n. 1. Anything which absorbs. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g., iodine which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. absorbens, p. pr. of absorbere. ] Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absorbent ground (Paint.), a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Leaning or reclining, as the ancients did at their meals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Roman . . . accumbent posture in eating. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Lying against anything, as one part of a leaf against another leaf. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accumbent cotyledons have their edges placed against the caulicle. Eaton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who reclines at table. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Bend. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & p. p. 1. Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; as, a bent pin; a bent lever. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved, determined, set, etc.; -- said of the mind, character, disposition, desires, etc., and used with on; as, to be bent on going to college; he is bent on mischief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bend, n. & v. ] 1. The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity; as, the bent of a bow. [ Obs. ] Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With a native bent did good pursue. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bents and turns of the matter. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Carp.) A transverse frame of a framed structure. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The full bent and stress of the soul. Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Predilection; turn. Bent, Bias, Inclination, Prepossession. These words agree in describing a permanent influence upon the mind which tends to decide its actions. Bent denotes a fixed tendency of the mind in a given direction. It is the widest of these terms, and applies to the will, the intellect, and the affections, taken conjointly; as, the whole bent of his character was toward evil practices. Bias is literally a weight fixed on one side of a ball used in bowling, and causing it to swerve from a straight course. Used figuratively, bias applies particularly to the judgment, and denotes something which acts with a permanent force on the character through that faculty; as, the bias of early education, early habits, etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a strong inclination to the study of the law. Prepossession is a mingled state of feeling and opinion in respect to some person or subject, which has laid hold of and occupied the mind previous to inquiry. The word is commonly used in a good sense, an unfavorable impression of this kind being denominated a prejudice. “Strong minds will be strongly bent, and usually labor under a strong bias; but there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to have its inclinations, and none so guarded as to be without its prepossessions.” Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. beonet; akin to OHG. pinuz, G. binse, rush, bent grass; of unknown origin. ] 1. A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A grass of the genus Agrostis, esp. Agrostis vulgaris, or redtop. The name is also used of many other grasses, esp. in America. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any neglected field or broken ground; a common; a moor. [ Obs. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bowmen bickered upon the bent. Chevy Chase. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. grass for pastures and lawns esp bowling and putting greens.
Syn. -- bent, bent grass. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Bot.) Same as Bent, a kind of grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; the depth of the sea. ] Relating to the deepest zone or region of the ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Bentham or Benthamism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That phase of the doctrine of utilitarianism taught by Jeremy Bentham; the doctrine that the morality of actions is estimated and determined by their utility; also, the theory that the sensibility to pleasure and the recoil from pain are the only motives which influence human desires and actions, and that these are the sufficient explanation of ethical and jural conceptions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who believes in Benthamism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ fr. Gr. be`nqos depth of the sea. ] of, pertaining to, or occurring at the bottom of a body of water, especially referring to the ocean depths. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. be`nqos depth of the sea. ] The bottom of the sea, esp. of the deep oceans; hence (Bot. & Zool.), the fauna and flora of the sea bottom; -- opposed to plankton. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The season when pigeons are said to feed on bents, before peas are ripe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bare benting times . . . may come. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An absorbent aluminum silicate clay formed from volcanic ash. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Of or pertaining to bentonite. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pred. adj.Very angry; very disturbed. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Abounding in bents, or the stalks of coarse, stiff, withered grass; as, benty fields. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resembling bent. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bent, like a bow. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. Recumbent, Covey. ] Lying down; recumbent. J. Dyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the type genus, coextensive with the family Daubentoniidae.
Syn. -- genus Daubentonia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family comprising solely the aye-aye.
Syn. -- family Daubentoniidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe; cf. F. debentur. So called because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi. ] 1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum thus due. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A customhouse certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and securities for money loaned. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any of various instruments issued, esp. by corporations, as evidences of debt. Such instruments (often called
debenture bonds) are generally, through not necessarily, under seal, and are usually secured by a mortgage or other charge upon property; they may be registered or unregistered. A debenture secured by a mortgage on specific property is called a
mortgage debenture; one secured by a floating charge (which see), a
floating debenture; one not secured by any charge
a naked debenture. In general the term debenture in British usage designates any security issued by companies other than their shares, including, therefore, what are in the United States commonly called bonds. When used in the United States debenture generally designates an instrument secured by a floating charge junior to other charges secured by fixed mortgages, or, specif., one of a series of securities secured by a group of securities held in trust for the benefit of the debenture holders. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Finance) The debt or series of debts, collectively, represented by a series of debentures; a debt secured by a trust deed of property for the benefit of the holders of shares in the debt or of a series of debentures. By the terms of much debenture stock the holders are not entitled to demand payment until the winding up of the company or default in payment; in the case of railway debentures, they cannot demand payment of the principal, and the debtor company cannot redeem the stock, except by authority of an act of Parliament. [ Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. decumbens, -entis, p. pr. of decumbere; de- + cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down. ] 1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

The decumbent portraiture of a woman. Ashmole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a decumbent posture. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. describens, p. pr. of describere. ] (Geom.) Same as Generatrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. recklessly determined; as, hell-bent on winning. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any office. [ 1913 Webster ]

The incumbent lieth at the mercy of his patron. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. incumbens, -entis, p. pr. of incumbere to lie down upon, press upon; pref. in- in, on + cumbere (in comp.); akin to cubare to lie down. See Incubate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed; superincumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

To move the incumbent load they try. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lying, resting, or imposed, as a duty or obligation; obligatory; always with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

All men, truly zealous, will perform those good works that are incumbent on all Christians. Sprat. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Leaning or resting; -- said of anthers when lying on the inner side of the filament, or of cotyledons when the radicle lies against the back of one of them. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an incumbent manner; so as to be incumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. labens, p. pr. of labi to slide, glide. ] Slipping; sliding; gliding. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lambens, -enlis, p. pr. of lambere to lick; akin to lap. See Lap to drink by licking. ] 1. Playing on the surface; touching lightly; gliding over. “A lambent flame.” Dryden. “A lambent style.” Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Twinkling or gleaming; fickering. “The lambent purity of the stars.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. not capable of absorbing or soaking up (liquids). Opposite of absorbent. [ Narrower terms: repellent, resistant ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. lacking capacity to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface. Opposite of adsorbent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. procumbens, -entis, p. pr. of procumbere to fall, bend, or lean forward; pro forward + cumbere (in comp.), akin to cubare to lie down: cf. F. procombant. Cf. Incumbent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lying down, or on the face; prone. “ Procumbent each obeyed.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Lying on the ground, but without putting forth roots; trailing; prostrate; as, a procumbent stem. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. recumbens, -entis, p. pr. of recumbere. See Recumb, Incumbent. ] Leaning; reclining; lying; as, the recumbent posture of the Romans at their meals. Hence, figuratively; Resting; inactive; idle. -- Re*cum"bent*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. resorbens, p. pr. of resorbere. ] Swallowing up. Wodhull. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sorbens, p. pr. of sorbere to suck in, to absorb. ] An absorbent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. succumbens, p. pr. ] Submissive; yielding. [ R. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. superincumbens, p. pr. of superincumbere. See Super-, and Incumbent. ] Lying or resting on something else. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) Oil of turpentine. See Turpentine. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]