Definition of "fend"

Mr. Howley. They are telling him how much they will increase the reimbursement for the total labor cost. The contractor is left to fend as he can. / Chairman Murphy. Obviously, he can’t fend for any more than the money he has coming in.

1990, Messrs Howley and Murphy, quoted in U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor Standards, Oversight hearing on the Federal Service Contract Act, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 40

The planet was full of creatures in need, who could not really fend, and the law was at its best when it ensured that they were treated with dignity.

2003, Scott Turow, Reversible Errors, page 376

With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.

1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]

He fends, he blocks, too skillful to be downed.

1999, Kuan-chung Lo, Guanzhong Luo, Luo Guanzhong, Moss Roberts, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel, page 39

“ […] My age is lot like yours. Lone women do not fare well. If I were not there to fend for you, you—”

2002, Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor, page 187