mend

See also: mënd

English

WOTD – 7 August 2024

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /mɛnd/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (pin–pen merger) IPA^(key): /mɪnd/
• Rhymes: -ɛnd

Etymology 1

PIE word
*h₁eǵʰs

From Middle English menden (“to cure; to do good to, benefit; to do or make better, improve; to get better, recover; to keep in a good state; to put right, amend; to reform, repent”),^[1] the aphetic form of amenden (“to alter, change (especially for the better); to atone; to chastise, punish; to correct, remedy, amend; to cure; to excel, surpass; to forgive; to get or make better, improve; to make ready; to mend, repair, restore; to get well, recover; to relieve”),^[2] or from its etymon Anglo-Norman amender and Old French amender (“to cure; to fix, repair; to set right, correct”) (modern French amender),^[3] from Latin ēmendāre, the present active infinitive of ēmendō (“to atone; to chastise, punish; to correct, remedy, amend; to cure”), from ē- (variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘away; out’)) + mendum (“defect; error, fault”) (from Proto-Indo-European *mend- (“defect; fault”)) + -ō (suffix forming first-conjugation verbs).

Verb

mend (third-person singular simple present mends, present participle mending, simple past and past participle mended)

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

      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:repair

      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.

      • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Machew [Matthew] iiij:[21–22], folio iij, recto, column 2:

        [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.

      • 1713 February 8 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter LIX.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 373:

        [A] fellow mending the tiles just when the fire broke out, saw a pot with wildfire in the room.

      • 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter VII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 148:

        Then, Betsey, my dear, run into the kitchen, and see if Rebecca has put the water on; and tell her to bring in the tea-things as soon as she can. I wish we could get the bell mended—but Betsey is a very handy little messenger.

      • 1941 January 25, William Faulkner, “Go Down, Moses”, in Go Down, Moses, New York, N.Y.: Random House, published 1942 (3rd printing), →OCLC, section 1, page 168:

        The boy first remembered him as sitting in the door of the plantation blacksmith-shop, where he sharpened plow-points and mended tools and even did rough carpenter-work when he was not in the woods.

   2. (figurative)
      1. To add fuel to (a fire).
         • 1614 November 10 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Beniamin Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Bartholmew Fayre: A Comedie, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act II, scene v, page 25:

           [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.

         • 1992 May, Cormac McCarthy, chapter I, in All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy; 1), London: Picador, published 1993, →ISBN, page 92:

           He mended the fire and turned the meat on the greenwood racks.

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

         Synonyms: make good, set straight

         • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 92, column 1:

           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.

         • 1678 January 11 – February 11 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] II. Applied to the Making of Hinges, Locks, Keys, Screws and Nuts Small and Great. Of Hinges.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1683, →OCLC, page 20:

           [Y]ou muſt examine vvhere the fault is, and taking the Pin out mend the fault in the Joynt.

         • 1710 May 17 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [pseudonym; Richard Steele], “Saturday, May 6, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 168; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.;  […], 1822, →OCLC, page 19:

           It is a mean want of fortitude in a good man, not to be able to do a virtuous action with as much confidence as an impudent fellow does an ill one. There is no way of mending such false modesty, but by laying it down for a rule, that there is nothing shameful but what is criminal.

           The spelling has been modernized.

         • 1816, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter IX, in Tales of My Landlord, […], volume I (The Black Dwarf), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for William Blackwood, […]; London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 194:

           I can sleep weel aneugh mysel out-bye beside the naig, as I hae done money a lang night on the hills, but how ye are to put yoursels up, I canna see! And, what's waur, I canna mend it; […]

         • 1819, Percy B[ysshe] Shelley, The Cenci: A Tragedy, […], [Livorno], Italy: […] [Percy B. Shelley] for C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier […], →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 47:

           This old Francesco Cenci, as you know, / […] left me so / In poverty, the which I sought to mend / By holding a poor office in the state.

         • 1987, Chinua Achebe, chapter 6, in Anthills of the Savannah, London: Picador, published 1988, →ISBN, page 80:

           [S]he peered into her handbag mirror to mend her rouge: […]

      3. 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.

