lending

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lend/lend/

▶verb (past and past part. lent)

• 1 allow (someone) to use (something) on the understanding that it will be returned.

• 2 allow (someone) the use of (a sum of money) under an agreement to pay it back later, typically with interest.

• 3 give (a quality) to.

• 4 (lend oneself to) accommodate or adapt oneself to.

  ■ (lend itself to) be suitable for.

– phrases
lend an ear (or one's ears) listen sympathetically or attentively.

– derivatives
lendable adjective,
lender noun.

– origin OE lǣnan, of Gmc origin; rel. to loan1.

usage: Reciprocal pairs of words such as lend and borrow are often confused. Common uses in informal speech in a number of British dialects include can I lend your pen? (correct standard use is can I borrow your pen?).