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Fend vs Wend - What's the difference?

fend | wend |

As nouns the difference between fend and wend

is that fend is an enemy; fiend; the Devil while wend is a large extent of ground; a perambulation; a circuit.

As verbs the difference between fend and wend

is that fend is to take care of oneself, to take responsibility for oneself while wend is to turn; change.

fend

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • An enemy; fiend; the Devil.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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 376
    • 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.
  • ); to block or push away ((non-gloss definition)).
  • * Dryden
    • With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
  • * 1999 , Kuan-chung Lo, Guanzhong Luo, Luo Guanzhong, Moss Roberts, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel , page 39
    • He 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

    * ----

    wend

    English

    Verb

  • (obsolete) To turn; change.
  • To direct (one's way or course); pursue one's way; proceed upon some course or way.
    • We wended our weary way westward.
  • * Surrey
    • Great voyages to wend .
  • (obsolete) To turn; make a turn; go round; veer.
    • (Sir Walter Raleigh)
  • (obsolete) To pass away; disappear; depart; vanish.

    • Usage notes

    The modern past tense of (m) is (m). Originally it was (m), similarly to pairs such as (m)/(m), (m)/(m), (m)/(m), (m)/(m), or (m)/(m). However, (m) was long ago co-opted as the past tense of (m) (replacing (etyl) (m)) and using it as the past tense of (m) is now considered archaic.

    Synonyms

    * to betake oneself

    Related terms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, UK, legal) A large extent of ground; a perambulation; a circuit.
    • (Burrill)

    References

    * ----