Definition of "mend"

Though he was fearfully weak, he found himself actually feeling better. The disease had spent itself, and the mend had begun.

1911, Jack London, Adventure

"Give thyself no trouble as to the matter of minding him, good man, I have small mind to mind him; but as to teaching him somewhat, to that I am well inclined." He turned to a subordinate and said, "Give the little fool a taste or two of the lash, to mend his manners."

1881, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “The Sacrifice”, in The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages, Montreal, Que.: Dawson Brothers, page 222

[they] therefore thought all the Service they could do to the State they live under, was to mend the Lives and Manners of particular Men that composed it

1685, William Temple, Of Gardens

Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i]

Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it […] mends garden herbs and fruit.

1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], published 1708

You mend the jewel by the wearing it.

c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]

But my lord was angry, and being disguised with liquor too, he would not let him go till they played more; and play they did, and the luck still went the same way; and my lord grew fierce over it, and cursed and drank, and that did not mend his luck you may be sure […]

1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard

We have had terrible rains these two or three days. I intended to dine at lord treasurer's, but went to see lady Abercorn, who is come to town, and my lord; and I dined with them, and visited lord treasurer this evening. His porter is mending.

August 11 1711, Jonathan Swift, letter to Stella

Some days later it happened that young Heriotside was stepping home over the Lang Muir about ten at night, it being his first jaunt from home since his arm had mended.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide