See Also: mend(medicine)
mend(1)(dictionary)
mend(2)(dictionary)
mend 1, verb(dictionary)
mend 2, noun(dictionary)

mend(2) (iou)



mend verb. ME.
[Anglo-Norman mender aphet. from amender AMEND verb. Partly directly aphet. from AMEND verb.]
I. With reference to defects.
a. verb trans. Free (a person, character, habits) from sin or fault; improve morally; reform. Now arch. & dial. exc. in mend one's manners, mend one's ways. ME.
b. verb intrans. Reform. Now rare exc. in proverb it is never too late to mend. ME.
a. verb trans. Remove the defects of (a thing); improve by correction or alteration. obsolete exc. as passing into sense 5. ME.
b. verb intrans. Become less faulty. Of conditions: become less unfavourable, improve. LME.
a. verb trans. Rectify, remedy, remove (an evil); correct, put right (a fault, something wrong). ME.
Shelley Poverty, the which I sought to mend By holding a poor office in the state. R. K. Narayan He tried to mend his previous statement.
b. verb intrans. Of a fault: undergo rectification. E18.
verb trans. Make amends or reparation for, atone for (a misdeed, an injury). obsolete exc. in proverb least said, soonest mended. ME.
verb trans.
a. Restore to a complete or sound condition (something broken, decayed, worn, torn, etc.); repair or make good (a defective part); add fuel to (a fire). ME.
Steele A blind Beggar..with a Needle and thread thriftily mending his Stockings. Keats A vile old pen...The fault is in the Quill: I have mended it. Day Lewis He mended his nets. S. Chitty The stove would not work and she was too miserable to get it mended.
b. Adjust, set right. obsolete exc. Nautical. E16.
c. Repair the garments of (a person). arch. colloq. L19.
W. S. Gilbert She will tend him, nurse him, mend him.
a. verb trans. Restore to health, cure, heal. arch. ME.
b. verb intrans. Regain health, recover from sickness, heal. E16.
H. Williamson No bones broken..but he has some way to go to mend. R. D. Laing Even broken hearts have been known to mend.
II. Without distinct reference to defects.
verb trans. Improve the condition or fortune of. Now rare or obsolete. ME.
verb trans. Improve on, surpass, better. Now rare. ME.
verb trans. & intrans. Improve physically, fatten. obsolete exc. Scot. & N. Irish. LME.
a. verb trans. Improve by additions; supplement. LME-E18.
b. verb intrans. Improve in amount or price. E17-E19.
verb intrans. & trans. Improve in quality. Now rare. M16.
Phrases: end or mend = mend or end below. LEAST said, soonest mended. make or mend: see MAKE verb. mend matters rectify or improve the state of affairs. mend one's pace walk more quickly, travel faster. mend or end either improve or (if that is impossible) put an end to.
mendable adjective M16.
mender noun LME.