▪ I. wend, v.1
(wɛnd)
pa. tense and pa. pple. wended (ˈwɛndɪd). Forms: inf. α. 1 wendan (North. wœnda), 2 wænden (wanden), 3–4 wenden (3 Orm. wendenn), 5 wendyn, Sc. wendin; 3–6 wende (4 whende), 4–5 north. and Sc. vend, 4– wend; 3 sing. pres. 1–4 went (2 want); β. 3 wiende, 4–5 weende, north. and Sc. 4–5 weind, weynd, 5 weynde; γ. 4 winde, wind, 5 wynde, wynd; δ. 4–6 went. pa. tense 1–4 wende (3 Orm. wennde); 2 wænte (wante), 4–5 wente, 4– went (5 whent); north. 4 weint, 4–5 wynt; 6– wended (5 north. weyndut). pa. pple. 1 ᵹewend, 3–4 iwend, 4 ywend, -e (wende), 3–5 wend (3 Orm. wennd); 2 i-want, 3–5 i-, iwent, went, wente, 4 y-, ywent, 5 i-wente; Sc. 6 wynt; 1, 4, 6– wended.
[Common Teutonic: OE. wendan, = OFris. wenda (WFris. weine, wine, NFris. wên, wän), MDu. (and Du.) wenden, OS. wendian (MLG. and LG. wenden, LG. wennen), OHG. wentan (MHG. and G. wenden), ON. and Icel. venda (Norw. venda; Sw. vȧnda, Da. vende), Goth. wandjan; f. *wand-, the preterite stem of windan wind v.1, of which wendan is the causative. The original forms of the pa. tense and pple. are respectively wende and wended, wend, but the forms wente, went appear beside these from c 1200, and latterly become the more usual; in the refl. and intr. senses went finally replaced the older preterites belonging to go, and from c 1500 is most naturally regarded as the pa. tense of that verb, while wend was provided with the new form wended.
The following are illustrations of the less usual forms of the infinitive and present. The β-forms represent a normal lengthening of the vowel in certain dialects. The γ-forms are merely graphic (by confusion with wind v.1), as the rhymes regularly indicate wĕnd or wēnd. The δ-form is due to the influence of the pa. tense and pple. in the form went(e.
βc 1290 St. Silvester 23 in S. Eng. Leg. 391 To-niȝht þou schalt..wiende to þe pine of helle. a 1300 Cursor M.w 2363 Ȝee sal weind til a better land. 13.. Northern Passion 198 (Camb.) Vnto þat cite sone gan þai weynd. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 171 Elles schal al dye, and to helle weende. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 450 Thow weyndez by Watlyng-strette, and by no waye elles. 1421 Hoccleve Minor P. xxii. 561 On my behalue to thy lady weende [rhyme seende = send]. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 132 Good brother, let vs weynd sone.
γa 1300 Cursor M. 3564 Til vnwelth windes al his wald. Ibid. 8619 Haf god-dai, for nov wind i. a 1400 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 805 (MS. B.) Þat ich was wond to wynde Mid so mony hondred knyȝtes a boute in eche ende. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2014 (Ashm.), I warne þe, or I wynd. Ibid. 2150, 2177, etc. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 107 He takythe leve at lorddys hend, And on hys wey gan he wynd. a 1500 Coventry Corpus Chr. Pl. i. 330 To hys blys that ye may wynd At your last day.
δa 1300 Cursor M. 27748 It wentes man fra godd his will. Ibid. 28681 Þou fand..all for to went his will. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 257 And thi Ferrand..Sall richt to Paris went. c 1400 Rule St. Benet 2027 When þai sal went in cuntre. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 330 Scho prayde he wald to the lord Persye went. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 75 Thow seruis better for to haue punischement,..nor halie gaitis to went.]
