wend

¹

[ wend ]

verb (used with object)

, wend·ed or (Archaic) went; wend·ing.

1. to pursue or direct (one's way).

verb (used without object)

, wend·ed or (Archaic) went; wend·ing.

1. to proceed or go.

Wend

²

[ wend ]

noun

1. a member of a Slavic people of E Germany; Sorb.

Wend

¹

/ wɛnd /

noun

1. See Lusatia
   (esp in medieval European history) a Sorb; a member of the Slavonic people who inhabited the area between the Rivers Saale and Oder in the early Middle Ages and were conquered by Germanic invaders by the 12th century See also Lusatia

wend

²

/ wɛnd /

verb

1. to direct (one's course or way); travel

   wend one's way home

Word History and Origins

Origin of wend¹

before 900; Middle English wenden, Old English wendan; cognate with Dutch, German wenden, Gothic wandjan, causative of -windan to wind ²

Origin of wend²

1780–90; < German Wende, Old High German Winida; cognate with Old English Winedas (plural)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wend¹

Old English wendan; related to Old High German wenten, Gothic wandjan; see wind ²

Example Sentences

As I wended my way up and down the escalators, back and forth on five floors, noting the soundtrack changes, the decorations hanging from the ceilings, I spotted restaurants tucked in here and there, including some rotating pop-ups.

From Washington Post

A long wooden walkway wended its way from our front porch to a partially covered dock in the bay.

From Washington Post

I went on to build particle detectors in graduate school, and to make my own images of particles wending their way through our world.

From Science News

During the first six months of 2021, the TV, streaming and digital video industry wended its way toward the new normal that resembles the old one in many respects, though not all.

From Digiday

Because of the pandemic, the house was closed, but the trails wending their way across the 250-acre estate remained open.

From Washington Post

Is that crazy kid of yours going to graduate from eighth grade and eventually wend his way to college?

From The Daily Beast

Farquhar may have seen the old Show, which the Restoration had naturally brought back, wend its noisy way to Kingsland.

From Project Gutenberg

Take up the papers, and now wend we merrily to dine thou wot'st where.

From Project Gutenberg

It was common for coy damsels and staid matrons to wend their way to Lizzie's cot about twilight, to have their fortunes spaed.

From Project Gutenberg

"Dirty Wendish pigs," they said (which was their favourite malediction, though they themselves were Wend of the Wends).

From Project Gutenberg

When the King set out in France, he had his gaiters greased; and the Queen asked him: whither will wend these damoiseaux?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• meander
• saunter