~ 1
■ verb ( past and past participle bent )
1》 shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle.
↘(of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line.
2》 (of a person) incline the body downwards; stoop.
3》 interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself.
4》 direct (one's attention or energies) to a task.
5》 Nautical attach (a sail or cable) by means of a knot.
■ noun
1》 a curved or angled participle
↘a curve in a road, path, or river.
2》 a kind of knot used to join two ropes together, or one rope to another object.
3》 ( the ~s ) [treated as sing. ] decompression sickness.
Phrases
~ someone's ear informal talk to someone, especially at length or to ask a favour.
~ one's elbow N. Amer. informal drink alcohol.
round (or US around ) the ~ informal mad.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~iness noun
~y adjective ( ~ier , ~iest ).
Origin
OE ~an 'put in bonds, tension a bow by means of a string', of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ noun Heraldry a broad diagonal stripe from top left to bottom right of a shield.
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. bande , OFr. ~e 'flat strip'.