Bend

bend, v.t. to curve or bow: to make crooked: to turn or incline—mostly in pa ive, to be inclined to , towards , to be given to : to subdue: to direct to a certain point: to apply closely, to strain, to nerve one's self to: ( naut. ) to tie, fasten, make fast.— v.i. to be crooked or curved: to incline in any direction: to stoop: to lean: to bow in submi ion (with to , before , towards ):— pa.p. bend′ed or bent.— n. a curve or crook: the bent part of anything; ( her. ) one of the nine ordinaries, consisting of the space contained between two parallel lines cro ing the shield diagonally from dexter chief to sinister base. It is said to occupy a fifth part of the shield unle charged, when it occupies a third part—its diminutives are the Bendlet , Cotise , and Ribbon .— Bend sinister , an occasionally occurring variety of the bend, drawn from sinister chief to dexter base. [Old Eng. bend an .]