         • 1603, John Florio, “To the Right Honorable and All-praise-worthie Ladies, Elizabeth Countesse of Rutland, and Ladie Penelope Riche”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

           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: […]

         • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folios [76], verso – 77, recto:

           Tacitus obſerueth hovv rarely raiſing of the fortune mendeth the diſpoſition, […]

         • 1672 January 18 and 25 (Gregorian calendar), Nehemiah Grew, “An Idea of a Philosophical History of Plants. Read before the Royal Society, January 8. and January 15. 1672.”, in The Anatomy of Plants. […], 2nd edition, [London]: […] W. Rawlins, for the author, published 1682, →OCLC:

           Some Vegetables [when burned] loſe their Smell, as Roſes; others, keep it, as Roſemary; and others, mend it, as Lignum Aloes, […]

         • 1688, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 11th edition, London: […] Nathanael Ponder, […], →OCLC, pages 124–125:

           [S]uppose ſuch a one [a tradesman] to have but a poor imploy in the vvorld, but by becoming Religious, he may mend his market, perhaps get a rich VVife, or more and far better cuſtomers to his ſhop. For my part, I ſee no reaſon but that this may be lavvfully done.

         • 1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

           But [Geoffrey] Chaucer has refin'd on Boccace [i.e., Giovanni Boccaccio], and has mended the Stories vvhich he has borrovv'd, in his vvay of telling; […]

         • 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, “Of Sea-sand”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC, pages 85–86:

           [T]hough in ſome Lands the Graſs is but ſhort, yet it yields great plenty of Milk and Cream, fats Cattle exceedingly, and mends Garden herbs and Fruits, making the Corn to have a large Ear, and a ſhort Stravv, ſo that ſometimes the Ear of Barly is very near as long as the Stalk: […]

         • 1712 May 31 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, May 20, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 383; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume IV, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 439:

           The fifty new churches will very much mend the prospect; but church-work is slow, church-work is slow.

           The spelling has been modernized.

         • 1782, William Cowper, “Hope”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 164:

           The ſacred book no longer ſuffers vvrong, / Bound in the fetters of an unknovvn tongue, / But ſpeaks vvith plainneſs art could never mend, / VVhat ſimpleſt minds can ſooneſt comprehend.

         • 1815, Walter Scott, “Canto Third”, in The Lord of the Isles, a Poem, Edinburgh: […] [F]or Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza XI, page 97:

           Allan, my Page, shall with us wend, / A bow full deftly he can bend, / And, if we meet an herd [of deer], may send / A shaft shall mend our cheer.

         • 1847, Leigh Hunt, “Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. An Account of Her Life and Writings.”, in Men, Women, and Books; a Selection of Sketches, Essays, and Critical Memoirs, […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […] , →OCLC, page 208:

           The Fieldings, till Henry [Fielding] came up to mend the reputation, were not thought very clever.

         • 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter VIII, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, pages 287–288:

           Richard the Third had held his court there, had heard disputations in the hall, had feasted there royally, and had mended the cheer of his hosts by a present of fat bucks from his forests.

         • 1854 January, Alfred Tennyson, “To the Rev. F. D. Maurice”, in Maud, and Other Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, stanza 10, page 147:

           How best to help the slender store, / How mend the dwellings, of the poor; / How gain in life, as life advances, / Valour and charity more and more.

         • 1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “A Florentine Joke”, in Romola. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book I, page 272:

           [A]t that time there were none but pleasant predictions about Niccolò Machiavelli, as a young man of promise, who was expected to mend the broken fortunes of his ancient family.

         • 1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “In Which an Unexpected Visiter Is Seen in the Cedar-parlour of the Tiled House, and the Story of Mr. Beauclerc and the “Flower de Luce” Begins to Be Unfolded”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume II, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 300:

           But my lord was angry, and being disguised with liquor too, he would not let him go till they played more; and play they did, and the luck still went the same way; and my lord grew fierce over it, and cursed and drank, and that did not mend his luck you may be sure; […]

         • 1870, William Morris, “November: The Lovers of Gudrun”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, part III, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 434:

           "Bring them here," / Said Ospak, "they may mend our doleful cheer."

