Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der.
Proto-Germanic *bindaną
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Germanic *-janą
Proto-Germanic *bandijaną
Proto-West Germanic *bandijan
Old English bendan
Middle English benden
English bend
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.
Meanings
A curve.
There's a sharp bend in the road ahead.
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:
I hear the train a comin'/It's rolling round the bend 1968, Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues:
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:
(in-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.
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:
(obsolete) Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.
Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. 1608, John Fletcher, The Faithful Shepherdess, act 1, scene 3:
In the leather trade, the best quality of sole leather; a butt; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.
Hard, indurated clay; bind.
(in-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.
(in-plural) The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.
the midship bends
A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another, especially one accomplished by bending a string (such as on guitar).
round the bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · becket bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · carrick bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · in bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · return bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bend sinister (terms derived from bend (noun)) · double sheet bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendsome (terms derived from bend (noun)) · upbend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · L-bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · racking bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · heaving line bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · River Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · adjustable bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · harness bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendy (terms derived from bend (noun)) · zeppelin bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Z-bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · around the bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · sheet bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Bendgate (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendly (terms derived from bend (noun)) · anchor bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · East Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Fort Bend County (terms derived from bend (noun)) · West Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · S-bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · per bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · alpine butterfly bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Hunter's bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Bend of Islands (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Grecian bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendwise (terms derived from bend (noun)) · ring bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Boundary Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendopnea (terms derived from bend (noun)) · genderbend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · above one's bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · sneck-bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Tailem Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Flemish bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · per bend sinister (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Great Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · U-bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · sagbend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · hairpin bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Ashley's bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendlet (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Horseshoe Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · South Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bend dexter (terms derived from bend (noun)) · offset overhand bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · bendless (terms derived from bend (noun)) · North Bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · riverbend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · butterfly bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · Rosendahl bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · string bend (terms derived from bend (noun)) · J-bend (terms derived from bend (noun))
nay tagalang (curve) · hi मोड़ (curve) · tk gāş (curve) · hi गाँठ (knot) · ug قاش (curve) · fi parras (nautical: thickest and strongest planks in a ship's sides) · oc nos (knot) · alt каш (curve) · sl zavoj (curve) · es recodo (curve) · it curva (curve) · klj qâş (curve) · nb kurve (curve) · fr bande (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · gl volta (curve) · sq kthyerje (curve) · es doblegamiento (curve) · sv snedbjälke (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · es quingo (curve) · gl curva (curve) · grc ἄγκος (curve) · hi मोड़ (turn; purpose; inclination; ends) · ota اكری (curve) · tr dönemeç (curve) · cs břevno pokosem (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · it banda (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · ga bandán (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · ca banda (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · lt vingis (curve) · oc corba (curve) · atv каш (curve) · nl verbindingsknoop (knot) · fi kytky (knot) · sq kthesë (curve) · oc nosèl (knot) · oc laç (knot) · hi झुकाव (turn; purpose; inclination; ends) · nl bocht (curve) · izh mutka (curve) · ky каш (curve) · ba ҡаш (curve) · de Kurve (curve) · kaa qas (curve) · mi noninga (curve) · nog кас (curve) · fi palkki (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · tr kıvrım (curve) · mi hawe (curve) · tr viraj (curve) · ang byġe (curve) · pt banda (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · gd bogha (curve) · cs ohyb (curve) · pl skos (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · bg завой (curve) · fi tarkoitus (turn; purpose; inclination; ends) · bg възел (knot) · el στροφή (curve) · kk бүгіс (curve) · sv kurva (curve) · sv knop (knot) · mr वळण (curve) · es banda (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · es doblegadura (disused) (curve) · fi kaaret (nautical: frames or ribs that form the ship's body) · fi mutka (curve) · es curva (curve) · de Biegung (curve) · ota كوشه (curve) · sv balk (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · gd bogha (curve) · kjh хас (curve) · la flexus (curve) · yi אויסבייג (curve) · mi hawhe (in a fenceline) (curve) · nn kurve (curve) · grc καμπή (curve) · nl schuinbalk (heraldry: one of the ordinaries) · mi whawhe (in a fenceline) (curve) · sq nye (knot) · eo klino (curve) · sa ग्रन्थि (knot) · fr virage (curve) · gd lùb (curve) · kk қас (curve) · he רֶכֶס (knot) · fi anturanahka (best quality of sole leather) · gl anco (curve) · fr nœud (knot) · la campter (curve) · sv böj (curve) · it nodo (knot) · sa अङ्कस् (curve) · kum къаш (curve) · pt curva (curve) · krc къаш (curve) · sv krök (curve) · tt каш (curve) · la curvāmen (curve) · de Schrägbalken (heraldry: one of the ordinaries)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der.
