What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tend vs Protect - What's the difference?

tend | protect |

As verbs the difference between tend and protect

is that 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) while protect is to keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.

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

    * ----

    protect

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
  • , author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter , title=The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , volume=100, issue=2, page=87 , magazine= citation , passage=But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.}}

    Synonyms

    * (l) * See also

    Derived terms

    * protection * To protect and to serve