      4. To remove fault or sin from (someone, or their behaviour or character); to improve morally, to reform.
         • c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], signature [C4], recto:

           Youle not endure him, god ſhall mend my ſoule, / Youle make a mutinie among my gueſts: […]

           Used in an oath.

         • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], signature F, verso:

           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, […]

         • 1685, William Temple, “Upon the Gardens of Epicurus, or of Gardening in the Year 1685”, in Miscellanea. The Second Part. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J. R. for Ri[chard] and Ra[lph] Simpson, […], published 1690, →OCLC, pages 93–94:

           [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.

         • 1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “The Same Subject Continued. [A Reformation in the Gaol. To Make Laws Complete, they should Reward as well as Punish.]”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, pages 115–116:

           Good council rejected returns to enrich the giver's boſom; and though the inſtruction I communicate may not mend them, yet it vvill aſſuredly mend myſelf.

         • 1865, Algernon Charles Swinburne, Chastelard; a Tragedy, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, Act II (Darnley), scene iv, page 54:

           God mend all, I pray— / And keep us from all wrongdoing and wild words.

           Used in an oath.

         • 1881, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “The Sacrifice”, in The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages, Montreal, Que.: Dawson Brothers, →OCLC, page 222:

           "Give thyself no trouble as to the matter of minding him, good man, I have small mind to mind him; but as to teaching him somewhat, to that I am well inclined." He turned to a subordinate and said, "Give the little fool a taste or two of the lash, to mend his manners."

         • 1907 January 26 (first performance), John M[illington] Synge, The Playboy of the Western World […], Dublin: Maunsell and Company […], published 1911, →OCLC, Act II, page 54:

           shawn, To Pegeen. I was passing below, and I seen your mountainy sheep eating cabbages in Jimmy's field. Run up or they'll be bursting, surely. / pegeen. Oh, God mend them!

           Used in an oath.

      5. 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).
         • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], signature M2, recto:

           Cudgell thy braines no more about it, for your dull aſſe vvill not mend his pace vvith beating, […]

         • 1856, James Fielder, “Lines Addressed to Mr. Johnson on Killing His Goat”, in The Souvenir of Friendship, London: […] [Woodfall and Kinder] for the author, […], →OCLC, page 25:

           When children to the school at morn did pass / With basket-store, thou [a goat] mendedst then thy pace, / And boldly into every school-bag spied / With insolent but inoffensive pride, / Till, bit by bit, the morning lunch was thine, / And off you sauntered as the clock struck nine.

      6. (archaic) To correct or put right the defects, errors, or faults of (something); to amend, to emend, to fix.
         • 1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 81, lines 323–324:

           Salt Earth and bitter are not fit to ſovv, / Nor vvill be tam'd or mended vvith the Plough.

         • 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, “Of Marle”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC, pages 73–74:

           [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, […]

      7. (archaic) To increase the quality of (someone or something); to better, to improve on; also, to produce something better than (something else).
         • c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC; republished as Shakspere’s Loves Labours Lost (Shakspere-Quarto Facsimiles; no. 5), London: W[illiam] Griggs, […], [1880], →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature H2, recto, lines 234–237:

           [N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely, and in huſhering, / Mende him vvho can, the Ladies call him ſvveete.

         • c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 81, column 2:

           Beleeu't deere Lord, / You mend the Ievvell by the vvearing it.

         • 1891, G[eorge] Bernard Shaw, “The Plays”, in The Quintessence of Ibsenism, London: Walter Scott […], →OCLC, page 57:

           [William] Shakespear[e], in Hamlet, made a drama of the self-questioning that came upon him when his intellect rose up in alarm, as well it might, against the vulgar optimism of his Henry V., and yet could mend it to no better purpose than by the equally vulgar pessimism of Troilus and Cressida.

      8. (archaic) To make amends or reparation for (a wrong done); to atone.
         • 1546, John Heywood, chapter XI, in Julian Sharman, editor, The Proverbs of John Heywood. […], London: George Bell and Sons, […], published 1874, →OCLC, part I, page 62:

           Yee may sir, (quoth he), mend three nayes with one yee.

