I. ˈshend transitive verb
( shent -nt ; shent ; shending ; shends )
Etymology: Middle English shenden, from Old English scendan; akin to Old Frisian skenda to shame, disgrace, Old Saxon skendian, Old High German scenten; causative-denominative from the root of Old English scand shame, disgrace, Old Frisian skande, Old High German scanta, Gothic skanda; akin to Old English scamu shame — more at shame
1. archaic
a. : to confuse, confound, or put to shame especially by superiority
Cynthia doth shend the lesser stars — Edmund Spenser
b. : to get the better of (as in battle or argument) : discomfit
2. archaic : to subject to reproach : reprove , revile
I am shent for speaking to you — Shakespeare
3. chiefly dialect
a. : injure , mar , harm
b. : ruin , destroy
the withered crown will soon slide down a skull all bleached and shent — G.M.Hopkins
II. transitive verb
Etymology: perhaps alteration (influenced by shend ) (I) of shield (II)
obsolete : protect , shield , defend