Pa. t. and pa. pple. wended. Forms: Infin. α. 1 wendan (North. wœnda), 2 wænden (wanden), 3–4 wenden (3 Ormin 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. t. 1–4 wende (3 Ormin 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 ʓewend, 3–4 iwend, 4 ywend, -e (wende), 3–5 wend (3 Ormin 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, wān), 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. vånda, 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. t. and pa. 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. t. 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. t. and pa. pple. in the form went(e.
β. c. 1290. St. Silvester, 23, in S. Eng. Leg., 391. To-niȝht þou schalt … wiende to þe pine of helle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2363. Ȝee sal weind til a better land.
13[?]. Northern Passion, 193 (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 Poems, xxii. 561. On my behalue to thy lady weende [rhyme seende = send].
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., ii. 132. Good brother, let vs weynd sone.
γ. a. 1300. Cursor M., 3564. Til vnwelth windes al his wald. Ibid., 8019. Haf god-dai, for nov wind i.
c. 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.
δ. a. 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 heafod ofdune.’
a. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 16. Clæm ðonne on arfæt; læt standan nyʓon niht; wende man ælce dæʓe.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vi. 29. And þam ðe þe slyhð on þin ʓewenge, wend oðer onʓean.
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. 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. 34. Ic wolde nu þæt ðu wende þin inʓeþonc from þæm leasum ʓesælðum. Ibid., xxxv. § 7. Swa hwa swa … his mod went to ðæm yflum ðe he ær forlet.
c. 1205. Lay., 8836. Nu ich wulle werde 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.
c. 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 þeʓʓm 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 & slith, 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 ʓewitnesse 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. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., Prol. 7. Ða ongan ic … ða boc wendan on Englisc. Ibid. (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. Ʒif 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., 6. 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. Ibid. (c. 893), Oros., III. vii. § 4. [He] hiene siþþan wende on his þrie ʓebroðor.
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 sure off ure little flocc … Hemm wenden oþerr stund fra Crist. Ibid., 11320. Forrþrihht 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, trans. 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., 18. 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. Ibid. (13[?]), 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 ʓenumen hæfdon.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xvii. 31. And se ðe bið on æcere ne went he on-bæc. Ibid., xxiv. 33. And hiʓ 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. Ibid. (c. 1375), 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 tarn 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, ʓif [etc.].
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 248. Þonne ne maʓon 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, trans. 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, forðam 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, Gir 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. 23. 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. & pere 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. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. 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, to church, to meat, 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, (out) of this world, forth, hence, to death, etc. (See also 17 d.) Obs.
971. Blickl. Hom., 195. Forþon ure yldran swultan & swiþe oft us from wendan.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 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 Poems, xxiii. 136. Lord god shal y now die and hennes weende?
c. 1470. Golagros & 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, 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 wende] 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). Ʒesihð 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 Medewæʓan 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 journey wend.
1613–6. 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, Lord 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. Golagros & 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 formost 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, trans. 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 or þaire teching.
c. 1400. trans. 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., 423. 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 Lake, III. 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. Ibid. (1839), Nickleby, xi. As she wended her way homewards.
1866. Neale, Sequences & Hymns, 186. Wending my way to the City.
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 youre 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. Golagros & 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’s 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.
