mend

[mend] /mɛnd/
verb (used with object)
1.
to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing:
to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.
2.
to remove or correct defects or errors in.
3.
to set right; make better; improve:
to mend matters.
verb (used without object)
4.
to progress toward recovery, as a sick person.
5.
(of broken bones) to grow back together; knit.
6.
to improve, as conditions or affairs.
noun
7.
the act of mending; repair or improvement.
8.
a mended place.
Idioms
9.
mend sail, Nautical. to refurl sails that have been badly furled.
Also, mend the furl.
10.
on the mend,
  1. recovering from an illness.
  2. improving in general, as a state of affairs:
    The breach between father and son is on the mend.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English menden, aphetic variant of amend
Related forms
mendable, adjective
remend, verb
unmendable, adjective
unmended, adjective
well-mended, adjective
Synonyms
1. fix, restore, retouch. Mend, darn, patch mean to repair something and thus renew its usefulness. Mend is a general expression that emphasizes the idea of making whole something damaged: to mend a broken dish, a tear in an apron. Darn and patch are more specific, referring particularly to repairing holes or rents. To darn is to repair by means of stitches interwoven with one another: to darn stockings. To patch is to cover a hole or rent (usually) with a piece or pieces of similar material and to secure the edges of these; it implies a more temporary or makeshift repair than the others: to patch the knees of trousers, a rubber tire. 2. rectify, amend, emend. 3. ameliorate, meliorate. 4. heal, recover, amend.
Antonyms
1. ruin, destroy, 4. die, sicken.
British Dictionary definitions for on the mend

mend

/mɛnd/
verb
1.
(transitive) to repair (something broken or unserviceable)
2.
to improve or undergo improvement; reform (often in the phrase mend one's ways)
3.
(intransitive) to heal or recover
4.
(intransitive) (of conditions) to improve; become better
5.
(transitive) (Northern English) to feed or stir (a fire)
noun
6.
the act of repairing
7.
a mended area, esp on a garment
8.
on the mend, becoming better, esp in health
Derived Forms
mendable, adjective
mender, noun
Word Origin
C12: shortened from amend
Word Origin and History for on the mend

mend

v.

c.1200, "to repair," from a shortened form of Old French amender (see amend). Meaning "to put right, atone for, amend (one's life), repent" is from c.1300; that of "to regain health" is from early 15c. Related: Mended; mending.

n.

early 14c., "recompense, reparation," from mend (v.). Meaning "act of mending; a repaired hole or rip in fabric" is from 1888. Phrase on the mend attested from 1802.

Slang definitions & phrases for on the mend

on the mend

adverb phrase

Recovering health (1802+)


Idioms and Phrases with on the mend

on the mend

Recovering one's health, as in I heard you had the flu, but I'm glad to see you're on the mend. This idiom uses mend in the sense of “repair.” [ c. 1800 ]

mend

also see:
on the mend