What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Tend vs Towards - What's the difference?

tend | towards |

In obsolete terms the difference between tend and towards

is that tend is to be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to while towards is near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.

As a verb tend

is to kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.

As a preposition towards is

variant of toward.

As an adverb towards is

in the direction of something (indicated by context).

As an adjective towards is

near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.

tend

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) tenden, from (etyl) . Related to (l).

Alternative forms

* (l), (l), (l), (l), (l) * (l), (l), (l), (l) (Scotland)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.
    • Derived terms
    * (l), (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) *.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (legal, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
  • (followed by a to infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain characteristic.
    • They tend to go out on Saturdays.
    It tends to snow here in winter.
    Usage notes
    * In sense 2. this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. * See
    Derived terms
    * tendency

    See also

    * be given to

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.)
    • We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.
  • To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.
    • Shepherds tend their flocks.
  • * Emerson
    • There's not a sparrow or a wren, / There's not a blade of autumn grain, / Which the four seasons do not tend / And tides of life and increase lend.
  • To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?
  • (obsolete) To await; to expect.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.
  • * Chapman
    • Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.
  • (nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

    • External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    towards

    English

    Preposition

    (en-prep) (mainly in British English )
  • Variant of toward.
  • * 1835 , Sir , Sir (James Clark Ross), Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1 , pp.284-5
    • Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Everton 0-2 Liverpool , passage=But with Goodison Park openly directing its full hostility towards Atkinson, Liverpool went ahead when Carroll turned in his first Premier League goal of the season after 70 minutes.}}

    Synonyms

    * toward

    Usage notes

    * Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words (term) and (towards), the difference is merely dialectal. (term) is the most common form, while (toward) tends to appear only in American English.

    See also

    * See

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) In the direction of something (indicated by context).
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.iv:
    • Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde / A varlet running towards hastily [...].

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
  • * Shakespeare
    • We have a trifling foolish banquet / Towards .

    Statistics

    * English prepositions