Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Ténd-ere, v. a. (pass. te-si, Ténd-se, Ténd-sero, part. Ténd-so,)
1. to spread, stretch, extend. — un padiglione,to set up a pavilion or tent. — lacciuoli, to lay snares. — le reti, to spread the nets. — un arco, to bend a bow. — l'arco, to aim at. — gli orecchi, to hearken, to listen to. — gli occhi, to look with fixed eyes, to stare. — il bucato, to dry linen. — la mano ad uno, to give one his hand, to ask alms; 2. to tend towards, drive or aim at, incline to, approach.Questo fiore tende al rosso, this flower inclines to red; s. m. Ténd-itóre, f. Ténd-itríce; adj. Ténd-énte.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
tendere: or téso, to tend, to extend, to spread, to reach, to display. Also to pitch downe, to bend toward, to lay a snare. Also to goe toward, about or straight on. Also to purpose, intend or pretend.