n. 1. an acrobatic feat in which the trunk is bent backward from a standing position until the hands touch the floor. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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 ]

v. i. 1. To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be curving; to bow. [ 1913 Webster ]

The green earth's end
Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To jut over; to overhang. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully in the confined deep. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be inclined; to be directed. [ 1913 Webster ]

To whom our vows and wished bend. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To bow in prayer, or in token of submission. [ 1913 Webster ]

While each to his great Father bends. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bend, v. t., and cf. Bent, n. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Leather Trade) The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mining) Hard, indurated clay; bind. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. pl. (Med.) same as caisson disease. Usually referred to as the bends. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bend. See Band, and cf. the preceding noun. ] 1. A band. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bend sinister (Her.), an honorable ordinary drawn from the sinister chief to the dexter base. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being bent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. to reproduce by the Benday method. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, bends. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An instrument used for bending. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A drunken spree. [ Low, U. S. ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sixpence. [ Slang, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Bend + -let: cf. E. bandlet. ] (Her.) A narrow bend, esp. one half the width of the bend. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. (Her.) Diagonally. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Bend a band. ] (Her.) Divided into an even number of bends; -- said of a shield or its charge. Cussans. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Tennessee; -- a nickname. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A roundabout or indirect way. [ Jocular ] Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To unbend. [ Obs. ] Stirling. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., that must be had. ] (Law) That part of a deed which follows the part called the premises, and determines the extent of the interest or estate granted; -- so called because it begins with the word Habendum. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A large North American aquatic salamander (Protonopsis horrida or Menopoma Alleghaniensis). It is very voracious and very tenacious of life. Also called alligator, and water dog. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. intensely affecting the mind, especially in producing hallucinations; -- usually of chemical substances. [ informal ]
Syn. -- mind-blowing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To bend to excess. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To bend over. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Perpender. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. prébende (cf. It. & Sp. prebenda), from L. praebenda, from L. praebere to hold forth, afford, contr. fr. praehibere; prae before + habere to have, hold. See Habit, and cf. Provender. ] 1. A payment or stipend; esp., the stipend or maintenance granted to a prebendary out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church with which he is connected. See Note under Benefice. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A prebendary. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dignitary prebend, one having jurisdiction annexed to it. --
Simple prebend, one without jurisdiction. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prébendaire. See Prebend. ] 1. A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. See Note under Benefice, n., 3. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A prebendaryship. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of a prebendary. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari. ] To invest with the office of prebendary; to present to a prebend. [ Obs. ] Grafton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A prebendaryship. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Situated under the endocardium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. sub + endyma. ] Situated under the endyma. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Unbent p. pr. & vb. n. Unbending. ] [ 1st pref. un- + bend. ] 1. To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen; as, to unbend a bow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax; as, to unbend the mind from study or care. [ 1913 Webster ]

You do unbend your noble strength. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) (a) To unfasten, as sails, from the spars or stays to which they are attached for use. (b) To cast loose or untie, as a rope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To cease to be bent; to become straight or relaxed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like; hence, to indulge in mirth or amusement. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ In senses 1, 2, and 3, pref. un- not + bending; in sense 4, properly p. pr. of unbend. ] 1. Not bending; not suffering flexure; not yielding to pressure; stiff; -- applied to material things. [ 1913 Webster ]

Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unyielding in will; not subject to persuasion or influence; inflexible; resolute; -- applied to persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unyielding in nature; unchangeable; fixed; -- applied to abstract ideas; as, unbending truths. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Devoted to relaxation or amusement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It may entertain your lordships at an unbending hour. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*bend"ing*ly, adv. -- Un*bend"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]