I. Transitive and reflexive senses.
1. † a. To alter the position or direction of; to turn (something) round or over: also with across, adown, away. to wend down: to overthrow, destroy. Obs.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. i. §2 Þa wendon hi me heora bæc to. 971 Blickl. Hom. 191 Petrus cwæþ, þa he com to þære rode,..‘Wendaþ min heofod ofdune’. a 1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 16 Clæm ðonne on arfæt; læt standan nyᵹon niht; wende man ælce dæᵹe. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke vi. 29 And þam ðe þe slyhð on þin ᵹewenge, wend oðer onᵹean. c 1050 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 377/18 Conuoluens, wendende. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 161 Hie wenden þe eorðe & wurpen god sad þaronne. c 1205 Lay. 46 Laȝamon leide þeos boc & þa leaf wende [c 1275 tornde]. Ibid. 26559 Bos..his hors wende wunder ane swiðe. a 1225 Ancr. R. 62 Louerd, seið Dauid, wend awei mine eien vrom þe worldes dweole. Ibid. 430 He..went þe neruwe ende of þe horne to his owune muðe. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1649 Iacob wið hire wente ðat ston. a 1300 E.E. Psalter ix. 7 Þair cites doune dide þou wende. c 1330 Assump. Virg. 711 (Add. MS.) Here mouþes were to here nek went. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2152 Bi þat þe wyȝe in the wod wendez his brydel. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. lxxii. (1495) 646 Heye is ofte reysed torned and wended. Ibid. cxlvii. 702 It falleth to powder while it is tornyd and wende and kneden in the honde. c 1400 Beryn 2837 They made hir takelyng redy, & wend þe saill a-cros. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. vi. 13 And yf the rayn bishoure, Wende hit [hay] not til hit be parfit drie. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 1349 Bors de gawnes stille stode And wrothe a-way hys yȝen wente. |
| absol. 1475 Partenay 6566 Ho it metre will,..Be it in balede, uers, Rime, or prose, He most torn and wend, metrely to close. |
† b. fig. To turn over, revolve (thoughts, etc., in the mind). Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 98, & ȝet hwon he is forðe, heo went in hire þuhte ofte swuche wordes. |
† c. to wend away, to take away, remove. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2613 Egipte wimmen..boden ðe childe letten ðer, Oc [ȝ]he wente it awei wið rem. c 1440 York Myst. ii. 42 Oway I will it wende full wyght. Ibid. 46 Now sene þe erthe þus ordand es,..to growe with gres, and wedis þat sone away bese went. |
d. Naut. To turn (a ship's bow or head) to the opposite tack. Also with about, aloof. (Cf. 6 c below, and wind v.1 8.)
to wend (a boat) off: to float (a stranded boat) by this operation.
| 1556 J. Heywood Spider & Fly lvii. 206 Better wende your ship a loofe: and take sea roome: Then roon here on rockes. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea xxxiv. 84 And laying out an Anchor, we sought to wend her off. 1631 E. Pellham Gods Power 6 Some of our companie..were perswaded, to wend about the Boates head the second time, unto the Southwards. Ibid. 7 We wended the Shallop..unto the Northward. 1635 Adm. Court Exam. 52, 22 Oct., The Neptune being then newly wended from the Shoare. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn., Wending, is a term for bringing a Ships' Head about. 1834 Marryat P. Simple xliv, He hauled-to the launch, and wending her bow to the privateer, directed her carronade..to where the Frenchmen were crowded the thickest. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. |
† 2. fig. a. To turn (one's mind, thoughts, will, etc.) in a new direction; to alter (one's mind or intention). Const. from, to. Obs.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxiii. §4 Ic wolde nu þæt ðu wende þin inᵹeþonc from þæm leasum ᵹesælðum. Ibid. xxxv. §7 Swa hwa swa..his mod went to ðæm yflum ðe he ær forlet. c 1205 Lay. 8836 Nu ich wulle wende mi mod, aȝenes uuel ich wulle don god. c 1290 St. Kath. 16 in S. Eng. Leg. 92 Sire, heo seide,..Þov scholdest þi wisdom and þi wit to some guode wende. c 1290 Beket 998 Ibid. 135 All we worþez i-brouȝt to nouȝte, bote þov þi þouȝt wende. a 1300 Cursor M. 10646 Al hir might and all hir tent To godds seruis had sco went. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7807 Anon tys wif his wille he went. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 235 If hire lord his herte wente To love in eny other place. |
† b. To turn (a person) to or from a course of life or condition; to alter (a person's will or purpose). Obs.
| c 1200 Ormin 3441 Forrþi þatt he þeᵹᵹm wollde þa To rihhte læfe wendenn. a 1225 Ancr. R. 110 Forte wenden us urommard þe licunge þet flesches lustes askeð. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 693 To wenden men fro godes reed, To newe luue and to newe dred. 13.. Cursor M. 24824 (Gött.) Þaa þat he had na giftes till, wid hightes faire he went þair will. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 194 My broþer..Is riche of tenement, his sonnes strong & stith, Þer wille wille not be went. |
† 3. a. To change the character of; to alter. Obs.
