From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bend \Bend\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Bended} or {Bent}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bending}.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind. See {Bind}, verb (used with an object), and cf. 3d & 4th {Bend}.]
1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.
2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. ''Bend thine ear to supplication.'' --Milton.
Towards Coventry bend we our course. --Shak.
Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. --Sir W. Scott.
3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.
To bend his mind to any public business. --Temple.
But when to mischief mortals bend their will. --Pope.
4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. ''Except she bend her humor.'' --Shak.
5. (Naut.) To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor. --Totten.
{To bend the brow}, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown. --Camden.
Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bending \Bend"ing\, noun The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: not remaining rigid or straight; "tried to support his weight on a bending cane"
noun
1: movement that causes the formation of a curve [syn: {bend}]
2: the property of being bent or deflected [syn: {deflection}, {deflexion}]
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