           The spelling has been modernized.

         • c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 17, column 2:

           Come, come, you haue bin too rough, ſomthing too rough: you muſt returne, and mend it.

      9. (archaic except UK, regional) To restore (someone or something) to a healthy state; to cure, to heal.
         • 1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 99, lines 112–113:

           Yearly thy Herds in vigour vvill impair; / Recruit and mend 'em vvith thy Yearly care: […]

         • 1711 September 2 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XXVII.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 112:

           We have had terrible rains these two or three days. I intended to dine at lord treasurer's, but went to see lady Abercorn, who is come to town, and my lord; and I dined with them, and visited lord treasurer this evening. His porter is mending.

         • 1833, Elia [pseudonym; Charles Lamb], “Ellistoniana”, in The Last Essays of Elia. […], London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 40:

           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— […]

         • 1868, William Morris, “July: The Son of Crœsus”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, parts [I and II], London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 551:

           [H]ot July was drawing to an end, / And August came the fainting year to mend / With fruit and grain; […]

         • 1936 July, John Buchan, “Sundry Doings at Fosse”, in The Island of Sheep, London: Hodder and Stoughton, published July 1938, →OCLC, part I (Fosse), page 112:

           If we were making no progress with Haraldsen's business we were at any rate mending his health.

   3. (obsolete)
      1. To adjust or correctly position (something; specifically (nautical), a sail).
         • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 241, column 1:

           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.

         • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 367, column 2:

           [Y]our Crovvnes avvay,^{[sic – meaning awry?]} / Ile mend it, and then play— […]

         • 1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, “The Induction”, in The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, page 4:

           Mend your lights, Gentlemen. [Stage direction in the margin:] The Tiremen enter to mend the lights.

         • 1682 December 15 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John] Dryden, [Nathaniel] Lee, The Duke of Guise. A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] H[odgkin] for R[ichard] Bentley […], and J[acob] Tonson […], published 1683, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 16:

           Guiſe. […] Your Air, your Meen, your Charms, your every Grace, / VVill Kill at leaſt your thouſand in a day. / Mar[moutier]. […] Yes, I vvou'd make vvith every Glance a Murder. / Mend me this Curle.

         • 1832, [Frederick Marryat], chapter VIII, in Newton Forster; or, The Merchant Service. […], volume II, London: James Cochrane and Co., […], →OCLC, page 97:

           He therefore turned the hands up, "mend sails," and took his station amidship on the booms, to see that this, the most delinquent sail, was properly furled.

      2. To put out (a candle).
      3. (figurative) To add one or more things in order to improve (something, especially wages); to supplement; also, to remedy a shortfall in (something).
         • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 94, column 2:

           VVill you goe vvith me, vvee'll mend our dinner here?

         • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 192, column 1:

           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.

         • 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 128, lines 195–196:

           Sometimes vvhite Lyllies did their Leaves afford, / VVith vvholſom Polly-flovv'rs, to mend his homely Board: […]

         • 1711 October 20 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XXXII.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 155:

           I was forced to lie down at twelve to day, and mend my night's sleep: […]

      4. (figurative) To relieve (distress); to alleviate, to ease.
      5. (reflexive, figurative) To reform (oneself).
         • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2:

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

      6. (also reflexive, figurative) To improve the condition or fortune of (oneself or someone).
         • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Innouations. XXIIII.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 140:

           [W]hatſoeuer is Nevv, is vnlooked for; And euer it mends Some, and pairs Other: […]

         • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, pages 67–68:

           I vvas born indeed in your Dominions, but your ſe[r]vice vvas hard, and your vvages ſuch as a man could not live on, for the vvages of Sin is death [Romans 6:23]; therefore vvhen I vvas come to years, I did as other conſiderate perſons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend my ſelf.

         • 1719, [Daniel Defoe], The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 96:

           [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.

         • 1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 40:

           After all, if the king vvere to bring himſelf to echo this nevv kind of addreſs, to adopt it in terms, and even to take the appellation of Servant of the People as his royal ſtyle, hovv either he or vve ſhould be much mended by it, I cannot imagine.