Rarely also with adj. complement.
| a 1000 Guthlac 730 [758] Þy læs þa tydran mod þa ᵹewitnesse wendan þurfe. 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1137 He..makede mani weorkes & wende þe tun betere þan it ær wæs. c 1205 Lay. 7128 Þe uncuðe weoren..wenden heore [sc. the burghs'] nomen. c 1230 Juliana 38 Ant he wende heowes & warð swuch as he her wes unwiht of helle. c 1290 St. Kenelm 60 in S. Eng. Leg. 347 Þe king of kent was þo kyng of al þe londe of kent, þat weren inne tweie bischopriches, and ȝeot nis it nouȝt i-went. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 144 That sche ne mai..speke a word, ne ones loke, That he [a spy] ne wol it wende and croke And torne after his oghne entente. |
† b. To ‘turn’ from one language into another; to translate. Const. on (= into), till (= to). Obs.
| c 897 ælfred Gregory's Past. C. Prol. 7 Ða ongan ic..ða boc wendan on Englisc. ? c 900 ― Boeth. Proem, ælfred kuning wæs wealhstod ðisse bec, & hie of boclædene on englisc wende. c 1200 Ormin Ded. 113 Ȝiff mann wile witenn..Whi icc till Ennglissh hafe wennd Goddspelless hallȝhe lare. |
† c. To change the form or nature of; to transform, transmute, or turn to, into. Obs.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. (Thorpe) I. 168 Ᵹif ðu Godes Sunu sy, wend þas stanas to hlafum and et. a 1000 Ags. Ps. (Thorpe) cxiii. 8 He wendeð stan on widne mere. a 1225 Ancr. R. 78 Þer, þurh hire bone, was water iwend to wine. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1464 (Cott.) Þat child bi me hit understond An his unred to red went. c 1275 in O.E. Misc. 90 Selcuþ dude vre dryhtin Þat he water wende to win. a 1300 K. Horn (Cambr. MS.) 470 Þanne is mi þralhod Iwent in to kniȝthod. 1340 Ayenb. 60 Hi alle..wendeþ to guode al þet þe guodeman deþ oþer zayþ. c 1350 Libeaus Desc. (Kaluza) 2132 Þourȝ har chauntement To worme þey hadde me went. |
† d. To bring (into a certain state). Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2896 Louered, qui was ic hider sent? ðin folc is more in sorwe went. |
† 4. refl. To turn, direct, or betake (oneself). Freq. with advs. or preps. Obs.
Orig. in purely reflexive use, with the accusative of the pronoun, which is subsequently replaced by the dative.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xl. §1 Ic wolde..ðæt wit unc wenden sume hwile to þises folces spræce. c 893 ― Oros. iii. vii. §4 [He] hiene siþþan wende on his þrie ᵹebroðor. a 900 O.E. Chron. an. 894 Þa se cyning hine þa west wende. c 1000 ælfric Gen. xlii. 24 He wende hine lithwon fram him and weop. c 1200 Ormin 6576 Þatt sume off ure little flocc..Hemm wendenn oþerr stund fra Crist. Ibid. 11320 Forrþ⁓rihht se Jesuss fullhtnedd wass, He wennde him inntill wesste. c 1205 Lay. 24177 Wend þe hider Howeldin..haue þu Bulune. a 1225 Ancr. R. 18 Þer efter wendeð ou to vre Leafdi onlicnesse, and cneoleð mid fif auez. c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 27 Þo kinges hem wenten and hi segen þo sterre. a 1300 Cursor M. 5693 Þir wimmen went þam ham a-gain. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iii. met. xii. (1868) 107 He wente hym to þe houses of helle. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 238 And fro his lond with Sail updrawe Thei wente hem forth. c 1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 30 He went hym to þe kyng henry, & hym swith besoght [etc.]. 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 11/2 He thought long yer he could wend himselfe ouer into Ireland. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 163, I know it stands us upon to wend us hence assoone as we conveniently can. |
† b. lit. of a vane: To revolve (with the wind).
| 1340 Ayenb. 180 Hi byeþ ase þe wedercoc þet is ope þe steple, þet him went mid eche wynde. |
II. Intransitive senses.
† 5. Of events, etc., or impers. with it: To have or take a certain course; to take place, happen, or come about. Obs.
| Beowulf 1739 Ac him eal worold wendeð on willan. c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §2 Ac ic wundrie swiðe swiðlice forhwi hit swa went swa hit nu oft deð. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9400 Cuþeþ to day ȝoure manhede þat it mowe wende To ȝou & to ȝoure children to honour wiþouten ende. a 1300 Cursor M. 18789 Bot godd for-bede sua þat it weind, Þat we vr fa mak of ur freind. 13.. Ibid. 7662 (Gött.) Þare mani a man fel vnder schild, Bot wid dauid went þe feld. 1340 Ayenb. 262 Nou ich wille þet ye ywyte hou hit is y-went Þet þis boc is y-write mid engliss of kent. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 280 For so is þis worlde went wiþ hem þat han powere That who-so seyth hem sothes is sonnest yblamed. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 276 If myn happ were so well went, That for the hole I mihte have half. c 1400 Beryn 1264 Then Beryn..seid, ‘is this a sermon or a prechement? Yee were nat wont her-to, how is this I-went?’ |
6. † a. to wend again: to turn back, to return. lit. and fig. Obs.
