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Tend vs Propensity - What's the difference?

tend | propensity |

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 propensity is

a tendency, preference, or attraction.

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.

    • External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    propensity

    English

    Noun

    (propensities)
  • A tendency, preference, or attraction.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}

    Synonyms

    * proclivity * propension

    Related terms

    * propense