Obs. Also 5 kourbe. a. F. courber:—L. curvāre to bend: see CURVE v. In modern Eng. the form is CURB, but the following senses are associated with the earlier form.]
1. intr. To curve, bend, bow.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 1. I courbed on my knees and cryed hir of grace.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 155. Vertue it selfe of Vice must pardon begge, Yea courb and woe, for leaue to do him good.
2. trans. To bend, bow.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, V. xxxvi. He thrugh whom al is wrong kourbed.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, 41. Sallys may also be propagated like Vines, by courbing, and bowing them in Arches.
1814. Cary, Dante (Chandos ed.), 138. So courb’d to earth, beneath their heavy teems Of torment stoop they.
3. See CURB v.
