tend

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To usually do something or be likely to behave in a certain way.

   They tend to go out for dinner on Saturdays.

2. 2
   verb

   To take care of someone or something.

   She spent the morning tending to her garden.

From Middle English tenden, from Old English tendan (“to kindle, set on fire”) (usually in compounds ātendan, fortendan, ontendan), from Proto-Germanic *tandijaną (“to kindle”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Danish tænde (“to kindle”), Swedish tända (“to ignite”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (tandjan, “to kindle”), Icelandic tendra (“to ignite”), German zünden (“to light, ignite, fire”). Related to tinder.

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