      7. (England, regional) To repair the clothes of (someone).
         • 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “A Short One—Showing among Other Matters, How Mr. Pickwick Undertook to Drive, and Mr. Winkle to Ride; and How They Both Did It”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC, page 50:

           "Ready?" said the old gentleman inquiringly, when his guests had been washed, mended, brushed, and brandied.

         • 1877 November 17 (first performance), W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, librettist; Arthur Sullivan, composer, The Sorcerer. […], New York, N.Y.: A. S. Seer, […], published 1879, →OCLC, Act [II], page 22:

           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!

      8. (Northern Ireland, Scotland, figurative) To cause (a person or animal) to gain weight; to fatten.
      9. (Scotland, figurative) Chiefly with the impersonal pronoun it: to provide a benefit to (someone); to advantage, to profit.
2. (intransitive)
   1. (figurative)
      1. Of an illness: to become less severe; also, of an injury or wound, or an injured body part: to get better, to heal.
         • c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 97, column 1:

           My long ſickneſſe / Of Health, and Liuing, novv begins to mend, […]

         • 1902 January, John Buchan, “The Outgoing of the Tide”, in The Watcher by the Threshold, and Other Tales, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1902, →OCLC, pages 241–242:

           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.

      2. Of a person: to become healthy again; to recover from illness.
         • 1713 March 5 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XV.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XIV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 387:

           The queen is mending of her gout, and intends to be brought in a chair to parliament when it meets, […]

         • 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 5.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 262:

           But the fever has left him, and the doctor says he will soon mend.

         • [1927 July, John Buchan, “The First Blast”, in Witch Wood, London: Hodder and Stoughton, published August 1927, →OCLC, page 120:

           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.

           Written in Scots.]

      3. (archaic) Now only in least said, soonest mended: to make amends or reparation.
         • 1836, [Frederick] Marryat, “The Pirate. Chapter V. The Old Maid.”, in The Pirate, and The Three Cutters. […], London: […] Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, →OCLC, page 46:

           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.'

         • 1841, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VIII, in Night and Morning […], volume III, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book IV, page 85:

           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.'

      4. (chiefly Scotland) To become morally improved or reformed.
         • c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], signature F2, recto:

           Let ſhame come vvhen it vvill, I doe not callit, / […] / Mend vvhen thou canſt, be better at thy leaſure, / I can be patient, […]

         • 1655, James Howell, “XXXVII. To R. Bowyer, Esq.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A Fourth Volume of Familiar Letters, upon Various Emergent Occasions, […], volume IV, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC, section, pages 91–92:

           VVe have both of us our failings that vvay, […] but it is never over-late to mend: therefore I begin, and do penance in this vvhite ſheet for vvhat is paſs'd; I hope you vvill do the like, and ſo vve may abſolve one another vvithout a Ghoſtly Father.

         • [1785 (date written), Robert Burns, “Address to the Deil”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. […], 2nd edition, volume I, Edinburgh: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], and William Creech, […], published 1793, →OCLC, page 106:

           But, fare you vveel, auld Nickie-ben! / O vvad ye tak a thought an’ men’!

           But, fare you well, old Nickie-ben [the Devil]! / O would you take a thought and mend!

           Written in Scots.]

         • 1873, William Black, “‘Farewell, Mackrimmon!’”, in A Princess of Thule. […], New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 151:

           I am afraid that you are a very foolish boy, […] but I hope to see you mend when you marry.

         • 1909 September, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “A Chapter of Accidents”, in Anne of Avonlea, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, →OCLC, page 195:

           "Well, it's never too late to mend," said Anne roguishly.

