bendable

Variant of bend

transitive verb bent, bending

  1. Obsolete to cause tension in (a bow, etc.), as by drawing with a string
  2. to force (an object) into a curved or crooked form, or (back) to its original form, by turning, pulling, pressing, etc.
  3. to turn from a straight line: light rays are bent by refraction
  4. to make submit or give in: to bend another's will to one's wishes
  5. to turn or direct (one's eyes, attention, energy, etc. to)
  6. to cause to have a fixed purpose; determine: used in the passive voice: he was bent on success
  7. to incline or tend (to or toward)
  8. Naut. to attach; fasten: to bend a signal flag onto a halyard

Origin: ME benden < OE bendan, to confine with a string (< Gmc *bandjan < *bindan > bind); hence, to fetter, bend (a bow)

intransitive verb

  1. to turn or be turned from a straight line or from some direction or position
  2. to yield by curving or crooking, as from pressure
  3. to crook or curve the body from a standing position; stoop (over or down)
  4. to give in; yield: he bent to her wishes
  5. Archaic to direct one's attention, energy, etc. (to something)

noun

  1. a bending or being bent
  2. a bent or curving part, as of a river
  3. Naut. a wale: usually used in pl.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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