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Webster 1913 Edition

Bend

Bend

,
Verb.
T.
[
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.
T.
, 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.
Shakespeare
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.

Bend

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be curving; to bow.
The green earth’s end
Where the bowed welkin slow doth
bend
.
Milton.
2.
To jut over; to overhang.
There is a cliff, whose high and
bending
head
Looks fearfully in the confined deep.
Shakespeare
3.
To be inclined; to be directed.
To whom our vows and wished
bend
.
Milton.
4.
To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.
While each to his great Father
bends
.
Coleridge.

Bend

,
Noun.
[See
Bend
,
Verb.
T.
, and cf.
Bent
,
Noun.
]
1.
A turn or deflection from a straight line or from the proper direction or normal position; a curve; a crook;
as, a slight
bend
of the body; a
bend
in a road
.
2.
Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.
[Obs.]
Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my
bend
.
Fletcher.
3.
(Naut.)
A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post.
Totten.
4.
(Leather Trade)
The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See
Butt
.
5.
(Mining)
Hard, indurated clay; bind.
6.
pl.
(Med.)
same as
caisson disease
. Usually referred to as
the bends
.
Bends of a ship
,
the thickest and strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They have the beams, knees, and foothooks bolted to them. Also, the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides; as, the midship bend.

Bend

,
Noun.
[AS.
bend
. See
Band
, and cf. the preceding noun.]
1.
A band.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
2.
[OF.
bende
,
bande
, F.
bande
. See
Band
.]
(Her.)
One of the honorable ordinaries, containing a third or a fifth part of the field. It crosses the field diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.
Bend sinister
(Her.)
,
an honorable ordinary drawn from the sinister chief to the dexter base.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bend

BEND

, [L.pando,pandare, to bend in; pando, pandere, to open; pandus, bent, crooked]
1.
To strain, or to crook by straining; as, to bend a bow.
2.
To crook; to make crooked; to curve; to inflect; as, to bend the arm.
3.
To direct to a certain point; as, to bend our steps or course to a particular place.
4.
To exert; to apply closely; to exercise laboriously; to intend or stretch; as, to bend the mind to study.
5.
To prepare or put in order for use; to stretch or strain.
He hath bent his bow and made it ready. Ps.7.
6.
To incline; to be determined; that is, to stretch towards, or cause to tend; as, to be bent on mischief.
7.
To subdue; to cause to yield; to make submissive; as, to bend a man to our will.
8.
In seamanship, to fasten, as one rope to another or to an anchor; to fasten, as a sail to its yard or stay; to fasten, as a cable to the ring of an anchor.
9.
To bend the brow, is to knit the brow; to scowl; to frown.

BEND

,
Verb.
I.
To be crooked; to crook,or be curving.
1.
To incline; to lean or turn; as, a road bends to the west.
2.
To jut over; as a bending cliff.
3.
To resolve, or determine.[See Bent on.]
4.
To bow or be submissive. Is.60.

BEND

,
Noun.
A curve; a crook; a turn in a road or river; flexure; incurvation.
1.
In marine language, that part of a rope which is fastened to another or to an anchor. [See To bend. No.8.]
2.
Bends of a ship, are the thickest and strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They are reckoned from the water, first, second or third bend. They have the beams,knees, and foot hooks bolted to them, and are the chief strength of the ship's sides.
3.
In heraldry, one of the nine honorable ordinaries, containing a third part of the field, when charged, and a fifth, when plain. It is made by two lines drawn across from the dexter chief, to the sinister base point. It sometimes is indented, ingrained, &c.

BEND

,
Noun.
A band. [Not in use.]

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