Proto-Germanic *bindaną
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Germanic *-janą
Proto-Germanic *bandijaną
Proto-West Germanic *bandijan
Old English bendan
Middle English benden
English bend
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.
Meanings
(transitive) 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.
(intransitive) To become curved.
Look at the trees bending in the wind.
(transitive) To cause to change direction.
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]:
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:
bending her eyes on the floor 1816, [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:
(intransitive) To change direction.
The road bends to the right.
(intransitive) To be inclined; to direct itself.
to whom our vows and wishes bend 1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
(intransitive, usually, with "down") To stoop.
He bent down to pick up the pieces.
(intransitive) 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:
(transitive) To force to submit.
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:
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]:
They bent me to their will.
(intransitive) To submit.
I am bending to my desire to eat junk food.
(transitive) To apply to a task or purpose.
He bent the company's resources to gaining market share.
when to mischief mortals bend their will 1714, 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:
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:
(intransitive) To apply oneself to a task or purpose.
He bent to the goal of gaining market share.
(transitive) 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:
(transitive) To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.
Bend the sail to the yard.
(transitive) To smoothly change the pitch of a note.
You should bend the G slightly sharp in the next measure.
fi kääntyä (to change direction) · fr se tordre (to become curved) · sq përkul (to cause to shape into a curve) · de durchbiegen (to become curved) · vi uốn cong (to cause to shape into a curve) · sv kuva (to force to submit) · he כופף (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg подчинявам се ((''intransitive'') to submit) · la vergō (to change direction) · ka მოხრა (to cause to shape into a curve) · de biegen (to become curved) · bg отклонявам (to cause to change direction) · gd lùb (to change direction) · be гнуць (to cause to shape into a curve) · th ลู่ (to become curved) · es doblegarse ((''intransitive'') to submit) · nl buigen (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg прекланям глава ((''intransitive'') to submit) · pt curvar (to change direction) · hy ծռվել (to become curved) · gd lùb (to become curved) · io kurveskar (to become curved) · wa fé ployî (to force to submit) · sip ཀུག (to cause to shape into a curve) · ca inclinar-se (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · wa verdjî (to become curved) · nci cuēloā (to cause to shape into a curve) · ota بوكمك (to cause to shape into a curve) · ar ثَنَى (to cause to shape into a curve) · nl onderwerpen (to force to submit) · mi whatiwhati (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq Albanian: Pre gui (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · grc καμπύλλω (to cause to shape into a curve) · cy plygu (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi taivuttaa (to swing the body when rowing) · ia inclinar se (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · ru гнуть (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg отклоня се (to change direction) · bg връзвам (to tie a line) · ang būgan (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · nl buigen (to become curved) · fr soumettre (to force to submit) · ja 曲がる (to become curved) · sh saviti (to cause to shape into a curve) · eo kliniĝi (to become curved) · fr courber (to cause to shape into a curve) · pt curvar-se (to become curved) · fi taipua (to become curved) · hi मुड़ना (to change direction) · sq kthej (to cause to change direction) · ang būgan (to change direction) · it piegare (to cause to shape into a curve) · pt obrigar (to force to submit) · da bøje (to cause to shape into a curve) · mi ngawaki (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi taivuttaa (to change the pitch) · sv böja (to become curved) · oc obligar (to force to submit) · hu hajlít (to cause to shape into a curve) · eo kurbigi (to cause to shape into a curve) · pt virar (to change direction) · pl zgiąć się (to become curved) · fi sitoa (to tie a line) · it curvare (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi kiinnittää (to tie a line) · es redoblegar (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq lakoj (to cause to shape into a curve) · sw pinda (to become curved) · ang bīeġan (to force to submit) · eo fleksi (to cause to shape into a curve) · fr tordre (to cause to shape into a curve) · eo alkliniĝi (to be inclined; to direct itself) · es cimblar (to cause to shape into a curve) · uk згина́тися (to become curved) · wa ployî (to force to submit) · fr se courber (to become curved) · fr se pencher (to stoop) · uli habbaro (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi kumartua (to stoop) · nl plooien (to become curved) · sq gjunjëzo (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · es doblegarse (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · sq kthehem (to change direction) · fi taipua (to be inclined; to direct itself) · nl buigen (to change direction) · it ammanigliare (to tie a line) · th เบน (to change direction) · es escarzar (to cause to shape into a curve) · ro curba (to cause to shape into a curve) · inh соттае (to cause to shape into a curve) · oc virar (to change direction) · fr faire plier (to force to submit) · nl buigen (to change the pitch) · yi בייגן זיך (to become curved) · fi taipua (to adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary) · lv saliekt (to cause to shape into a curve) · sv krokna (to become curved) · pt curvar (to cause to shape into a curve) · gl curvar (to cause to shape into a curve) · nci cuelpachoā (to cause to shape into a curve) · th โค้ง (to become curved) · af buig (to cause to shape into a curve) · yi בייגן (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg прекланям се (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · sw pinda (to cause to shape into a curve) · ml വളയ്ക്കുക (to cause to shape into a curve) · nl plooien (to cause to shape into a curve) · sl upogniti se (to become curved) · enm croken (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · hi मुड़ना (to cause to change direction) · ang būgan (to stoop) · ro îndoi (to cause to shape into a curve) · uk гну́тися (to become curved) · nl afbuigen (to change direction) · fr tourner (to change direction) · th ก้มตัว (to stoop) · es doblarse (to become curved) · ltg puorlīkt (to cause to shape into a curve) · uk погну́тися (to become curved) · fi taivuttaa (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq përthy (to swing the body when rowing) · tr bükmek (to become curved) · cs ohnout (to cause to shape into a curve) · ru изгиба́ть (to cause to shape into a curve) · cmn 轉彎 /转弯 (to change direction) · az əymək (to cause to shape into a curve) · oc corbar (to cause to shape into a curve) · oc plegar (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg извивам (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi myöntyä (to adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary) · hu kanyarít (to cause to shape into a curve) · nl knopen (to tie a line) · es doblar (to cause to shape into a curve) · be згіна́ць (to cause to shape into a curve) · ang būgan (to become curved) · la curvō (to cause to shape into a curve) · oc se corbar (to become curved) · ru изгиба́ться (to become curved) · dsb gibaś (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq përkul (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · pl zginać się (to become curved) · fa خماندن (to cause to shape into a curve) · it piegarsi (to change direction) · fi taivuttaa (to force to submit) · la sinuō (to cause to shape into a curve) · th เบน (to become curved) · fi suunnata (to apply to a task or purpose) · tr bükmek (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi suuntautua (to be inclined; to direct itself) · tr bükmek (to force to submit) · fr se soumettre ((''intransitive'') to submit) · is beygja (to cause to shape into a curve) · fr se baisser (to stoop) · mi whakariroi (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq