Forms: Pa. t. 1–3 bende, 4–6 bend, 4–5 bente, 3– bent, 6– bended. Pa. pple. 1 bended, 4–5 y-, i-, ye-bent, 4–6 bente, 6 y-, i-bente, bende, 4– bended, bent. [OE. bęndan, prob. identical with ON. benda ‘to join, strain, strive, bend.’ (The rare MHG. benden ‘to fetter’ is perhaps of independent formation.) OTeut. *bandjan, f. bandjâ- ‘string, band,’ in OE. bęnd. In OE. used only in the senses ‘to restrain with a bond, fetter, confine,’ and ‘to bend a bow,’ orig. ‘to hold in restraint or confine with the string.’ From the latter by transference of the word to the bowed or curved condition of a bent bow, came the now main sense of ‘to bow, curve, or crook.’ Cf. the partly parallel history of F. bander, OF. bender (= Pr. and It. bendare, bandare, Sp. and Pg. vendar, bandar).]
Gen. sign. I. To fasten or constrain with a ‘bend’ or bond; to confine, fetter. spec. To constrain a bow with the string (hence, to wind up a cross-bow, cock a pistol); to fasten ropes, sails to the yards, horses to a vehicle. Hence arise two lines of development; II. To bow or curve, deflect, inflect, bow oneself, stoop, submit, yield; III. To direct or level a weapon, to aim, bring to bear, bring one’s force or energies to bear. By blending of these; IV. To direct or turn one’s steps, oneself, one’s mind, eyes, ears, in any specified direction.
I. To bind, to constrain, to make fast.
† 1. trans. To put in bonds, to fetter. Obs.
1036. O. E. Chron. (MS. C.). Sume hí man bende.
2. spec. To constrain or bring into tension by a string (a bow, an arbalest, a catapult, etc.) Formerly also bend up; = L. tendere. In later times associated with the curved shape into which the bow is brought; = L. flectere. (Hence branch II.)
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. vii. 13. He bende his boʓan, se is nu ʓearo to sceotanne.
1297. R. Glouc., 377. So styf man he was in harmes, in Ssoldren, & in lende, Þat vnneþe eny man myȝte hys bowe bende. Ibid., 536. Arblastes sone & ginnes withoute me bende.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 682. The Engynour than deliuerly Gert bend the gyne in full gret hy.
a. 1400. Octavian, 1495. And they withoute gynnes bente, And greet stones to hem sente.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XXIII. 9475. Paris bend vp his bow with his big arme.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 30. Bende bowys, tendo.
c. 1500. Rob. Hood (Ritson), I. i. 1266. Sone there were good bowes ibent.
1599. Greene, George a G. (1861), 264. Bend up your bows, and see your strings be tight.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 774. The Groom his Fellow-Groom at Buts defies; And bends his Bow, and levels with his Eyes.
1870. Bryant, Homer, I. II. 71. Philoctetes, A warrior skilled to bend the bow.
† b. Transferred to the harquebus, pistol, etc., when these took the place of the bow and arbalest; perhaps, as Littré suggests in regard to the similar use of Fr. bander, with special reference to the old form of lock which had to be wound up like a clock: To cock. Obs. (Hence branch III.)
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., vi. (1821), 82. The Pistoll bent, both heart and hand, ready to doe the deed.
c. fig.
1611. Bible, Jer. ix. 3. And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies.
3. fig. To strain, brace, tighten, wind up, bring into tension (like a strung bow or wound up harquebus). refl. To strain every nerve, brace or wind oneself up, nerve oneself; = Fr. se bander. Obs. or arch. Also bend up: cf. 2.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 545. Wiþ þat þe Sarsyn þat was þor; wax wroþ on his herte & bente hym brymly as a bor.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, 41. Boldly bend you to batell, and buske yourself to save.
c. 1565. R. Lindsay, Chron. Scot. (1814), 79. Nothing effeired of this disadvantage, bot rather bendit up, and kindled thereat, [he] rushed forward upon Craigiewallace.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. i. 16. Now set the Teeth … Hold hard the Breath, and bend vp euery Spirit To his full height. Ibid. (1605), Macb., I. vii. 79. I am settled, and bend up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., vii. Her whole mind apparently bent up to the solemn interview.
4. Naut. To tie, fasten on, make fast (cf. BEND sb.1 3): e.g., to bend a rope. To bend the cable: to fasten it to the ring of the anchor. To bend a sail: ‘to extend or make it fast to its proper yard or stay’ (Adm. Smyth).
1399. Rich. Redeless, IV. 72. They bente on a bonet, and bare a topte saile Affor the wynde ffresshely, to make a good ffare.
c. 1440. Morte Arth. (Roxb.), 34. A clothe that ouer the bote was bente Sir Gawayne lyfte vp and wente in bayne.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 16. Bend your cables to your Anchors.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 262. We concluded … to bend our sails (which had indeed been all unbent and stowed down in the hold for the summer) and try to gain Plymouth Sound.