In OE. also without adv., and with on bæc.
| O.E. Chron. an. 895 Þa hie ða eft ut of Norð Wealum wendon mid þære here hyðe þe hie ðær ᵹenumen hæfdon. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xvii. 31 And se ðe bið on æcere ne went he on-bæc. Ibid. xxiv. 33 And hiᵹ arison..& wendon [c 1160 Hatton wenten] to hierusalem. c 1205 Lay. 1590 He wende on ȝean sone & he ohtliche feaht. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 979 An angel..bad hire sone wenden agen. Ibid. 3724 We wilen..wenden in-to egipte agen. a 1300 Cursor M. 3027 Þai went again to bersabee. c 1375 Ibid. 1867 (Fairf.) Agayne he dide þe waters wende, þe ship on lande bigan to lende. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 137 Wende þou aȝeyne, malkedras, & gete me þe cheynes. |
† b. Of the wind: To change in direction. Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 9407 Þe wind wende forð riht framward þan stronde in to þissen londe. c 1400 Gamelyn 703 And sente..For to seke Gamelyn..To telle him tydinges how the wind was went. |
† c. Naut. Of a ship: To turn her head about (see 1 d above). Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 21 Wateres..Ȝware bi þe ssipes mowe come fram þe se & wende And bringe alonde god inoȝ. 1530 Palsgr. 779/2, I wende, I turne, as a shyppe dothe with the tyde. 1537 Adm. Court Oyer & Term. 73. No. 38 The said wood hoye..dyd wende abowte for to cum to an anker. a 1609 Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 32 About me the Gallions let slip Cable in the haulse, and with their top sails wended and drew towards the shore on the left hand of the Bay. a 1618 Ralegh Observ. Royal Navy (1650) 9 The lesser [ship] will turne her broad sides twice, before the greater can wend once. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Praise of Hempseed Wks. iii. 65 East and by South, West and by North she wends. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. s.v. Wending,..They say, How wends the Ship? i.e. Which way does her Head lie? |
† 7. To turn from one condition or form to another; to change to or into. Obs.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. iv, Forþan went nu fulneah eall moncyn on tweonunga, ᵹif [etc.]. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 248 Þonne ne maᵹon þas þing helpan for þon ðe þæt wile wendan on wæter bollan. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 321 [Lucifer] Wente in to a wirme, and tolde eue a tale. a 1300 Cursor M. 3564 His blode..wexus dri and cald, Til vnwelth windes [v.r. wendis] al his wald. 1340 Ayenb. 6 Þe wone is kueaduol and may wel wende to zenne dyadliche bot yef him ne loki. Ibid. 69 Þet him ssolde by triacle, to him went in to uenym. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 202 Wo in-to wel mowe wende atte laste. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 153 Be-holde thy-Selfe, that thow arte Erthe and into Erthe thow shalte wende. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Feb. 11 Must not the world wend in his commun course From good to badd, and from badde to worse? |
† 8. Of persons: To turn in thought or purpose to or from (a person, course of action, etc.); to betake oneself (to something different); to change or vary one's purpose. Said also of the heart. Obs.
For further illustration see 17 a.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xlii, Forðæm hit nis no unnet þæt we hopien to Gode, forðæm he ne went no swa swa we doð. a 1225 Ancr. R. 92 Euer so þe wittes beoð more ispreinde utwardes, se heo lesse wendet inwardes. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3510 Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do, Ne wend no lecherie to. c 1300 Havelok 1705 From him ne mithe [might] his herte wende, Ne fro him, ne fro his wif. 13.. Cursor M. 23049 (Edin.) [They] went vnto religioun, And did þair bodis in prison. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 804 For ȝe ben couaitouse kid & kunne nouht blinne, But euere wenden to winne wordliche godus. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Verse) 313 Þair-for of þam I spek no fare, Bot to þe first I wend o-gayn. 1565 J. Hall Crt. Vertue 132 b, Can plague nor payne Make you refrayne, Nor from wickednes wende? 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 35 Christ..To saif vs is ful plyabill, Gif we repent and to him wend. |
† 9. To turn round, over, or from side to side; to turn or twist the body. Obs.
