fend


Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia.

fend

 (fĕnd)
v. fend·ed, fend·ing, fends
v.tr.
1. To ward off. Often used with off: fend off an attack.
2. Archaic To defend.
v.intr.
1. To make an effort to resist: fend against the cold.
2. To attempt to manage without assistance: had to fend for ourselves until we were rescued.

[Middle English fenden, short for defenden, to defend; see defend.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fend

(fɛnd)
vb
1. (foll by: for) to give support (to someone, esp oneself); provide (for)
2. (usually foll by: off) to ward off or turn aside (blows, questions, attackers, etc)
3. (tr) archaic to defend or resist
4. (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to struggle; strive
n
dialect Scot and Northern English a shift or effort
[C13 fenden, shortened from defenden to defend]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fend

(fɛnd)

v.t.
1. to ward off (often fol. by off): to fend off blows.
2. Archaic. to defend.
v.i.
3. to resist or make defense: to fend against poverty.
4. to provide; manage; shift: to fend for oneself.
[1250–1300; Middle English fenden]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

fend


Past participle: fended
Gerund: fending

Imperative
fend
fend
Present
I fend
you fend
he/she/it fends
we fend
you fend
they fend
Preterite
I fended
you fended
he/she/it fended
we fended
you fended
they fended
Present Continuous
I am fending
you are fending
he/she/it is fending
we are fending
you are fending
they are fending
Present Perfect
I have fended
you have fended
he/she/it has fended
we have fended
you have fended
they have fended
Past Continuous
I was fending
you were fending
he/she/it was fending
we were fending
you were fending
they were fending
Past Perfect
I had fended
you had fended
he/she/it had fended
we had fended
you had fended
they had fended
Future
I will fend
you will fend
he/she/it will fend
we will fend
you will fend
they will fend
Future Perfect
I will have fended
you will have fended
he/she/it will have fended
we will have fended
you will have fended
they will have fended
Future Continuous
I will be fending
you will be fending
he/she/it will be fending
we will be fending
you will be fending
they will be fending
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been fending
you have been fending
he/she/it has been fending
we have been fending
you have been fending
they have been fending
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been fending
you will have been fending
he/she/it will have been fending
we will have been fending
you will have been fending
they will have been fending
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been fending
you had been fending
he/she/it had been fending
we had been fending
you had been fending
they had been fending
Conditional
I would fend
you would fend
he/she/it would fend
we would fend
you would fend
they would fend
Past Conditional
I would have fended
you would have fended
he/she/it would have fended
we would have fended
you would have fended
they would have fended
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.fend - try to manage without help; "The youngsters had to fend for themselves after their parents died"
get by, grapple, make do, cope, manage, contend, deal, make out - come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day"
2.fend - withstand the force of something; "The trees resisted her"; "stand the test of time"; "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow"
fight down, oppose, fight, fight back, defend - fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"
remain firm, stand - hold one's ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright; "I am standing my ground and won't give in!"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

fend

verb
fend for yourself look after yourself, support yourself, sustain yourself, take care of yourself, provide for yourself, make do, make provision for yourself, shift for yourself
fend something or someone off
1. deflect, resist, parry, avert, ward off, stave off, turn aside, hold or keep at bay He fended off questions from the Press.
2. beat off, resist, parry, avert, deflect, repel, drive back, ward off, stave off, repulse, keep off, turn aside, hold or keep at bay He raised his hand to fend off the blow.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

fend

verb
1. To turn or drive away.Also used with off:
2. Archaic. To keep safe from danger, attack, or harm:
3. To progress or perform adequately, especially in difficult circumstances:
Informal: make out.
Idioms: make do, make shift.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُعيل نَفْسَه، يَعْتَني بِنَفْسِه
starat se
klare sig selv
bjarga sér sjálfur
pasirūpinti savimi
gādāt/rūpēties par sevi
başının çaresine bakmak

fend

[fend] VI to fend for o.sdefenderse solo, arreglárselas por cuenta propia
fend off VT + ADV [+ attack] → repeler, rechazar; [+ assailant] → repeler; [+ blow] → desviar, esquivar; [+ awkward question] → soslayar, eludir
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

fend

[ˈfɛnd] vi
to fend for o.s. → se débrouiller (tout(e) seul(e))
fend off
vt sep
[+ blow] → parer; [+ attacker] → repousser
[+ questions] → éluder
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

fend

vi to fend for oneself (= provide)für sich (selbst) sorgen, sich allein durchbringen; (= defend)sich (selbst) verteidigen; could she fend for herself in the city?konnte sie sich in der Stadt allein durchschlagen?
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

fend

[fɛnd] vi to fend for o.s.arrangiarsi, badare a se stesso/a
fend off vt + adv (attack, attacker) → respingere, difendersi da; (blow) → parare; (awkward question) → eludere
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

fend

(fend) : fend for oneself
to look after oneself. He is old enough to fend for himself.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
We pay for every nerve marathon we run, nor can John Barleycorn intercede and fend off the just payment.
I heard the unseen dogs growl furiously, and forthwith he ducked back,-- coming into contact with the hand I put out to fend him off from myself.
We may strive and scrat and fend, but it's little we can do arter all--the big things come and go wi' no striving o' our'n-- they do, that they do; and I think you're in the right on it to keep the little un, Master Marner, seeing as it's been sent to you, though there's folks as thinks different.
Earnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors: she did fly up, asking how he could fashion to bring that gipsy brat into the house, when they had their own bairns to feed and fend for?
He seemed to have more breathing business to do than another man, and to make more noise in doing it; and I was conscious of growing high-shoulderd on one side, in my shrinking endeavours to fend him off.
I'd make a shift, and fend indoor and out, to give you more liberty-- more than you can have now, for you've got to get your own living now, and I'm strong enough to work for us both."
It's a sore thing to do between such near friends; but if I get the dirdum[23] of this dreadful accident, I'll have to fend for myself, man.
We went sneaking down the slope of it to labboard, in the dark, towards the texas, feeling our way slow with our feet, and spreading our hands out to fend off the guys, for it was so dark we couldn't see no sign of them.
Ladies know what to fend hands against, because they read novels that tell them of these tricks; but I never had the chance o' learning in that way, and you did not help me!"
And dost thou not mind how I taught thee to fend and parry with the cudgel?"
Three times the panthan's blade changed its position--once to fend a savage cut; once to feint; and once to thrust.
I reck not how Fate deals with me But my unhappy children--for my sons Be not concerned, O Creon, they are men, And for themselves, where'er they be, can fend. But for my daughters twain, poor innocent maids, Who ever sat beside me at the board Sharing my viands, drinking of my cup, For them, I pray thee, care, and, if thou willst, O might I feel their touch and make my moan.