   2. (obsolete)
      1. Chiefly used together with make: to make repairs.
         • 1622, David Browne, “The Manner How to Forme the Penne”, in The New Invention, Intituled, Calligraphia: Or, The Arte of Faire Writing: […], Saint Andrews, Fife, Scotland: […] Edward Raban, printer to the Vniversitie [of Saint Andrews], →OCLC, section I (Comprehending All the Rules of Preparation, […]), page 6:

           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; […]

         • 1851, Henry Mayhew, “On the Wholesale Business at the Old Clothes Exchange”, in London Labour and the London Poor; […], volume II (The London Street-folk. Book the Second.), London: [Griffin, Bohn, and Company], →OCLC, page 30, column 1:

           [T]he piece of woollen fabric which has been rejected by those who make or mend, and who must make or mend so cheaply that the veriest vagrant may be their customer, is formed not only into a new material, but into a material which sometimes is made into a new garment. These garments are inferior to those woven of new wool, both in look and wear; but in some articles the re-manufacture is beautiful.

         • 1888, Walter Besant, “With the Middle Class”, in Fifty Years Ago, London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 91:

           There was a fiction in genteel families that the ladies of the house never did anything serious or serviceable after dinner; […] Why they went through this elaborate pretence I have not the least idea, because everybody knew that every girl in the place was always making, mending, cutting-out, basting, gusseting, trimming, turning, and contriving. How do you suppose that the solicitor's daughters made so brave a show on Sundays if they were not clever enough to make up things for themselves?

      2. (figurative) To advance to a better state; to become less bad or faulty; to improve.
         • 1546, John Heywood, chapter IX, in Julian Sharman, editor, The Proverbs of John Heywood. […], London: George Bell and Sons, […], published 1874, →OCLC, part II, page 154:

           Then would ye mend as the fletcher mends his bolt, / Or sowre ale mendeth in summer, […]

           The spelling has been modernized.

         • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 258, column 2:

           VVhat thinke you of this foole Maluolio, doth he not mend?

         • 1645 August 13 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “XXXVIII. To Master R. B.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A New Volume of Familiar Letters, […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, →OCLC, section, page 47:

           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: […]

         • 1705, J[oseph] Addison, “From Rome to Naples”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 174:

           St. Peters ſeldom anſvvers Expectation at firſt entering it, but enlarges it ſelf on all Sides inſenſibly, and mends upon the Eye every Moment.

         • 1711 May 12 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XXII.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 36:

           [M]y friend Lewis and I dined with Kit Musgrave, if you know such a man: and, the weather mending, I walked gravely home this evening; and so I design to walk and walk till I am well: I fancy myself a little better already.

         • 1712 December 3 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “SATURDAY, November 22, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 543; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 135:

           In short, the body of man is such a subject as stands the utmost test of examination. Though it appears formed with the nicest wisdom, upon the most superficial survey of it, it still mends upon the search, and produces our surprise and amazement in proportion as we pry into it.

           The spelling has been modernized.

         • a. 1722 (date written), Matthew Prior, “The Turtle and Sparrow. An Elegiac Tale, Occasioned by the Death of Prince George, 1708.”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume II, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, page 151:

           Matters at vvorſt are ſure to mend, / The devils vvife vvas but a fiend.

         • 1736, [George Berkeley], “Query 5”, in The Querist, Containing Several Queries, Proposed to the Consideration of the Public. […], part II, London: […] J. Roberts, […], →OCLC, page 1:

           VVhether it can be reaſonably hoped, that our State vvill mend, ſo long as Property is inſecure among us?

      3. (figurative) To improve in amount or price.
      4. (figurative) Of an error, fault, etc.: to be corrected or put right.
         • 1712 June 29 (Gregorian calendar), [Alexander Pope], “WEDNESDAY, June 18, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 408; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, pages 17–18:

           Young men, whose passions are not a little unruly, give small hopes of their ever being considerable; the fire of youth will of course abate, and is a fault, if it be a fault, that mends every day; but surely, unless a man has fire in his youth, he can hardly have warmth in old age.

           The spelling has been modernized.

      5. (figurative) Followed by of: to recover from a bad state; to get better, to grow out of.
      6. (Northern Ireland, Scotland, figurative) Of an animal: to gain weight, to fatten.
      7. (Scotland, figurative) To advantage, to avail, to help.

