.), on (dial.).
1460. Rolls of Parlt., V. 375/1. So that the seid Waulter may tende daily of this youre Parlement, as his dute is to doo.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1676), 290. Cato said that Scipio … tended Plays, Comedies, and Wrestlings.
1801. H. Macneill, Poet. Wks. (1856), 220 (E.D.D.). Our lads are doing little but tending the drill.
18[?]. Maj. Jones’s Trav. (Bartlett). Most of the passengers in the cars were preachers what had been up to Augusta to tend the convention.
1890. Dialect Notes, I. I. 22 U.S. One ‘tends out on’ church, ‘tends out on’ the public library.
1901. El. G. Hayden, Trav. Round our Vill., x. 168. I ’tends church reg’lar!
6. trans. † To wait for, await; to look out for expectantly; = ATTEND v. 13; also, to watch, observe (obs.); in dial. use, to watch for and scare away (birds), = TENT v.1 6.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. § 3. 182. Then tend thy turne, when neighbors housen burne.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. xiv. 85. Tending the Sun until he be upon the Meridian.
1675. Bunyan, Light in Darkr., 178. Now the Soul can tend to look about it, and thus consider with it self.
1818. Keats, Endymion, II. 185. By all the stars That tend thy bidding.
1875. Sussex Gloss., s.v., He goos to work rook-tending, and he comes home of nights that hoarse that you can’t hardly hear him speak.
† b. absol. or intr. To wait in expectation or readiness; = ATTEND v. 16. Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 83. The time inuites you, goe, your seruants tend. Ibid., IV. iii. 47. The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe, Th’ Associates tend.
7. To have it in the mind as a purpose to do something; = INTEND v. 18. (Cf. ATTEND v. IV.) Obs. exc. dial. (After 1500 chiefly Sc.)
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 1128. Now tende we to touche more of þis tale.
c. 1500. Melusine, 128. We tende & purpose to gyue bataylle to the Sawdan.
1525. Sc. Acts Jas. V. (1814), II. 293/2. I neuir as ȝit did hir grace ony harme … nor neuer tendis to do.
1580. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 291. Tending … to be fugitive fra the law.
a. 1615. Cron. Erlis of Ross (1850), 6. The sepulture of his fathers, quhair he tendit to be buryed.
1897. R. M. Gilchrist, Peakland Faggot, 95. Happen he ’ll know as he ’s i’ my mind, an’ as I ’m tendin’ to do well for them as he ’s left behind.
1900. N. Lloyd, Chronic Loafer, i. 13 (U.S.). I didn’t ’tend to open it, but final I thot it wasn’t safe to go mailin’ letters ’thout knowin’ jest what was in ’em, so I read it.
† 8. trans. To understand or apprehend (a matter, a word, etc.); = INTEND v. IV, ME. entende, F. entendre. Obs.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 21803 (Fairf.). Qua-sim þis tale can beter tende [Cott. a-tend] For cristis loue he hit amende.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 434. The siluer in the samyn half, trewly to tend, Is cleir corage in armes.
Hence Tending vbl. sb.1 and ppl. a.; tending-string, a leading-string; tending boy, a boy employed to ‘tend’ or scare birds.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. v. 38. One of my fellowes … almost dead for breath … Giue him tending, He brings great newes.
1816. T. Chalmers, in Hanna, Mem. (1849), II. iv. 81. The shrubbery, in absence of the tending hand, had become a tangled wilderness.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 73. The cowboy … Leading tam’d cattle in their tending-strings.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. viii. In its tending of the sick.
1898. Agric. Gaz., 7 March, 276/3. I am dressing the seed with tar, otherwise tending boys would be at a premium.
1909. London, The Wit of Porportuk, in Lady’s Realm, XXV. Feb., 466/1. All dwellers on the Yukon bank, for twice a thousand miles, knew the large log-house, the old man, and the tending slaves.
