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Mend vs Fend - What's the difference?

mend | fend |

As nouns the difference between mend and fend

is that mend is a place, as in clothing, which has been repaired by mending while fend is an enemy; fiend; the Devil.

As verbs the difference between mend and fend

is that mend is to repair, as anything that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay, injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again; to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine while fend is to take care of oneself, to take responsibility for oneself.

mend

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A place, as in clothing, which has been repaired by mending.
  • The act of repairing.
    • My trousers have a big rip in them and need a mend .

    Derived terms

    * on the mend

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To repair, as anything that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay, injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again; to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine.
    • My trousers have a big rip in them and need mending .
    When your car breaks down, you can take it to the garage to have it mended .
  • To alter for the better; to set right; to reform; hence, to quicken; as, to mend one's manners or pace.
    • Her stutter was mended by a speech therapist.
    My broken heart was mended .
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • The best service they could do the state was to mend the lives of the persons who composed it.
  • To help, to advance, to further; to add to.
  • * Mortimer
    • Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it mends garden herbs and fruit.
  • * Shakespeare
    • You mend the jewel by wearing it.
  • To grow better; to advance to a better state; to become improved.

    • Derived terms

    * mend one's pace
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Related terms

    * amend * mend

    External links

    * * * English ergative verbs

    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

    * ----