[syn: lend, loan]
3. have certain characteristics of qualities for something; be open or vulnerable to;
- Example: "This story would lend itself well to serialization on television"
- Example: "The current system lends itself to great abuse"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Lend \Lend\ (l[e^]nd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lent (l[e^]nt); p.
pr. & vb. n. Lending.] [OE. lenen, AS. l[=ae]nan, fr.
l[=ae]n loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan.]
1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the
return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to
lend a book; -- opposed to borrow.
[1913 Webster]
Give me that ring.
I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the
return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some
article of food.
[1913 Webster]
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor
lend him thy victuals for increase. --Levit. xxv.
37.
[1913 Webster]
3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend
assistance; to lend one's name or influence.
[1913 Webster]
Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. --Addison.
[1913 Webster]
Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and
largeness to his compositions. --J. A.
Symonds.
[1913 Webster]
4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or
gig.
[1913 Webster]
Note: This use of the word is rare in the United States,
except with reference to money.
[1913 Webster]
To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.]
To lend one's ears or To lend an ear, to give attention.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
lend
v 1: bestow a quality on; "Her presence lends a certain cachet
to the company"; "The music added a lot to the play"; "She
brings a special atmosphere to our meetings"; "This adds a
light note to the program" [syn: lend, impart,
bestow, contribute, add, bring]
2: give temporarily; let have for a limited time; "I will lend
you my car"; "loan me some money" [syn: lend, loan] [ant:
borrow]
3: have certain characteristics of qualities for something; be
open or vulnerable to; "This story would lend itself well to
serialization on television"; "The current system lends
itself to great abuse"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
24 Moby Thesaurus words for "lend":
accommodate, accommodate with, add, advance, allow, bestow, borrow,
confer, contribute, discount, discount notes, fit, float a loan,
furnish, give, impart, lease-lend, lend-lease, loan, loan-shark,
negotiate a loan, oblige, shave, suit