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Fends vs Mends - What's the difference?

fends | mends |

As verbs the difference between fends and mends

is that fends is third-person singular of fend while mends is third person singular simple present of to mend.

As a noun mends is

plural of lang=en.

fends

English

Verb

(head)
  • (fend)
    • ----

    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

    * ----

    mends

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • Third person singular simple present of to mend.

    • Noun

    (head)
  • * 1602 , , I. i. 69:
    • she has the mends in her own hands.