BEND

v. & n. --v. (past bent; past part. bent exc. in bended knee) 1 a tr. force or adapt (something straight) into a curve or angle. b intr. (of an object) be altered in this way. 2 intr. move or stretch in a curved course (the road bends to the left). 3 intr. & tr. (often foll. by down, over, etc.) incline or cause to incline from the vertical (bent down to pick it up). 4 tr. interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself. 5 tr. & refl. (foll. by to, on) direct or devote (oneself or one's attention, energies, etc.). 6 tr. turn (one's steps or eyes) in a new direction. 7 tr. (in passive; foll. by on) have firmly decided; be determined (was bent on selling; on pleasure bent). 8 a intr. stoop or submit (bent before his master). b tr. force to submit. 9 tr. Naut. attach (a sail or cable) with a knot. --n. 1 a curve in a road or other course. 2 a departure from a straight course. 3 a bent part of anything. 4 (in pl.; prec. by the) colloq. sickness due to too rapid decompression underwater. øbend over backwards see BACKWARDS. round the bend colloq. crazy, insane. øøbendable adj. [OE bendan f. Gmc]