përthy (to become curved) · ja 曲げる (to cause to shape into a curve) · srn beni (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg превивам (to cause to shape into a curve) · kw plegya (to cause to shape into a curve) · hi प्रवृत्ति (to cause to shape into a curve) · izh painaa (to cause to shape into a curve) · sa नमति (to stoop) · oc se plegar (to become curved) · sv böja (to cause to shape into a curve) · ce сатта (to cause to shape into a curve) · la flectō (to cause to shape into a curve) · de beugen (to swing the body when rowing) · bg преклоня се (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · pl zgiąć (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg завивам (to change direction) · es cimbrear (to cause to shape into a curve) · lt sulenkti (to cause to shape into a curve) · pt dobrar (to cause to shape into a curve) · ang bīeġan (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg подчинявам (to force to submit) · ang būgan ((''intransitive'') to submit) · grc καμπύλλω (to become curved) · bg навеждам се (to stoop) · el λυγίζω (to cause to shape into a curve) · ale kahngil (to cause to shape into a curve) · grc κάμπτω (to become curved) · sv glida (to change the pitch) · ru сгиба́ть (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg отклоня (to cause to change direction) · ota اكمك (to cause to shape into a curve) · pl zginać (to cause to shape into a curve) · nl bevestigen (to tie a line) · sl upogniti (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi kääntää (to cause to change direction) · uk зігну́тися (to become curved) · bg преклоня глава ((''intransitive'') to submit) · sw kunja (to cause to shape into a curve) · sv binda (to tie a line) · hi मुड़ना (to become curved) · bg подчиня се ((''intransitive'') to submit) · sw pinda (to change direction) · gd crom (to become curved) · gd lùb (to cause to shape into a curve) · fr s'incliner (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · ko 구부리다 (to cause to shape into a curve) · de beugen (to cause to shape into a curve) · sq ep (to cause to shape into a curve) · es cimbrar (to cause to shape into a curve) · hi झुकाव (to cause to shape into a curve) · es doblegar (to cause to shape into a curve) · tyz bjắt (to cause to shape into a curve) · bg подчиня (to force to submit) · wa ployî (to cause to shape into a curve) · ang bīeġan (to cause to change direction) · it curvarsi (to change direction) · fi kumartua (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · uk згина́ти (to cause to shape into a curve) · hi झुकना (to become curved) · pt dobrar-se (to become curved) · gd crom (to cause to shape into a curve) · pl giąć (to cause to shape into a curve) · sw kunja (to force to submit) · oc far plegar (to force to submit) · grc κάμπτω (to cause to shape into a curve) · mi whakapiko (to cause to shape into a curve) · hy ծռել (to cause to shape into a curve) · fr se plier ((''intransitive'') to submit) · izh painuttaa (to cause to shape into a curve) · az bükmək (to cause to shape into a curve) · eo klini (to cause to shape into a curve) · fi antaa periksi ((''intransitive'') to submit) · enm croken (to become curved) · nl draaien (to change direction) · sa नमति (to bow in prayer, or in token of submission) · fi suuntautua (to apply oneself to a task or purpose) · ltg salīkt (to cause to shape into a curve) · es doblegar (to force to submit) · he התכופף (to become curved) · nl gaan (to change direction) · nl corrigeren (to change the pitch) · hu görbít (to cause to shape into a curve) · eo kurbiĝi (to become curved) · wa ployî (to become curved) · nl buigen (to swing the body when rowing) · bg наведа се (to stoop) · dsb chyliś (to cause to shape into a curve) · no bøye (to cause to shape into a curve) · ckb چەماندن (to cause to shape into a curve) · es inclinarse (to stoop) · bg накланям се (to stoop) · nl vastmaken (to tie a line) · ru гну́ться (to become curved) · bg отклонявам се (to change direction) · bg извивам се (to become curved) · th เบน (to cause to change direction) · th งอ (to cause to shape into a curve) · cmn 彎 /弯 (to cause to shape into a curve) · enm croken (to cause to shape into a curve) · uk гну́ти (to cause to shape into a curve) · ca envergar (to tie a line)