fend
UK[fɛnd]US[fɛnd]
v
To try to manage without help; to provide a livelihood for oneself.
v
To defend oneself against or resist something.
Etymology
The verb 'fend' originated in the 13th century as an aphetic form of the Middle English verb 'defenden', meaning to ward off or protect. Aphesis is the historical loss of an unstressed initial vowel, a common process in English that also gave us words like 'spend' from 'dispend'. The core concept comes from Latin 'defendere', from 'de-' (away, off) and 'fendere' (to strike, hit). Thus, the literal sense of 'fend' is to strike or push away a threat. Over time, its meaning broadened from physical defense to the more abstract idea of providing for oneself or managing independently against life's challenges.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, derived from a shortened form of 'defend'. It retains the core meaning of its parent word.
Examples
The young cubs were old enough to fend for themselves.
She used her umbrella to fend off the attacking seagull.
He moved to the city to fend for his family.