Added 9 October 2026
mend
/mɛnd/ verb
In Latin: sarciō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about mend at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To physically repair (something that is broken, defaced, decayed, torn, or otherwise damaged).
My trousers have a big rip in them and need mending.
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To physically repair (something that is broken, defaced, decayed, torn, or otherwise damaged).
My trousers have a big rip in them and need mending.
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To add fuel to (a fire). To correct or put right (an error, a fault, etc.); to rectify, to remedy.
Her stutter was mended by a speech therapist.
noun
Origin
From Middle English menden (“to cure; to do good to, benefit; to do or make better, improve; to get better, recover; to keep in a good state; to put right, amend; to reform, repent”), the aphetic form of amenden (“to alter, change (especially for the better); to atone; to chastise, punish; to correct, remedy, amend; to cure; to excel, surpass; to forgive; to get or make better, improve; to make ready; to mend, repair, restore; to get well, recover; to relieve”), or from its etymon Anglo-Norman amender and Old French amender (“to cure; to fix, repair; to set right, correct”) (modern French amender), from Latin ēmendāre, the present active infinitive of ēmendō (“to atone; to chastise, punish; .
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)