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 attention or effort toward something to include care, upkeep, and cultivation. The past participle “tended” reflects standard English verb inflection for regular verbs.

Usage and examples illustrate its range. Examples include: “She tended the sick during the night shift,” “The field was well tended after the flood,” and “We have tended to the repairs.” In everyday language, “tended” often appears in contexts of caregiving, maintenance, or organized attention to tasks. In horticulture and landscaping, saying a garden was “well tended” signals consistent watering, pruning, weeding, and general upkeep.

Related forms include tending (present participle) and tend (infinitive). While “tended” shares a core meaning with “tend,” the exact sense depends on context—caregiving and maintenance, or reporting a completed action in the past. Antonyms include neglected or ignored, depending on usage.