Conjugation

infinitive	(to) mend
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	mend	mended
2nd-person singular	mend, mendest†	mended, mendedst†
3rd-person singular	mends, mendeth†	mended
plural	mend
subjunctive	mend	mended
imperative	mend	—
participles	mending	mended

Conjugation of mend

^†Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms

• bellows to mend
• hell mend someone
• it's never too late to mend
• least said, soonest mended
• make do and mend
• mendable
• mender
• mendery
• mend fences
• mend one's pace
• mend one's ways
• mismend
• on the mending hand
• remend

 

Translations

to physically repair (something that is damaged)

Albanian: arnoj (sq) Arabic: أَصْلَحَ (ʔaṣlaḥa) Egyptian Arabic: صلح (ṣallaḥ) Armenian: please add this translation if you can Bulgarian: поправям (bg) (popravjam) Catalan: reparar (ca) Chinese: Mandarin: 修補／修补 (zh) (xiūbǔ), 修改 (zh) (xiūgǎi), 修理 (zh) (xiūlǐ) Czech: opravit (cs), spravit (cs) Danish: fikse (informal), reparere (da) Dutch: herstellen (nl), repareren (nl) Finnish: kohentaa (fi), korjata (fi), kunnostaa (fi), parantaa (fi) French: raccommoder (fr), réparer (fr) Galician: reparar (gl) German: flicken (de), reparieren (de) Greek: επισκευάζω (el) (episkevázo) Ancient: καταρτίζω (katartízō) Hindi: ठीक करना (ṭhīk karnā) Hungarian: megjavít (hu) Irish: ceartaigh, deisigh Italian: riparare (it) Japanese: 直す (ja) (なおす, naosu), 修理する (ja) (しゅうりする, shūri suru) Korean: 고치다 (ko) (gochida), 수리하다 (ko) (suri-hada) Lao: ຊ່ອມ (sǭm) Latin: sarciō Persian: درست کردن (fa) (dorost kardan) Plautdietsch: flekjen Polish: naprawiać (pl) impf, naprawić (pl) pf Portuguese: consertar (pt), reparar (pt) Romanian: drege (ro), repara (ro) Russian: чини́ть (ru) impf (činítʹ), почини́ть (ru) pf (počinítʹ), исправля́ть (ru) impf (ispravljátʹ), испра́вить (ru) pf (isprávitʹ) Scottish Gaelic: càirich Spanish: emendar, reparar (es), remendar (es) Swahili: kutengeneza Swedish: fixa (sv), laga (sv), reparera (sv) Thai: ซ่อม (th) (sɔ̂m) Turkish: onarmak (tr), tamir etmek (tr) Ukrainian: ла́годити (uk) impf (láhodyty), пола́годити pf (poláhodyty) Urdu: ٹھیک کرنا (ṭhīk karnā) Vietnamese: sửa chữa (vi)

to repair (a tear in clothing)

Bulgarian: кърпя (kǎrpja) Danish: lappe Finnish: paikata (fi) French: rapiécer (fr) Galician: remendar Georgian: please add this translation if you can Hungarian: befoltoz (hu), felszed (hu), foltoz (hu), javít (hu), megfoltoz (hu), megjavít (hu), megstoppol (hu), összevarr (hu) Italian: rammendare (it) Latin: sarciō Maori: pāpaki, tapi, tapitapi Ottoman Turkish: یامامق (yamamak) Polish: cerować (pl) impf, zacerować pf Portuguese: remendar (pt) Russian: зашивать (ru) impf (zašivatʹ), заши́ть (ru) pf (zašítʹ), заштопывать (ru) (zaštopyvatʹ) Spanish: remendar (es) Thai: please add this translation if you can Turkish: yamamak (tr) Vietnamese: khâu (vi), vá (vi)

to add fuel to (a fire)

Finnish: lisätä puuta Galician: please add this translation if you can

to correct or put right (an error, a fault, etc.) — see also rectify,‎ remedy

Bulgarian: подобрявам (bg) (podobrjavam) Danish: forbedre (da) Dutch: herstellen (nl), verbeteren (nl) Finnish: korjata (fi) Hungarian: helyreállít (hu), helyrehoz (hu), jóvátesz (hu), kijavít (hu), megjavít (hu), rendbe hoz (hu) Maori: whakapai

to put (something) in a better state — see ameliorate,‎ improve,‎ reform

(transitive) to remove fault or sin from (someone, or their behaviour or character); (intransitive) to become morally improved or reformed — see reform

to adjust (a pace or speed)

