mend

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To physically repair (something that is broken, defaced, decayed, torn, or otherwise…

   To physically repair (something that is broken, defaced, decayed, torn, or otherwise damaged).

   • My trousers have a big rip in them and need mending.
   • When your car breaks down, you can take it to the garage to have it mended.
   • [H]e [Jesus] ſawe other two brethren, James the ſonne of Zebede, and Jhon his brother, in the ſhip with Zebede their father, mendynge their nettes, and called them. And they without tarynge lefte yͤ ſhyp and their father, and folowed hym.
2. 2

   To add fuel to (a fire).

   • [I]n, you Rogue, and vvipe the pigges, and mend the fire, that they fall not, or I'le both baſte and roaſt you, till your eyes drop out, like 'hem.
   • He mended the fire and turned the meat on the greenwood racks.
3. 3

   To correct or put right (an error, a fault, etc.)

   To correct or put right (an error, a fault, etc.); to rectify, to remedy.

   • Dro[mio of Syracuse]. […] [S]he ſvveats a man may goe ouer-ſhooes in the grime of it. / Anti[pholus of Syracuse]. That's a fault that vvater vvill mend.
   • [Y]ou muſt examine vvhere the fault is, and taking the Pin out mend the fault in the Joynt.
4. ›+ 29 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To put (something) in a better state

      To put (something) in a better state; to ameliorate, to improve, to reform, to set right.

      • Her stutter was mended by a speech therapist.
      • My broken heart was mended.
      • So neyther is one vertue fit for all, nor all fit for one vertue: nor is that one ſo excellent, but by more it might be mended: […]
   2. 5

      To remove fault or sin from (someone, or their behaviour or character)

      To remove fault or sin from (someone, or their behaviour or character); to improve morally, to reform.

      • Youle not endure him, god ſhall mend my ſoule, / Youle make a mutinie among my gueſts: […]
      • I vvould thou vvert a mans tailer, that thou mightſt mend him and make him fit to goe, I cannot put him to a priuate ſouldier, that is the leader of ſo many thouſands, […]
      • [Philosophers] therefore thought all the Service they could do to the State they live under, vvas to mend the Lives and Manners of particular Men that compoſed it.
   3. 6

      In mend one's pace

      In mend one's pace: to adjust (a pace or speed), especially to match that of someone or something else; also, to quicken or speed up (a pace).

      • Cudgell thy braines no more about it, for your dull aſſe vvill not mend his pace vvith beating, […]
      • But though I mended my pace, I was only just in time to see them turn into - of all places - my hotel.
   4. 7

      To correct or put right the defects, errors, or faults of (something)

      To correct or put right the defects, errors, or faults of (something); to amend, to emend, to fix.

      • Salt Earth and bitter are not fit to ſovv, / Nor vvill be tam'd or mended vvith the Plough.
      • [W]here Marle is not laid too thick, nor is of too tough binding cold a quality, it vvill often mend Clays, eſpecially Grazing ground, […]
   5. 8

      To increase the quality of (someone or something)

      To increase the quality of (someone or something); to better, to improve on; also, to produce something better than (something else).

      • [N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him vvho can, the Ladies call him ſvveete.
      • Beleeu't deere Lord, / You mend the Ievvell by the vvearing it.
   6. 9

      To make amends or reparation for (a wrong done)

      To make amends or reparation for (a wrong done); to atone.

      • Yee may sir, (quoth he), mend three nayes with one yee.
      • Come, come, you haue bin too rough, ſomthing too rough: you muſt returne, and mend it.
   7. 10

      To restore (someone or something) to a healthy state

      To restore (someone or something) to a healthy state; to cure, to heal.

      • Yearly thy Herds in vigour vvill impair; / Recruit and mend 'em vvith thy Yearly care: […]
      • O, it was a rich scene,—but Sir A—— C——, the best of story-tellers and surgeons, who mends a lame narrative almost as well as he sets a fracture, alone could do justice to it— […]
   8. 11

      To adjust or correctly position (something

      To adjust or correctly position (something; specifically (nautical), a sail).

      • VVhy he vvill looke vppon his boote, and ſing: mend the Ruffe and ſing, aske queſtions and ſing, picke his teeth, and ſing: I knovv a man that had this tricke of melancholy hold a goodly Mannor for a ſong.
      • [Y]our Crovvnes avvay,^([sic – meaning awry?']) / Ile mend it, and then play— […]
      • Mend your lights, Gentlemen. [Stage direction in the margin:] The Tiremen enter to mend the lights.
   9. 12

      To put out (a candle).

   10. 13

       To add one or more things in order to improve (something, especially wages)

       To add one or more things in order to improve (something, especially wages); to supplement; also, to remedy a shortfall in (something).

