tend

v. i. [ F. tendre, L. tendere, tensum and tentum, to stretch, extend, direct one's course, tend; akin to Gr. &unr_; to stretch, Skr. tan. See Thin, and cf. Tend to attend, Contend, Intense, Ostensible, Portent, Tempt, Tender to offer, Tense, a. ] 1. To move in a certain direction; -- usually with to or towards. [ 1913 Webster ]

Two gentlemen tending towards that sight. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus will this latter, as the former world,
Still tend from bad to worse. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clouds above me to the white Alps tend. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose; to aim; to have or give a leaning; to exert activity or influence; to serve as a means; to contribute; as, our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction. [ 1913 Webster ]

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. Prov. xxi. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; -- with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ F. attendre. ] To await; to expect. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tended; p. pr. & vb. n. Tending. ] [ Aphetic form of attend. See Attend, Tend to move, and cf. Tender one that tends or attends. ] 1. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And flaming ministers to watch and tend
Their earthly charge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

There 's not a sparrow or a wren,
There 's not a blade of autumn grain,
Which the four seasons do not tend
And tides of life and increase lend. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being to descend
A ladder much in height, I did not tend
My way well down. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tend a vessel (Naut.), to manage an anchored vessel when the tide turns, so that in swinging she shall not entangle the cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Tend to attend, and cf. Attendance. ] 1. The act of attending or waiting; attendance. [ Archaic ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The breath
Of her sweet tendance hovering over him. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Persons in attendance; attendants. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Tendency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Tendencies [ L. tendents, -entis, p. pr. of tendere: cf. F. tendance. See Tend to move. ] Direction or course toward any place, object, effect, or result; drift; causal or efficient influence to bring about an effect or result. [ 1913 Webster ]

Writings of this kind, if conducted with candor, have a more particular tendency to the good of their country. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

In every experimental science, there is a tendency toward perfection. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Disposition; inclination; proneness; drift; scope; aim. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tendered p. pr. & vb. n. Tendering. ] [ F. tendre to stretch, stretch out, reach, L. tendere. See Tend to move. ] 1. (Law) To offer in payment or satisfaction of a demand, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture; as, to tender the amount of rent or debt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To offer in words; to present for acceptance. [ 1913 Webster ]

You see how all conditions, how all minds, . . . tender down
Their services to Lord Timon. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Tenderer superl. Tenderest. ] [ F. tendre, L. tener; probably akin to tenuis thin. See Thin. ] 1. Easily impressed, broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our faces. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship; immature; effeminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tender and delicate woman among you. Deut. xxviii. 56. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Susceptible of the softer passions, as love, compassion, kindness; compassionate; pitiful; anxious for another's good; easily excited to pity, forgiveness, or favor; sympathetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am choleric by my nature, and tender by my temper. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Exciting kind concern; dear; precious. [ 1913 Webster ]

I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender to me as my soul! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; -- with of. “Tender of property.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Unwilling to cause pain; gentle; mild. [ 1913 Webster ]

You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,
Will never do him good. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic; as, tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate; as, a tender subject. “Things that are tender and unpleasing.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Naut.) Heeling over too easily when under sail; -- said of a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Tender is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, tender-footed, tender-looking, tender-minded, tender-mouthed, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Delicate; effeminate; soft; sensitive; compassionate; kind; humane; merciful; pitiful. [ 1913 Webster ]