Finnish: sovittaa vauhti Galician: please add this translation if you can

to quicken or speed up (a pace) — see quicken

to correct or put right the defects, errors, or faults of (something) — see amend,‎ fix

to increase the quality of (someone or something) — see better,‎ improve on

to produce something better than (something else)

Finnish: parantaa (fi) Galician: please add this translation if you can

(transitive) to make amends or reparation for (a wrong done); (intransitive) to make amends or reparation — see atone,‎ make amends

to restore (someone or something) to a healthy state — see cure,‎ heal

of an illness: to become less severe; of an injury or wound, or an injured body part: to get better, to heal — see get better,‎ heal

of a person: to become healthy again; to recover from illness — see recover

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Hebrew: (please verify) לאחות (l'aḥot), (please verify) לשפר (l'shaper), (please verify) לתקן (l'taken) Norman: (please verify) racc'moder (Jersey), (please verify) r'graie (Jersey)

Etymology 2

Partly:^[4]

• (chiefly sense 2 (“recompense; restoration or reparation”)) from Middle English mend, mende (“cure, remedy; damages, recompense; atonement; penance; relief”),^[5] the aphetic form of amende, amendes (“retribution, amends; a fine; atonement; penance”)^[6] (though attested slightly earlier); or directly from its etymon Anglo-Norman amende, Middle French amende, and Old French amende (“a fine”) (modern French amende), from amender (verb) (see etymology 1); and
• from mend (verb).

Noun

mend (countable and uncountable, plural mends)

1. Senses relating to improvement or repairing.
   1. (countable) An act of repairing.

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

   2. (countable) A place in a thing (such as a tear in clothing) which has been repaired.
   3. (uncountable) Chiefly in on the mend: improvement in health; recovery from illness.
      • 1911 March, Jack London, “The Jessie”, in Adventure, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, page 39:

        Though he was fearfully weak, he found himself actually feeling better. The disease had spent itself, and the mend had begun.

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

   Synonym: (chiefly Scotland) mends

Derived terms

• mends (plural noun)
• on the mend

Translations

act of repairing

Bulgarian: закърпване n (zakǎrpvane) Finnish: paikkaus (fi) Galician: please add this translation if you can Hungarian: foltozás (hu), javítás (hu) Portuguese: conserto (pt) m, reparo (pt) m Russian: лата́ние (ru) n (latánije), почи́нка (ru) f (počínka), што́пка (ru) f (štópka) (cloth) , зала́тывание (ru) n (zalátyvanije), зашто́пывание (ru) n (zaštópyvanije) (cloth) Vietnamese: sửa (vi), vá (vi)

place in a thing which has been repaired

Bulgarian: кръпка (bg) f (krǎpka) Finnish: paikka (fi) Galician: please add this translation if you can Hungarian: folt (hu), javítás (hu) Portuguese: remendo (pt) m Russian: запла́та (ru) f (zapláta) (rare), запла́тка (ru) f (zaplátka), заши́тая ды́рка (zašítaja dýrka) Spanish: remiendo (es) m

improvement in health; recovery from illness

Finnish: paraneminen Galician: please add this translation if you can

References

1. “mē̆nden, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
2. “amē̆nden, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
3. “mend, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2024; “mend, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
4. “mend, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2024; “mend, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
5. “mē̆nd(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
6. “amē̆nde(s, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Further reading

• “mend”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “mend”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “mend”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Albanian

Alternative forms

• mên — Gheg

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin mentem.

Noun

mend

1. mind

Derived terms

• mendoj

Further reading

• “mend”, in FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language]‎ (in Albanian), 1980
• Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “mend”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 256
• Newmark, L. (1999) “mend”, in Oxford Albanian-English Dictionary‎
• “mend”, in FGJSH: Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe [Dictionary of the Albanian language] (in Albanian), 2006

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɛnt/
• Rhymes: -ɛnt
• Syllabification: mend

Noun

mend

1. genitive plural of menda