fend

 
Pronunciation: /fɛnd/

verb

  • 1 [no object] (fend for oneself) look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others: she left her 14-year-old daughter to fend for herself
  • 2 [with object] (fend someone/thing off) defend oneself from a blow, attack, or attacker: Meredith tried frantically to fend him off figurative he fended off the awkward questions

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'defend'): shortening of defend. Compare with fence and fencible