tend

Etymology 1

From Middle English *tenden, from Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”), from Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).

verb

1. (law, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
2. (followed by a to-infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning.
   They tend to go out on Saturdays.
   It tends to snow here in winter.
3. (intransitive) To contribute to or toward some outcome.
   The Lords in 1722 declared that annexing such Clauses tends to the destruction of this government. And yet there are such bills every session and you pass them. 1812, William Cobbett, The Parliamentary History of England

Etymology 2

From Middle English tenden, by apheresis of attenden (“to attend”). More at attend.

verb

1. (with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.)
   We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.
2. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.
   Shepherds tend their flocks.
   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. 1847, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Threnody
   Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for that of the being which she tends. 1859, Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (1859)
3. To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.
4. (obsolete) To await; to expect.
5. (obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.
6. (transitive, nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

Etymology 3

From Middle English tenden, from Old English tendan (“to kindle, set on fire”) (usually in compounds ātendan, fortendan, ontendan), from Proto-Germanic *tandijaną (“to kindle”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Danish tænde (“to kindle”), Swedish tända (“to ignite”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (tandjan, “to kindle”), Icelandic tendra (“to ignite”), German zünden (“to light, ignite, fire”). Related to tinder.

verb

1. (transitive, now chiefly dialectal) To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.