fend
verbnounnounattested in dialogue
- //ˈfɛnd//
- /[ˈfɛnd]/
- //ˈfɪnd//
- /[ˈfɪ̟nd]/
To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
verb
- 1
To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
The planet was full of creatures in need, who could not really fend, and the law was at its best when it ensured that they were treated with dignity.
- 2
rareTo defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with off).
With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
He fends, he blocks, too skillful to be downed.
“[…] My age is lot like yours. Lone women do not fare well. If I were not there to fend for you, you—”
Etymology
From Middle English fenden (“defend, fight, prevent”), shortening of defenden (“defend”), from Old French deffendre (Modern French défendre), from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off”), from dē- + *fendō (“hit, thrust”), from Proto-Italic *fendō, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen- (“strike, kill”).
noun
- 1
obsoleteSelf-support; taking care of one's own well-being.
noun
- 1
An enemy; fiend; the Devil.
Etymology
From Middle English fēnd, feond, from Old English fēond (“adversary, foe, enemy, fiend, devil, Satan”), from Proto-Germanic *fijandz, present participle of *fijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hate”). More at fiend.
Forms
- plural
- fends
- past tense
- fended
- past participle
- fended
- present participle
- fending
- third person singular
- fends
fend · To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
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