Tending

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tend \Tend\, 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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tending
       adj : (usually followed by `to') naturally disposed toward; "he is
             apt to ignore matters he considers unimportant"; "I am
             not minded to answer any questions" [syn: {apt(p)}, {disposed(p)},
              {given(p)}, {minded(p)}, {tending(p)}]
       n : the work of caring for or attending to someone or something;
           "no medical care was required"; "the old car needed
           constant attention" [syn: {care}, {attention}, {aid}]