Definition of "fend" in English

verb

1. (intransitive) To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.

   • 1990, Messrs Howley and Murphy, quoted in U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Oversight hearing on the Federal Service Contract Act, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 40, Mr. Howley. They are telling him how much they will increase the reimbursement for the total labor cost. The contractor is left to fend as he can. Chairman Murphy. Obviously, he can’t fend for any more than the money he has coming in.

2. (rare, except as "fend for oneself") To defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with off).

noun

1. (obsolete) Self-support; taking care of one's own well-being.

noun

1. (UK dialectal) An enemy; fiend; the Devil.