lend

[lend]

verb (used with object)

lent, lending 

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, lending 

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. to listen

7. to possess the right characteristics or qualities for

   the novel lends itself to serialization

8. to give support, cooperation, etc

Other Word Forms

• lender noun
• interlend verb
• overlend verb
• relend verb (used with object)

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

Would you lend money to a company whose leaders can’t agree on how best to spend it?

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They even lend to well-established public companies looking for speed of execution, privacy or flexibility that banks cannot provide.

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Pizza, even the artisanal variety, makes for a budget-friendly meal, and the sturdy New York style lends itself to the booming consumer demand for takeout and delivery.

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Such awareness lends a subtle metafictional framework to the novel, a hint of cautionary skepticism about its releases into fantasy and brushes with exoticism.

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“We’re not resisting this effort, and we don’t have any interest in people feeling like there is some political or religious lens on our lending,” the general counsel at a large U.S. bank said.

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Related Words

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