| a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. vi. 28 Nihtes when y wende ant wake. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8197 When þey [the dragons] hadde longe to-gyder smyten,..Wyppyng wyþ wenges, ouer-wepen & went. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 43 Forthi may no certeinete Be set upon his jugement, Bot as the whiel aboute went He yifth his graces undeserved. c 1475 Partenay 2905 In on estat ne myght he noght sogourn; Here on bakke laide, efte the bely vppon, Torning and wendyng euer enuiron. 15.. Schole Ho. Women 1014 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 115 Rub a scald horse vpon the gall, And he wil bite, wins and went. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. Pref. *vj, [Wrestlers] haue..certain suer poinctes and wayes bothe to catche holde, and also to wend out of holde. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 4 He wendeth and waltereth, and happely his head and fete do mete together. |
| fig. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 187 Hir daunger made him booþe bowe and beende, And as hir lyste made him tourne and wende. |
† b. to wend to ground, to fall from one's horse.
| c 1430 Chev. Assigne 302 What yf grace be [that] we to grownde wenden? |
10. To go off, away, or out; to depart. Also with preps., as into, to, from, or to with inf. Now arch.
In later use not clearly distinguishable from sense 13.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives xxv. 425 Oð þæt hi oncneowon þæt se cena iudas him wið-feohtende wæs and wendon ða to horsum. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 87 Ihc wile turnen agen to mine huse þe ich er ut of wende. a 1225 Ancr. R. 162 As ofte as ich euer was, he seið, among men, ich wende from ham [L. recessi] lesse mon þen ich er was. c 1290 Beket 840 in S. Eng. Leg. 130 Þo þov wendest of his seruise he ne Axede þe no-þing. a 1300 Cursor M. 860 Wen Adam sagh he had misdon He went to hide him al-son. Ibid. 14186 Yee sal Vnto Iude weind wit me nu. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 112, I..askede hire þe heiȝe wey wher Clergye dwelleþ,..for tyme is þat I wende. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 21 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2493 Thare salle weende to this viage sir Gawayne hym selfene. c 1400 Beryn 523 In soth, quod he, I woll nat fro þe dorre vend. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 246, & þere for withe owten lenger delay he made althinge Redy for to wende. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) X j b, Whan the soule at the ende Shal out fro the body wende. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 80, I may not wende out of my lande, for mine awne sonnes will rise against me, when I were absent. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iii. 150 Wend you with this Letter. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xx, Wend on your way, in the name of God and St. Dunstan. 1879 Butcher & Lang Odyss. 11 To the end that after thou hast bathed..thou mayst wend to the ship joyful in spirit. |
b. with advs., as away, out, hence.
| c 1100 O.E. Chron. (MS. D.) an. 1050 Se cyng þa sende æfter þam scypum..þe ær ham wendon. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 161 Hinc ex quo ueteres emigrauere coloni. Aure seððen þe ealde tilie henne wenden. a 1225 Ancr. R. 50 Witeð þer our eien, leste þe heorte etfleo & wende ut. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 623 He and hise wif wenten ut fre. a 1300 Cursor M. 6160 Quen þis time was al broght to end, Of egypte godds ost vte vend. c 1350 Will. Palerne 329 Seþþe þou schalt hennes wende, whanne þou komest to kourt..bere þe boxumly & bonure. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 82 Þe iewes knewe hemseluen Gultier..and wenten awey for schame. |
c. In various obs. phrases, as to wend to bed, wend to church, wend to meat, wend to seat.
