fend meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

fend

verb

/ˈfɛnd/ · [ˈfɛnd]

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”).

1

To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.

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.
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.2003, Scott Turow, Reversible Errors, page 376:

2

Rare To defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with off).

Except as "fend for oneself"

With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
He fends, he blocks, too skillful to be downed.1999, Luo Guanzhong, translated by Moss Roberts, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel, page 39:

1 more example

“[…] My age is lot like yours. Lone women do not fare well. If I were not there to fend for you, you—”2002, Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor, page 187:

Derived terms: fend and prove, fend away, fender, fend for oneself, fend off, forfend

fend

noun

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”).

1

Obsolete Self-support; taking care of one's own well-being.

fend

noun

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.

1

UK, Dialectal An enemy; fiend; the Devil.

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