I. ˈlend verb
( lent -nt ; lent ; lending ; lends )
Etymology: Middle English lenden, alteration (influenced by past lende, after such pairs as Middle English sende sent : senden to send) of lenen, from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn loan — more at loan
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give into another's keeping for temporary use on condition that the borrower return the same or its equivalent
the purser has kindly lent us excellent binoculars — W.R.Benet
some 46 works lent by museums and private collectors — Harvard Foundation Newsletter
b. : to let out (money) for temporary use on condition that it be repaid with interest at an agreed time
it is sometimes said that the capitalists who lent the government the money for the war deserve the hire of it — G.B.Shaw
commercial banks were obliged … to reduce their investments in securities in order to lend more in advances to customers — World Economic Survey
c. : to place (a subordinate) at the disposal of another for temporary service
he was lent by the army to the Institute of Inter-American Affairs as a specialist — New York Times
— compare loan I 2b
2.
a. : to give the assistance or support of : add , afford , furnish , provide , supply
his teaching … had lent to Oxford thought much of its early originality and distinction — G.G.Coulton
contributed much to the development of the cog railroad … lending his mechanical ability to the problems encountered — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
b. : to devote the use or effort of (as a part of the body or a faculty of the mind)
the young king seemed to lend a willing ear — George Eliot
lend a hand to those in charge of these schools — J.B.Conant
lent eager attention to these hopeful projections
lends a courteous arm to woman or child
c. : to adapt or apply (oneself or itself) : accommodate , offer
the peoples lent themselves to the nearest leader in their quest for salvation as a group — Francis Hackett
a buggy exhibit did not lend itself to much exciting variation — Ben Riker
hypotheses which lend themselves to the straining of facts in their support — Edward Clodd
3. dialect chiefly Britain : to deal or deliver (a blow) to someone
intransitive verb
: to make a loan
II. noun
( -s )
dialect : temporary possession and use by a borrower : loan
the lend of her brass fender — Mary Lavin