| c 1300 St. Brandan 221 in S. Eng. Leg. 225 Þe monekes wende to bedde & slepe: þo soper was ido. 13.. Cursor M. 19046 (Gött.) Petre and iohn..went to kirc to make þair bone. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 72 When þay had waschen, worþyly þay wenten to sete, Þe best burne ay abof. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2558 Than comaund the kyng the courtte for to ryse; Askit water wightly, wentton to meyte. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 161 And whenne it drowȝe to þe nyȝte he wendethe to bedde. |
† 11. To depart by death. Usu. with advb. phr., as to wend of or from life, wend (out) of this world, wend forth, wend hence, wend to death, etc. (See also 17 d.) Obs.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 195 Forþon ure yldran swultan & swiþe oft us from wendan. a 1250 Prov. Alfred 172 in O.E. Misc. 112 Not no mon..þene ende hwenne he schal heonne wende. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3884 Aaron ðo wente of liwe ðor. a 1300 Cursor M. 1272 Þou prai him þat he word me send Quen I sal o þis werld wend. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. in Archæologia XIX. 323 The time of deth at our last end, When that we schul from henns wend. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 152 For þe same Mesure þat ȝe Meten A-mis oþer elles, Ȝe schul be weyen þer-with whon ȝe wenden hennes. c 1400 Pety Job 652 in 26 Pol. Poems 142 But oute of the world sone shal I wende. 1421 Hoccleve Minor P. xxiii. 136 Lord god shal y now die and hennes weende? c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 1081 Quhasa with wourschip sall of this warld wende. 1563 B. Googe Eglogs etc. (Arb.) 73 The enuyous fates..in the mydst of all his toyle, dyd force hym hence to wende. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 13 Grant vs grace, quhen we sall die, And fra this present lyfe we wend. |
b. Similarly to wend to, wend into (heaven, hell, bliss, etc.).
| c 1200 Ormin 8426, & siþþenn shall all Cristess hird Wiþþ Crist till heoffne wendenn. c 1250 in O.E. Misc. 186 Alle bac-biteres wendet [c 1275 wendeþ] to helle. c 1305 St. Andrew 99 in E.E.P. (1862) 101 Þat liȝt ileste iwis Forte þe holi soule wende þerwiþ to heuene blis. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3557 Þan sal his saul wende Til blis. 1340 Ayenb. 13 And uor þo scele wolde he efter his dyaþe wende in to helle. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 269 Ȝif I.. for here werkis & for here wyt wende to pyne, Þanne wrouȝte I vnwisly. c 1400 Rule St. Benet (Verse) 55 Þe whylk, yf þay dyde wele, myght wend To blys þat es with-outyn end. c 1480 Henryson Sheep & Dog 119 And efter deith [thay will] to lestand panis wend. |
† 12. transf. and fig. of things: To pass away; to disappear, perish, decay. Also with away. Obs.
For further illustration see 17 e.
| a 1000 Guthlac 57 (Gollancz) Ᵹesihð he þa domas..wonian & wendan of woruld-ryhte. a 1300 Seven Sins 46 in E.E.P. (1862) 19 To world-is wel nab þou no triste, hit went awei so doþ þe miste. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 2167 The grete toures se we wane and wende. c 1480 Henryson Age & Youth 46 Quhen thy manheid sall wendin as the mone. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 118 This being done, the well away sall went. |
13. To go forward, proceed; to journey, travel; to take one's way. Now arch.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 999 Her com se here eft abuton in to Temese & wendon þa up andlang Medewæᵹan to Hrofe ceastre. a 1200 Moral Ode 86 He ane is eure an ilche stude, wende þer þu wende. c 1386 Chaucer Prioress' T. 6 And thurgh the strete men myghte ride or wende. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xvi. 161 And bere hit in þy bosom abowte wher þou wendest. c 1400 Parce Michi 1 in 26 Pol. Poems 143 By a forest syde, walkyng as I went, Disporte to take. c 1480 Henryson Fox & Wolf 96 Neid causis me to steill quhair euer I wend. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xii. xxxii, Downe from the tree I came in hast, And tooke thee vp and on my iourney wend. 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iii. 54 Vpon her walkes she all the day attends, And by her side she trips where ere she wends. 1775 J. Tait Land of Liberty i. xlvi. 23 The hero saw, amaz'd, A crowd of nobles o'er the country wend. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xxiv, For know, that on a pilgrimage Wend I. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. i. ii, The Merovingian Kings, slowly wending on their bullock-carts through the streets of Paris. 1850 ‘Sylvanus’ Bye-lanes & Downs ii. 21 This ‘racing-man’..to whose cottage I was wending so pleasantly. |
b. with advs. Now arch.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Ho him forwundeden..and wenden forð. c 1205 Lay. 29517 At Tanette he com hider in & swa he up is iwend. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 823 Þo þis King [Leir] adde iwend aboute in such soruol cas Attelaste he com to carric. Ibid. 11317 Þe king was among þe freres & hii manion Radde him vor to wenden in. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3338 Men..wendeþ ouȝt wiȝtli & wiþ ȝour fon meteþ. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 427 Collegians wenden out & prechen & quykenen many partis of englond. c 1400 Beryn 675 The knyȝt & al the felisship, forward gon þey wende. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 790 Than schir Gawine the gay Prayt for the iournay, That he myght furth weynd. 1581 A. Hall Iliad ix. 171 Vlysse the wisest takes his leaue, and forth doth for⁓most wend. 1590 Spenser F.Q i. i. 28 Then mounted he vpon his Steede againe, And with the Lady backward sought to wend. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 13 Whither away wend you so late? a 1653 Chalkhill in Walton Angler iii. 76 Then care away, and wend along with me. 1796 Coleridge Sonnet to Stanhope i, Since scorning Faction's low and partial aim Aloof thou wendest in thy stately pace. 1841 Dickens Barn. Rudge xvi, It was not unusual for those who wended home alone at midnight, to keep the middle of the road. 1848 Lytton Harold i. v, When I depart, Rolf, thou wendest back to thy marches. 1865 Kingsley Herew. ix, To avoid which end the disappointed palmer wended homeward once more. |
† c. With predicative adj.: To go or move about in a certain state. Obs.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 34 Nouht welde we now but naked we wende. 13.. Gosp. Nicodemus (G.) 476 We war vnclene, ȝe ken, hale thurgh his word we wend. |
14. transf. and fig. of things: To move, flow, run (in a specified course or direction); to go up or down. Of a road: To extend or stretch in a continuous line.
