lend

[ lend ]

verb (used with object)

, lent, lend·ing.

1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and often that interest is paid for its temporary use.
3. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully:

   to lend one's aid to a cause.

4. to adapt (oneself or itself ) to something:

   The building should lend itself to inexpensive remodeling.

5. to furnish or impart:

   Distance lends enchantment to the view.

verb (used without object)

, lent, lend·ing.

1. to make a loan.

lend

/ lɛnd /

verb

1. tr to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent
2. to provide (money) temporarily, often at interest
3. intr to provide loans, esp as a profession
4. tr to impart or contribute (something, esp some abstract quality)

   her presence lent beauty

5. tr to provide, esp in order to assist or support

   he lent his skill to the company

6. lend an ear
   to listen
7. lend itself
   to possess the right characteristics or qualities for

   the novel lends itself to serialization

8. lend oneself
   to give support, cooperation, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈlender, noun

Other Words From

• lender noun
• inter·lend verb interlent interlending
• over·lend verb overlent overlending
• re·lend verb (used with object) relent relending

Word History and Origins

Origin of lend¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English lenden, variant (originally past tense) of lenen, Old English lǣnan (cognate with Dutch lenen, German lehnen, Old Norse lāna ), derivative of lǣn loan; cognate with German Lehnen, Old Norse lān; loan ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lend¹

C15 lende (originally the past tense), from Old English lǣnan, from lǣn loan ¹; related to Icelandic lāna, Old High German lēhanōn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lend a hand, to give help; aid:

   If everyone lends a hand, we can have dinner ready in half an hour.

Example Sentences

The Carson site may lend itself best to warehouses, which are always in demand around the nearby Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere, Gundersheim said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Wilmington refinery site, which is connected to Carson’s plant by a pipeline, may lend itself to housing.

From Los Angeles Times

North of Sunset Boulevard and the part known as “the flats” are mostly residential, so neither really lend themselves to robust pedestrian traffic.

From Los Angeles Times

Edwards went on to lend his voice to other projects, including promotions for the 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail” and a 2000 episode of “The Simpsons.”

From Los Angeles Times

After the tourists were forced on to the back foot early, the opener played an uncharacteristically sedate knock to lend some respect to the England total.

From BBC

Related Words

• add
• afford
• allow
• contribute
• extend
• give
• grant
• impart
• provide
• supply