lend
UK[lɛnd]US[lɛnd]
v
To give something to someone for a temporary period, expecting it to be returned.
v
To provide money to someone under an agreement to pay it back, usually with interest.
v
To add or contribute a quality to something.
Etymology
The verb 'lend' originates from the Old English 'lǣnan', meaning 'to grant the temporary use of'. This Old English term is derived from the Proto-Germanic root 'laihnijaną', which itself is based on the noun 'laihną', meaning 'loan'. This Germanic root can be traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European 'leykʷ-', meaning 'to leave behind'. The semantic journey is clear: from the ancient concept of leaving something behind, it evolved into the idea of a temporary grant or loan in Germanic languages, eventually solidifying in English as the specific action of granting temporary use, most commonly associated with money or objects.
Analysis
The word 'lend' is a simplex verb of Old English origin. It is not productively formed from separable modern English morphemes.
Examples
Could you lend me your pen for a moment?
Banks lend money to businesses to help them grow.
The fresh flowers lend a cheerful atmosphere to the room.