Bend \Bend\, v. 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, v. 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. [1913 Webster]

2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. "Bend thine ear to supplication." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Towards Coventry bend we our course. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct. [1913 Webster]

To bend his mind to any public business. --Temple. [1913 Webster]

But when to mischief mortals bend their will. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. "Except she bend her humor." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown. --Camden. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Bending \Bend"ing\, n. The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands. [Obs.]

--Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

bending adj : 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]
3: the act of bending something

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Bend \Bend\, v. 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, v. 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. --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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Bending \Bend"ing\, n. The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)