Fend

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fÉ›nd/
• Rhymes: -É›nd

From Middle English, from Old English fēond ("adversary, foe, enemy, fiend, devil, Satan"). More at fiend.

Full definition of fend

Noun

1. (UK dialectal) An enemy; fiend; the Devil.

From Middle English fenden ("defend, fight, prevent"), shortening of defenden ("defend")

Verb

1. (intransitive) To take care of oneself, to take responsibility for oneself.
• 1990, Messrs Howley and Murphy, quoted in U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Oversight hearing on the Federal Service Contract Act, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 40,Mr. Howley. They are telling him how much they will increase the reimbursement for the total labor cost. The contractor is left to fend as he can.Chairman Murphy. Obviously, he can’t fend for any more than the money he has coming in.
• 2003, Scott Turow Reversible Errors, page 376The 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. (rare, except as "fend for oneself") To defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with fend off).
• DrydenWith fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
• 1999, Kuan-chung Lo, Guanzhong Luo, Luo Guanzhong, Moss Roberts, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel, page 39He fends, he blocks, too skillful to be downed.
• 2002, Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor, page 187“... My age is lot like yours. Lone women do not fare well. If I were not there to fend for you, you—”

Derived terms

• fend and prove
• fend away
• fender
• fend for oneself
• fend off
• forfend

Anagrams

• defn