| c 1205 Lay. 29914 Alse þet watre Desse wendeð into þere sæ. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 179 Fos me clupeþ þilke wei þat bi mani a god toun deþ wende. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 37 As wide as þe werd was, went worde of þaire teching. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret. 80 And þanne it [the blood] wendys vp to þe haterell. 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 447/2 He smote..his wiff on the hede, that the brayne wende oute. c 1450, a 1500 [see 17 g]. 1622 Drayton Poly-olb. xxvi. 373 That assist Her weaker wandring Streame tow'rds Yorkeshire as she wends. 1816 Shelley Sonn. Dante 4 Ascend A magic ship, whose charmed sails should fly With winds at will where'er our thoughts might wend. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxiii, Adieu, and may the blessing of God wend with you! 1863 Baring-Gould Iceland 230 A river wending towards a portal of black rock. 1866 J. B. Rose Ovid's Met. iii. 99 The hero started, as the tremors wend Through every vein. |
15. With adverbial accusative, esp. way: To go or journey in a certain way or direction. Also, † to go on (an errand, voyage). Now only with possessive pron., to wend one's way († gate, † ride), a phrase which was revived c 1800, and is now the most familiar use of the verb.
| c 1250 [see 17 h]. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3950 To madian lond wente he his ride. a 1300 Cursor M. 10365 Quen þou again sal wend þi gate, þou sal mete at þi wijf anna. Ibid. 13087 Nu yee sal mine erand wend, Til þat gret lauerding iesu. Ibid. 14194 Qua has to wenden ani wai God es to go bi light o dai. Ibid. 14942 Sex dais forwit pask-dai Wit his he went þe strete. c 1325 Song Deo Gratias 41 in E.E.P. (1862) 125 Out of þat chirche i. went my way. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 153, & so þei..maken þe peple..to wende þe weie to helle whanne þei wenen to goo to heuene. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 428 And þen he went furth his way. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xli, I haue my ways for to weynde, For to speke with a frynde. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 115 He that schall wend soche a wey, Yt were nede for hym to pray. ? a 1500 Chester Pl., Last Judgm. 138 But well I wott that ilke way that Abraham went, weind I may. a 1547 Surrey æneid iv. 616 She was left alone Uncompanied, great viages to wende In desert land. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. (1922) 42 The turning of Zelmanes eye, was a strong sterne enough to all their motions, wending no way, but as the inchaunting force of it guided them. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xxvi, Now back they wend their watery way. 1829 G. Head Forest Scenes N. Amer. 109 We wended our way down the ravine. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xxxiii, Mr. Weller turned, and began wending his way towards Leadenhall Market. 1839 ― Nich. Nick. xi, As she wended her way homewards. 1866 Neale Sequences & Hymns 186 Wending my way to the City. 1883 [see fairway]. 1885 Sladen Poetry of Exiles (ed. 2) I. 27 Pleasant it was to wend his way back to familiar Kent. |
| transf. and fig. a 1300 Cursor M. 29222 For-þi to weind þe seker wai, I rede we be in panance ai. 1860 Maury Phys. Geog. viii. §394 On the Australian side, an ice-bearing current is found wending its way from the Antarctic regions. |
† 16. fig. (of persons). To go to and fro on business or procedure; to busy oneself; to fare, ‘get on’. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4063 For ȝif we in þisse manere wendeþ, we ne fayleþ on none wyse þat we ne wolleþ abbe þe maistrie, wanne we defendz vre franchise. a 1400 Chaucer Amorous Compl. 78 (Skeat) Ever have I been, and shal, how-so I wende, Outher to live or dye, your humble trewe. c 1400 Beryn 1522 Fawnus had so goon a⁓bout I-turned & I-went, That he had brouȝt his sone to-fore þe Emperour [etc.]. |
† 17. The compound tense is, was, etc. went (or wend), originally a true passive (= ‘is, was turned’), was used as the perfect of the prec. intrans. senses = has, had gone, departed, etc.: a. in sense 8.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 567 King lotrines herte was al & clene vp hire iwent. a 1300 Cursor M. 3113 In wrechedom er now all went, To lare o godd gif þai na tent. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 791 Þat shal y shewe when we be went Vnto þe þryde comaundement. a 1400 Minor Poems Vernon MS. xxi. 51 Whon I was went from him wiþ wronge. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6185 They ben fro clene Riligioun went. |
b. in sense 10.
