tended
Tended is the past tense and past participle of the verb tend. It primarily means having cared for or attended to something or someone. It also functions as an adjective in phrases describing maintenance or cultivation, as in a “well-tended garden.” In passive constructions, it appears as in “the garden was tended by the gardener.” A related sense, to be inclined toward something or to have a tendency, is usually expressed with the present tense form “tends” (for example, “the plant tends to wilt”).
Etymology is linked to Old English and other Germanic roots, with the sense family broadening from directing
Usage and examples illustrate its range. Examples include: “She tended the sick during the night shift,” “The
Related forms include tending (present participle) and tend (infinitive). While “tended” shares a core meaning with