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Tend vs Possibility - What's the difference?

tend | possibility |

As a verb tend

is to kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn or tend can be (legal|old english law) to make a tender of; to offer or tender or tend can be (with to) to look after (eg an ill person).

As a noun possibility is

the quality of being possible.

tend

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) tenden, from (etyl) . Related to (l).

Alternative forms

* (l), (l), (l), (l), (l) * (l), (l), (l), (l) (Scotland)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.
  • Derived terms
    * (l), (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) *.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (legal, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
  • (followed by a to infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain characteristic.
  • They tend to go out on Saturdays.
    It tends to snow here in winter.
    Usage notes
    * In sense 2. this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. * See
    Derived terms
    * tendency

    See also

    * be given to

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.)
  • We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.
  • To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.
  • Shepherds tend their flocks.
  • * Emerson
  • There's not a sparrow or a wren, / There's not a blade of autumn grain, / Which the four seasons do not tend / And tides of life and increase lend.
  • To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?
  • (obsolete) To await; to expect.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.
  • * Chapman
  • Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.
  • (nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    possibility

    English

    Noun

    (possibilities)
  • The quality of being possible.
  • A thing possible; that which may take place or come into being.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.}}
  • An option or choice, usually used in context with future events.
  • Synonyms

    * option * choice * contingency * See also

    Antonyms

    * impossibility

    Derived terms

    * logical possibility * possibility theory