bent
pronunciation
How to pronounce bent in British English:
UK [bent]
How to pronounce bent in American English:
US [bent]
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- Noun:
- a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
- grass for pastures and lawns especially bowling and putting greens
- a special way of doing something
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- Adjective:
- altered from an originally straight condition
- fixed in your purpose
- used of the back and knees; stooped
- used especially of the head or upper back
- of metal e.g.
Word Origin
- bent (n.1)
- "mental inclination," 1570s, probably from earlier literal sense "condition of being deflected or turned" (1530s), from bent (adj.) "not straight" (q.v.).
- bent (n.2)
- "stiff grass," Old English beonet, from West Germanic *binut- "rush, marsh grass" (cognates: Old Saxon binet, Old High German binuz, German Binse "rush, reed"), which is of unknown origin. An obsolete word, but surviving in place names (such as Bentley, from Old English Beonet-leah; Bentham). The verdure of the plain lies buried deep Beneath the dazzling deluge; and the bents, And coarser grass, upspearing o'er the rest, Of late unsightly and unseen, now shine Conspicuous, and, in bright apparel clad And fledg'd with icy feathers, nod superb. [Cowper, "The Winter-Morning Walk," from "The Task"]
- bent (adj.)
- "not straight," late 14c. (earlier ibent, c. 1300, from past participle of bend (v.). Meaning "turned or inclined in some direction" is from 1530s, probably as a translation of Latin inclinatio. Meaning "directed in a course" is from 1690s. Figurative phrase bent out of shape "extremely upset" is 1960s U.S. Air Force and college student slang.
Example
- 1. Some unions seem bent on confrontation , alas .
- 2. The grove contains approximately 400 pine trees with bent trunks .
- 3. He bent down , and wrote in the dirt .
- 4. As a thoughtful youth with a literary bent , mr roth 's relationship with his father was fraught .
- 5. His papers have a strong policy bent .