Bent

Bent Bent, n. [See {Bend}, n. & v.] 1. The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity; as, the bent of a bow. [Obs.] --Wilkins. [1913 Webster]

2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [R.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

With a native bent did good pursue. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course. [1913 Webster]

Bents and turns of the matter. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

5. (Carp.) A transverse frame of a framed structure. [1913 Webster]

6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

The full bent and stress of the soul. --Norris. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Predilection; turn.

Usage: {Bent}, {Bias}, {Inclination}, {Prepossession}. These words agree in describing a permanent influence upon the mind which tends to decide its actions. Bent denotes a fixed tendency of the mind in a given direction. It is the widest of these terms, and applies to the will, the intellect, and the affections, taken conjointly; as, the whole bent of his character was toward evil practices. Bias is literally a weight fixed on one side of a ball used in bowling, and causing it to swerve from a straight course. Used figuratively, bias applies particularly to the judgment, and denotes something which acts with a permanent force on the character through that faculty; as, the bias of early education, early habits, etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a strong inclination to the study of the law. Prepossession is a mingled state of feeling and opinion in respect to some person or subject, which has laid hold of and occupied the mind previous to inquiry. The word is commonly used in a good sense, an unfavorable impression of this kind being denominated a prejudice. ``Strong minds will be strongly bent, and usually labor under a strong bias; but there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to have its inclinations, and none so guarded as to be without its prepossessions.'' --Crabb. [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:

Disposition, inclination, tendency, turn, penchant, learning, bias, propensity, proclivity, predisposition, predilection, partiality, liking, fondness, proneness, appetency / Bent-grass, wiry grass, agrostis / Dried reed, stalk / Wild land, hill, moor, wild, Crooked, hooked, bowed, curved, flexed, deflected, aduncous, arcuate, incurvate

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Bent — bezeichnet: Bent (Vorname), die dänische Form des männlichen Vornamens Benedikt Bent (Film), einen britischen Kinofilm aus dem Jahr 1997 Bent (Band), eine englische Band Bent (Siedlung), eine niederländische Siedlung in der Gemeinde Rijnwoude… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Bent — Жанр электроника, downtempo, lounge, трип хоп. Годы 1999 по настоящее время … Википедия
bent — bent1 [bent] vt., vi. pt. & pp. of BEND1 adj. 1. made curved or crooked; not straight 2. strongly inclined or determined: with on [bent on going] 3. set in a course; bound [westward bent] 4 … English World dictionary
bent — [bent] adjective informal financially dishonest: • a bent accountant * * * bent UK US /bent/ adjective UK INFORMAL ► dishonest: »a bent lawyer/accountant/policeman … Financial and business terms
Bent — Bent, a. & p. p. 1. Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; as, a bent pin; a bent lever. [1913 Webster] 2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved, determined, set, etc.; said of the mind, character,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Bent — Bent, n. [AS. beonet; akin to OHG. pinuz, G. binse, rush, bent grass; of unknown origin.] 1. A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass. [1913 Webster] His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. Drayton. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A grass of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bent\ on — • bent (up)on Very decided, determined, or set. The sailors were bent on having a good time. The policeman saw some boys near the school after dark and thought they were bent on mischief. The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon reaching… … Словарь американских идиом
bent — [bent] adj I 1) a bent object has a curved or twisted shape 2) British informal dishonest II bent the past tense and past participle of bend I … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
bent — [adj1] curved angled, arced, arched, arciform, bowed, contorted, crooked, curvilinear, doubled over, drooping, droopy, hooked, humped, hunched, inclined, limp, looped, round, rounded, sinuous, slouchy, slumped, stooped, twined, twisted, warped,… … New thesaurus
Bent — Bent, imp. & p. p. of {Bend}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Bent

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