v.
Pronunciation: ' tend
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, short for attenden to attend
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 archaic : LISTEN
2 : to pay attention : apply oneself < tend to your own affairs> < tend to our correspondence>
3 : to act as an attendant : SERVE < tend ed to his wife>
4 obsolete : AWAIT
transitive verb
1 archaic : to attend as a servant
2 a : to apply oneself to the care of : watch over < tend ed her sick father> b : to have or take charge of as a caretaker or overseer < tend the sheep> c : CULTIVATE , FOSTER d : to manage the operations of : MIND < tend the store> < tend the fire>
3 : to stand by (as a rope) in readiness to prevent mischance (as fouling)