lend

Everyday

1. To lend is to give something to someone for a while, and they give it back later. tree →
2. To lend money is to give it so that it is paid back, sometimes with extra money called interest. tree →
3. To lend a hand is to help. tree →
4. To lend something a quality is to add it: flowers lend the room a happy look. tree →

In the lessons

In maths it is an action that takes away from one person for now and adds to another; the lender gets it back later. In everyday life: lending books, pencils, bikes; a bank lends money and charges interest. Phrases: «lend a hand», «lend an ear» (listen), «lend me your pencil».

Examples

• Sam lends Tom 5 dollars. tree →
• She lent 3 books to her friend. tree →
• How many books does she have now? tree →
• He will get 5 dollars back next week. tree →
• Could you lend me a pencil, please? tree →
• The library lends books for three weeks. tree →
• The bank lent my parents money to buy the house. tree →
• Can you lend a hand with these bags? tree →
• I lent my bike to my cousin and he scratched it. tree →
• Lend me thy coat, Shere Khan. tree →

Note

Past and past participle: «lent» (not «lended»). Confusion: «lend» means give for a while, «borrow» means take for a while: I lend you my book, you borrow my book. Do not say «Can you borrow me...». Maths: lending takes away from the lender until it is paid back; check who has the thing now.

In Jewish tradition

The Torah commands Israelites to lend freely to the poor and not to take a pledge by force from a neighbour's house.

Interpretation. The Rabbis count lending to the needy as a great act of kindness, even greater than giving charity, and the law protects the borrower's dignity.

Examples

• Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee. (Torah DEU.24.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• When thou dost lend thy neighbour any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. (Torah DEU.24.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth. (Torah DEU.15.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them: 'Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them. (Writings NEH.5.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past and past participle: «lent» (not «lended»). Confusion: «lend» means give for a while, «borrow» means take for a while: I lend you my book, you borrow my book. Do not say «Can you borrow me...». Maths: lending takes away from the lender until it is paid back; check who has the thing now.