Part 1041

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To place on a bench or seat of honor.</def>

<blockquote>Whom I . . . have <b>benched</b> and reared to worship. <i> Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Bench</h1> <Xpage=136>

<hw>Bench</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To sit on a seat of justice.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Bencher</h1> <Xpage=136>

<hw>Bench"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Eng. Law)</fld> <def>One of the senior and governing members of an Inn of Court.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An alderman of a corporation.</def> <mark>[Eng.]</mark>

<i>Ashmole.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A member of a court or council.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Bench warrant</h1> <Xpage=136>

<hw>Bench" war`rant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>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 <i>justice's warrant</i>.</def>

<h1>Bend</h1> <Xpage=136>

<hw>Bend</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Bended</er> or <er>Bent</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Bending</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[AS. <ets>bendan</ets> to bend, fr. <ets>bend</ets> a band, bond, fr. <ets>bindan</ets> to bind. See <er>Bind</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>, and cf. 3d & 4th <er>Bend</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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>as, to <ex>bend</ex> a bow; to <ex>bend</ex> the knee.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline.</def> "<i>Bend</i> thine ear to supplication."

<i>Milton.</i>

<blockquote>Towards Coventry <b>bend</b> we our course. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Bending</b> her eyes . . . upon her parent. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To apply closely or with interest; to direct.</def>

<blockquote>To <b>bend</b> his mind to any public business. <i>Temple.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>But when to mischief mortals <b>bend</b> their will. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue.</def> "Except she <i>bend</i> her humor."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor.</def>

<i>Totten.</i>

<cs><col>To bend the brow</col>, <cd>to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown.</cd></cs>