Middle English Dictionary Entry
tenden v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | tenden v.(1) Also tend(e, tendi; p.ppl. tended(e, tende. |
| Etymology | Shortened form of attenden v. or entenden v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. tenten v.(1).
1.
To intend (to do sth.), set about, plan.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)74/9 : Lete þe breed lie in cold watir..but he may tende weel to heete it.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14100 : To þer schipes þey gaf þer tent..Þey tenden nought hem self to fende.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)846 : Ȝe telle us þat ȝe tende nauht to tulye þe erþe.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)1128 : Now tende we to touche more of þis tale aftur.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)24/29 : Many men synneþ in hope to come to amendement a-noþer tyme whan þey mowe tende to.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)43/252 : For joye of þis token ryght hertyly we tende oure lord god to worchep.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)49 : Whider tenden ye to go?
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)128/9 : We tende & purpose to gyue bataylle to the Sawdan.
2.
(a) To be intent (on sb. or sth.), focus, concentrate; also, give oneself over (to idleness, good deeds, etc.); (b) to listen; listen attentively to (sb., someone's words), heed;—also with clause as obj.; also, understand (sth.); give credence (to superstition) [quot. c1475(?c1400), 2nd]; (c) to be obedient (to sb., to a set of rules); also, obey (rules); (d) to pay attention (to sb. or sth.), notice.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)864 : I rede we leten him gon his wey, For we moten tenden to a noþer pley.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.5.17 : Ȝe tendiþ [vr. tenden; WB(2): ȝyuen tent; L Vacatis] to ydillnes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.23.21 : Þei tendinge to drynkis..shul ben wastid.
- a1425 Iesu þat wolde (LdMisc 463)p.196 : Þer beoþ many men..Þat tenden to worldes wele..And seye þat men mot tende þer to.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)315/17 : Þei take noon heede to noon oþir þing þan for to take prelacies and grete beneficis, where raþir þei schulden tende to cure of soulis.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)92/15 : Þe good knyȝt goostli, tending oonly to þe knyghthode of heven, schulde be holly drawen fro þe worlde.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)2/36 : Þerfore schulde euery man..tende [Ayenb.: yeue him] more to gostly werkes.
- c1450 Bk.GGrace (Eg 2006)374/9 : Þowe haffes done agayne thyne obediens ande þowe haffes nowȝt tendede to me, ande moreovere þowe hase bene neglygente to praye for the sowlle of hym þat es dede.
- a1475 Ordin.Househ.Grossetest (Sln 1986)217 : Take ȝe hede to this tyl messys be fully sett in the halle, and after tende ye to ȝoure mette.
- a1500 Jhesu that arte jentylle (Chet 8009)p.196 : Save alle thys compeny..That wylle lystyn to me and tende to thys game.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)21803 : Qua-sim þis tale can beter tende [Vsp: a-tend], for cristis loue he hit amende.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)148 : Norbert, Norbert, tende now onto me.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)20 : Tende me tylle, Or ellys I xal bate ȝowre pride.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)190 : And ȝif ȝe, ludus, have list þe lettrus to knowe, Tendeþ how þis tale is titeled þerinne.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)365 : Tale tende we non þat turneþ to harme.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)460 : Al þe world wote what þay wolde meene, And þat is þis trevly, tende who-so wil, Thorough crafte of confession to knowe men intentz.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2641 : Here therfor a while, and tend wel to my lore.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)2 : Noght alle bischoppis in name ar bischoppis in dede; þu tendis to [L Attendis] Petir, but considir Judas; þu takst vp Steuen, lok ageyn to Nicol.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)93 : Þei þat..tenden to wiche falsnes in hailes or tempestis..wite þei hem to haue brokyn þe cristun feiþ.
- c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)p.40 : Nowe to my tale, and ye wylle tende, I shalle you telle oure cordymente.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)355 : Yff he tende my reporture, I xall brynge hym to nought.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)245/89 : Ye, wysest of law, to me ye be tendand.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)7 : Tend yee tytely to mee and take goode heede.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)997 : Whan þis tale was tolde and tended of all, Þe dragoun dreew him awaie.
c
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)2542 : Abram his benison gaf he And all bad till him tendand be.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)217 : We weren tauht in oure time and tendide lorus Of oure doctourus dere.
- c1450 Bi a forest (Lamb 853)131 : To þe ten heestis y haue not tende Þoruȝ slouþe, wraþþe, & glotenie.
d
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1781 : Þei seie me nouȝt..to me tended þei nouȝt but tok forþ here wey.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)655 : What þynge þat sche wil craue, Do hit hure redy for to haue, Þat scheo tende to no þynge elles.
- a1500 7 Sages(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)200/740 : He loketh on þe erber and on the tree, And tendyth no thyng vnto mee.
3.
(a) To minister (to sb.), be of service, wait (upon sb.); also, care for (sb. or sth.); (b) to attend (to a matter), look (into sth.), take care (of sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10562 : Þe erle þan made a leche be stoundes Tende to hym to hele hys woundes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.8 : Iosephes Owt of Galafort was gon..but forto kepen Ioseps wif, lefte Nasciens Meyne..Ioseps wyf tenden vnto.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14284 : Þou gafe me..All ryall rentes with grett ryches, all folke to be tendand me vntyll.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)79/194 : Dyscressyon, devocion, dylexcion, and deliberacion, they xal tende upon ȝow.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)160/264 : Homwarde ȝe wende and to your placys ȝe lende þat ȝe xulde tende.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)369/404 : I may not tend to the, sere, at this hour.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)194/17 : Þi sogettis..schal encrese thy tresur be many wvertuful [read: vertuful] menis of ocupacionys profitabyl, if þei be tendyd.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)238 : Whenne I saide þis was þi childe, þou lovedest al him, & nothing the oþer; and whenne I saide þat oþer was thi childe, þou tendeist al to him, and dispisidist þat oþere.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5122 : Tho was þe assaut y-leuyd clene, for þe Amyral..ne miȝt noȝt tendy þer-to.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)255 : Till þaim speke..If þai might mend þaim..Sum quat to þat thing to tende þat þai þair mede may wid amende.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.1145 : Oure lady commaunded to daun Adryan That al þis thyng..ryght soo as he can, To write it pleynly whan he may tende þer-too.
- a1500 Jul.D.8 Planting in SN 57 (Jul D.8)26 : And ȝif þou myȝt noȝt tende to hem for oþer bysynesse to watere hem wiþ lewke water, ȝif hem drynk ofte of oþer colde water.
4.
To be present (at Parliament).
Associated quotations
- (1460) RParl.5.375a : Please it youre Highnes..that the seid Waulter may tende daily of this youre Parlement, as his dute is to doo.