| c 1205 Lay. 17574 To þere sæ beoð iwende Gillomar & Passen. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1377 Androge þat was to rome mid þe emperour iwent. Ibid. 11857 [They] were in hor dedut iwend an hontinge. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 53 Þanne weren from hem went wifis & children. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 479, I trow that he be went For tymber, ther our Abbot hath hym sent. a 1450 Le Morte Arth. 3025 To a wyldernesse he is went. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxx. 116 All oure saules ar wente, and none ar in hell. |
c. in sense 10 b.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2599 Þo hii were alle henne ywend. a 1300 Cursor M. 5994 All þe fleies ware went awai. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 119 Whan an unclene spirit is went out from a man. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 75 Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn. c 1440 York Myst. xxii. 33 To wildernesse he is wente owte. 14.. in Babees Book (1868) 357 Whan he fro the ys wente A-way. |
d. in sense 11.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 605 God ȝyue vs grace, or we be went, To kepe þys fyrst comaundment. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 2876 Whan þat he is out of þis worlde went. c 1425 Macro Plays, Cast. Persev. 1664 Þe sekatouris schul seyn it is here be-houe to make us mery, for he is went, þat al þis good gan owle. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xii. lxx, But when he saw her gentle soul was went. |
e. in sense 12.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1640 Al rightwisnes awai es went. a 1352 Minot Poems vi. 9 When all yowre wele es went. a 1400 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 257 Loue is out of lond iwent. 1426 Audelay Poems 19 When al the welth of this world is went from hem away. c 1440 York Myst. xli. 347 My age is went, I feyll no fray. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxx. 388 This wykyd warld away is wente. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw 1132 As all his welthis in warld had ben away went. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 4142 For, siclyke as the snaw doith melt in May,..Thir gret Impyris rychtso ar went away. |
f. Of a period of time, a season, etc. = is gone, past, elapsed, or ended. Also with adv., as out, over.
| 13.. Guy Warw. 326 (Caius) Thus lyueth Guy in grete turmente Till the feest was ouer wente [Auchinl. was al to⁓went]. c 1386 Chaucer Prioress' T. 88, I wol do my diligence To konne it al er Cristemasse is went. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4586 Winter was went. c 1400 Laud Troy-Bk. 10045 The nyȝt is went, the day dawes. Ibid. 17071 Terme is went out of the trewe. 15.. Tayis Bank 42 (Bann. MS.), Wod Winter with his wallowand wynd But weir away wes went. |
g. in sense 14.
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1271 Þou hase so ferr to ryde Þat þe sonn sall be went doune Or þou come whider þou ert boune. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) Z j b, Whan some [stars] go doune, some up are went With meuyng of the fyrmament. |
h. with one's way: see 15.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1429 Eliezer is went his wei. c 1440 York Myst. xxxviii. 245 He is resen and wente his way. |
▪ II. † wend, v.2 Obs.
[f. wend(e, obs. pa. tense and pple. of ween v.]
intr. To think, suppose.
| 1581 A. Hall Iliad iv. 63 And that now of his enterprise none of them all should wende, He caused his souldiours hap him wel with buckler and with targe. a 1600 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxxix. 39 Hir freindis ay weindis To caus hir to revok. a 1650 Merline 1280 in Percy Folio MS. I. 462 See yee nought the young man that the shoone hath bought? he wendes to liue them to weare. |
▪ III. wend(e
obs. pa. tense and pple. of ween v.; obs. ff. wind n.1