Etymology From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). Related to bind, band, bond.
To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
If you bend the pipe too far, it will break.
Don’t bend your knees.
2
To become curved.
Look at the trees bending in the wind.
3
To cause to change direction.
Bend thine ear to supplication.1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Towards Coventry bend we our course.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene viii]:
1 more example
bending her eyes on the floor1816, [Walter Scott], The Antiquary. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
4
To change direction.
The road bends to the right.
5
To be inclined; to direct itself.
to whom our vows and wishes bend1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
6
Usually, With "down" To stoop.
He bent down to pick up the pieces.
7
To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.
Each to his great Father bends.1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:
8
To force to submit.
They bent me to their will.
Of liegers for her sweet, and which she after Except she bend her humour, shall be assured To taste of too.1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
1 more example
Leviathan: You cannot conceive of a galaxy that bends to your will. Leviathan: Every creature, every nation, every planet we discovered became our tools. We were above the concerns of lesser species.2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3: Leviathan, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: 2181 Despoina:
9
To submit.
I am bending to my desire to eat junk food.
10
To apply to a task or purpose.
He bent the company's resources to gaining market share.
And I remember one great Miniſter that confeſt to me, when he fell into one of his uſual Fits of the Gout, He was no longer able to bend his mind or thoughts to any Publick Buſineſs, [...]1679, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Cure of Gout by Moxa. […]”, in Miscellanea. […], London: […] A. M. and R. R. for Edw[ard] Gellibrand, […], →OCLC, page 192:
1 more example
when to mischief mortals bend their will1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto III:
11
To apply oneself to a task or purpose.
He bent to the goal of gaining market share.
12
To adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary.
Palladius did not lie, although he might have bent the facts a bit and even passed over in silence whatever might not have benefited his client's cause.2011, Demetrios S. Katos, Palladius of Helenopolis: The Origenist Advocate, page 60:
13
Nautical, Transport To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.
Etymology From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). Related to bind, band, bond.
I hear the train a comin'/It's rolling round the bend1968, Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues:
1 more example
I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
2
Any of the various knots which join the ends of two lines.
A simpler version of the common bend with its ends in the same direction is used to join binder twine in a hay baling machine.2012, Percy W. Blandford, Practical Knots and Ropework, page 67:
3
Diving, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Medicine, Sciences, Sports, Underwater divingIn plural, With the A severe condition caused by excessively quick decompression, causing bubbles of nitrogen to form in the blood; decompression sickness.
A diver who stays deep for too long must ascend very slowly in order to prevent the bends.
4
Government, Heraldry, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Monarchy, Nobility, Politics One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third.
Perhaps the most celebrated coat of arms is that of Scrope, which is Azure a bend Or. This is the coat over which, from 1385 to 1390, Sir Robert le Grosvenor and Sir Richard le Scrope invoked the High Court of Chivalry to decide which of them had the right to bear these arms. Chaucer gave evidence before the court. In the end the arms were awarded to Scrope, and Grosvenor was ordered to difference with a bordure Argent. This he disdained to do, and being highly dissatisfied with the verdict he appealed to Richard II who altered the decision of the court by refusing to allow the bend to Grosvenor at all! Grosvenor then adopted a garb, or sheaf of corn.1968, Charles MacKinnon of Dunakin, The Observer's Book of Heraldry, pages 63–64:
Nautical, TransportIn plural The thickest and strongest planks in a ship's sides, more generally called wales, which have the beams, knees, and futtocks bolted to them.
9
Nautical, TransportIn plural The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.
the midship bends
10
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another, especially one accomplished by bending a string (such as on guitar).