I. ˈtend 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)
II. intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, to stretch, direct oneself, from Anglo-French tendre — more at tender
Date: 14th century
1. : to move, direct, or develop one's course in a particular direction
cannot tell where society is tend ing
2. : to exhibit an inclination or tendency : conduce
tend s to be optimistic