FEND, The root of defend and offend. The primary sense is to fall on, or to strike, to repel.
To keep off to prevent from entering to ward off to shut out.
With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
It is usually followed by off as, to fend off blows.
To fend off a boat or vessel, is to prevent its running against another, or against a wharf, &c., with too much violence.
FEND, To act in opposition to resist to parry to shift off.
The King James Bible has stood its ground for nearly 400 years. However, during that time the English language has changed, and with it the meanings of some words it used. Here are more than 6,500 words whose definitions have changed since 1611.Wikipedia
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