unbend
pronunciation
How to pronounce unbend in British English:
UK [ˌʌnˈbend]
How to pronounce unbend in American English:
US [ʌnˈbɛnd]
-
- Verb:
- straighten up or out; make straight
- unfasten, as a sail, from a spar or a stay
- free from flexure
- make less tight
- become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
- release from mental strain, tension, or formality
Word Origin
- unbend (v.)
- mid-13c., "relax a bow by unstringing it," from un- (2) "reverse, opposite of" + bend (v.). Intransitive sense from 1746. Figurative meaning "to become genial, relax" (1748) has a sense opposite to that of unbending "inflexible, obstinate" (1680s), which does not derive from the bow-stringing image.
Example
- 1. She finds it hard to unbend , even at parties .
- 2. I one brother , pursue computer development all the year round , get one strange disease recently : arm cannot unbend .
- 3. He has cerebral palsy and has already had seven operations to unbend his arms and legs .
- 4. For example the centre of the palm expresses upcountry " average " , the centre of the palm expresses outwards " sell piece " , arm up rapid activity expresses unbend , finger " the price is ...... " , thumb up cock expresses " clinch a deal " .