       • VVill you goe vvith me, vvee'll mend our dinner here?
       • Roſ[alind]. […] Buy thou the Cottage, paſture, and the flocke, / And thou ſhalt haue to pay for it of vs. / Cel[ia]. And vve vvill mend thy vvages: / I like this place, and vvillingly could / VVaſte my time in it.
       • Sometimes vvhite Lyllies did their Leaves afford, / VVith vvholſom Polly-flovv'rs, to mend his homely Board: […]
   11. 14

       To relieve (distress)

       To relieve (distress); to alleviate, to ease.

   12. 15

       To reform (oneself).

       • [B]id the diſhoneſt man mend himſelf, if he mend, he is no longer diſhoneſt; […]
   13. 16

       To improve the condition or fortune of (oneself or someone).

       • [W]hatſoeuer is Nevv, is vnlooked for; And euer it mends Some, and pairs Other: […]
       • [W]hether it vvas by Negligence in guarding them, or that they thought the Fellovvs could not mend themſelves, I knovv not, but one of them run avvay, and taking into the VVoods, they could never hear of him more.
   14. 17

       To repair the clothes of (someone).

       • "Ready?" said the old gentleman inquiringly, when his guests had been washed, mended, brushed, and brandied.
       • She will tend him, nurse him, mend him; / Air his linen, dry his tears. / Bless the thoughtful fates that send him / Such a wife to soothe his years!
   15. 18

       To cause (a person or animal) to gain weight

       To cause (a person or animal) to gain weight; to fatten.

   16. 19

       Chiefly with the impersonal pronoun it

       Chiefly with the impersonal pronoun it: to provide a benefit to (someone); to advantage, to profit.

   17. 20

       Of an illness

       Of an illness: to become less severe; also, of an injury or wound, or an injured body part: to get better, to heal.

       • My long ſickneſſe / Of Health, and Liuing, novv begins to mend, […]
       • Some days later it happened that young Heriotside was stepping home over the Lang Muir about ten at night—it being his first jaunt from home since his arm had mended.
   18. 21

       Of a person

       Of a person: to become healthy again; to recover from illness.

       • The queen is mending of her gout, and intends to be brought in a chair to parliament when it meets, […]
       • But the fever has left him, and the doctor says he will soon mend.
       • There's nae banes broke, and I've dressed your face wi' a sure salve. Dinna disturb the clouts, sir. Your skin's ower clean to beil [fester], and ye'll mend quick if ye let the clouts bide a wee.
   19. 22

       Now only in least said, soonest mended

       Now only in least said, soonest mended: to make amends or reparation.

       • You are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are free-livers, and are led astray by artful and alluring females. However, as Lady Betty says, 'the least said the soonest mended.'
       • I have not let Mr. Spencer see that I have discovered his secret, I can do that or not, according to circumstances hereafter, neither have i said any thing of my discovery to Mrs. B. or Camilla. At present, 'least said soonest mended.'
   20. 23

       To become morally improved or reformed.

       • Let ſhame come vvhen it vvill, I doe not callit, / […] / Mend vvhen thou canſt, be better at thy leaſure, / I can be patient, […]
       • But, fare you vveel, auld Nickie-ben! / O vvad ye tak a thought an’ men’!
   21. 24

       Chiefly used together with make

       Chiefly used together with make: to make repairs.

       • An evill pen, is that vvhich is ſouple or vveake, vvhich vvhen thou makeſt, or mendeſt, muſt haue a ſhort ſlit, and bee ſuffered to remaine great on both ſides, becauſe it is vveake; […]
   22. 25

       To advance to a better state

       To advance to a better state; to become less bad or faulty; to improve.

       • Then would ye mend as the fletcher mends his bolt, / Or sowre ale mendeth in summer, […]
       • VVhat thinke you of this foole Maluolio, doth he not mend?
       • I confeſs this clime (as matters go) is untovvard to improve ſuch buds of vertue, but the times may mend, novv that our King vvith the Sun, makes his approach unto us more and more: […]
   23. 26

       To improve in amount or price.

   24. 27

       Of an error, fault, etc.

       Of an error, fault, etc.: to be corrected or put right.

   25. 28

       Followed by of

       Followed by of: to recover from a bad state; to get better, to grow out of.

   26. 29

       Of an animal

       Of an animal: to gain weight, to fatten.

   27. 30

       To advantage, to avail, to help.

   28. 31

       Senses relating to improvement or repairing.

       • My trousers have a big rip in them and need a mend.
   29. 32

       Recompense

       Recompense; restoration or reparation, especially (Christianity) from sin.

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