Part 603

Ben, n. [See Ben, adv.] The inner or principal room in a hut or house of two rooms; -- opposed to but, the outer apartment. [Scot.]

Ben. An old form of the pl. indic. pr. of Be. [Obs.]

Be*name" (&?;), v. t. [p. p. Benamed, Benempt.] To promise; to name. [Obs.]

Bench (&?;), n.; pl. Benches (&?;). [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. bänk, Dan bænk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach.] 1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length.

Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. Sir W. Scott.

2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench.

3. The seat where judges sit in court.

To pluck down justice from your awful bench. Shak.

4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench.

5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms.

6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river.

Bench mark (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. -- Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council. -- Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes. -- Bench show, an exhibition of dogs. -- Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat.

Bench (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benched (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Benching.] 1. To furnish with benches.

'T was benched with turf. Dryden.

Stately theaters benched crescentwise. Tennyson.

2. To place on a bench or seat of honor.

Whom I . . . have benched and reared to worship. Shak.

Bench, v. i. To sit on a seat of justice. [R.] Shak.

Bench"er (&?;), n. 1. (Eng. Law) One of the senior and governing members of an Inn of Court.

2. An alderman of a corporation. [Eng.] Ashmole.

3. A member of a court or council. [Obs.] Shak.

4. One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler. [Obs.]

Bench" war`rant (&?;). (Law) A process issued by a presiding judge or by a court against a person guilty of some contempt, or indicted for some crime; -- so called in distinction from a justice's warrant.

Bend (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bended or Bent (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bending.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind. See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th Bend.] 1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.

2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. "Bend thine ear to supplication." Milton.

Towards Coventry bend we our course. Shak.

Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. Sir W. Scott.

3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.