Part 1052

<hw>Bent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <def><tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> of <er>Bend</er>.</def>

<h1>Bent</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Bent</hw>, <tt>a. & p. p.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; <as>as, a <ex>bent</ex> pin; a <ex>bent</ex> lever.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved, determined, set, etc.; -- said of the mind, character, disposition, desires, etc., and used with <i>on</i>; <as>as, to be <ex>bent</ex> on going to college; he is <ex>bent</ex> on mischief.</as></def>

<h1>Bent</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Bent</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Bend</er>, <tt>n.</tt> & <ets>v</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity; <as>as, the <ex>bent</ex> of a bow</as>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Wilkins.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A declivity or slope, as of a hill.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Dryden.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>With a native <b>bent</b> did good pursue. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course.</def>

<blockquote><b>Bents</b> and turns of the matter. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Carp.)</fld> <def>A transverse frame of a framed structure.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>The full <b>bent</b> and stress of the soul. <i>Norris.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Predilection; turn.</syn> <usage><er>Bent</er>, <er>Bias</er>, <er>Inclination</er>, <er>Prepossession</er>. These words agree in describing a permanent influence upon the mind which tends to decide its actions. <i>Bent</i> 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 <i>bent</i> of his character was toward evil practices. <i>Bias</i> 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, <i>bias</i> applies particularly to the judgment, and denotes something which acts with a permanent force on the character through that faculty; as, the <i>bias</i> of early education, early habits, etc. <i>Inclination</i> is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a strong <i>inclination</i> to the study of the law. <i>Prepossession</i> 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 <i>prejudice</i>. "Strong minds will be strongly <i>bent</i>, and usually labor under a strong <i>bias</i>; but there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to have its <i>inclinations</i>, and none so guarded as to be without its <i>prepossessions</i>."</usage>

<i>Crabb.</i>

<h1>Bent</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Bent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>beonet</ets>; akin to OHG. <ets>pinuz</ets>, G. <ets>binse</ets>, rush, bent grass; of unknown origin.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass.</def>

<blockquote>His spear a <b>bent</b>, both stiff and strong. <i>Drayton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A grass of the genus <i>Agrostis</i>, esp. <i>Agrostis vulgaris</i>, or redtop. The name is also used of many other grasses, esp. in America.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Any neglected field or broken ground; a common; a moor.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Wright.</i>

<blockquote>Bowmen bickered upon the <b>bent</b>. <i>Chevy Chase.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Bent grass</h1> <Xpage=137>

<hw>Bent" grass`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Bent</er>, a kind of grass.</def>