1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xv. He desired Mr. Falcon to get new sails up and bend them.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Bending the Cable, the operation of clinching, or tying the cable to the ring of its anchor. Ibid., Bending ropes is to join them together with a bowline knot, and then make their own ends fast upon themselves.
† 5. To harness the horses to (a cart or other vehicle); to yoke. Obs. (Cf. Ger. and Du. spannen to stretch, to bend a bow, to yoke a vehicle. See also BIND in this sense.)
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XII. v. 169. Sum brydillis stedis, and cartis vp dyd bend.
1535. Coverdale, Gen. xlvi. 29. Then Joseph bended his charett fast [Vulgate juncto curru; Wyclif, Joseph ioyned his chare; 1611 made ready], and wente vp to mete Israel his father.
II. To bring into the shape or direction of a bent bow. * Of the shape of a thing.
6. trans. To put or bring into the shape of a bow; to arch. Obs. exc. as a specific sense of 7.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 743. For heuene-bouwe is abouten i-bent, Wiþ alle þe hewes þat him beþ i-sent.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. li. 13. The Lord thi shapere, that bente heuenes, and foundide the erthe.
1483. Cath. Angl., 27/1. To bend, arcuare.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint. (1858), 50. Who gave the clouds so brave a bow, Who bent the spheres.
[1839. Bailey, Festus, x. Who bendst the Heavens before thee like a bow.]
b. To bend the brows: (orig.) to arch the eyebrows; (later) to wrinkle or knit the brow; to frown, scowl. Cf. BENT.
a. 1300. in Wright, Lyric P., 34 (Mätz.). Heo hath browes bend an heh.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 305. He … Bende his bresed broȝez.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 9 (Mätz.). Now men … wolde … whette her tunges and bende hire browes.
1530. Palsgr., 448/2. Thou bendest thy browes upon me as thou woldest eate me.
1559. Myrr. Mag., Dk. Suffolk, xvii. Fortune can both bend and smothe her browe.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. § 41. 66. Passion will soone manifest it selfe by bending his browes.
1774. Blacklock, Graham, I. xx. In vain that rage which bends thy brow.
[Cf. 1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 170. Or bend one wrinckle on my Soueraigne’s face.]
7. To constrain (anything straight) into any kind of arched or angular shape; to stretch out of the straight; to bow, curve, crook, inflect. Usually said of things linear, but also of surfaces, to dint. ‘Bend’ is not said of flaccid things, such as cotton, cloth, paper, which are ‘folded’; but only of such as possess some rigidity, as a card, wood, metal, gristle; or of rigid things having joints, as the arm or back-bone. Now the main sense.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 247. On knees down bent.
1415. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 125. His basonet to his brayn was bent.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 2590. No man … That myght make Torent to bowe, Ne his bak to bend.
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, V. i. To bend his body every way, and his mind no way.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. iii. 98. Aum. Vnto my mothers prayres, I bend my knee. Yorke. Against them both, my true ioynts bended be.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, III. xlii. (1633), 1357. Branches … so easie to be bent or bowed, that hereof they make Hoops.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 616. Their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half enclose him round.
1751. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 19. A Tube … bended in the manner of a Syphon.
a. 1776. J. Ferguson, Astron. (1803), 111. Take about seven feet of strong wire, and bend it into a circular form.
1813. Byron, Giaour, 68. He who hath bent him o’er the dead.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, iv. (C. D. ed.), 39. His form is bent by age.
b. To apply the same kind of action to alter curvature in any way, e.g., to straighten what is crooked.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 125. The tree growing crooked, if you’l have it mended, Whilst that it is a twigg it must be bended.
1674. Petty, Disc. bef. R. Soc., 2. I haue therefore, to streighten this crooked stick, bent it … the quite contrary way.
c. To make (a thing fixed at one end) curve over for the time from the erect position.
1681. Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., i. § 9. The Yew, though much bended, will quickly return to its former standing.
1692. R. Lestrange Fables, 215 (1708), I. 233. The Oak was stubborn and chose rather to Break than to Bend.
1832. A. Cunningham, Song ‘A Wet Sheet.’ A wind that follows fast … And bends the gallant mast.
1885. Truth, 28 May, 848/2. The poplars are bent by the rising wind.
8. intr. To assume or receive a curved form, or a shape in which one part is inclined at an angle to the other.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. iv. (1495), 191. For tendernes the lymmes of the chylde maye … bowe and bende and take dyuers shapes.
1577. Gascoigne, in Farr’s S. P. (1845), I. 37. The Rainbowe bending in the skie, Bedeckte with sundrye hewes.
1815. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 5), VIII. 436. Their knees … bend so, that they are apt to trip and stumble.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. i. 30. No knee This day … hath bent before its altar.
b. To curve over from the erect position. (Usually said of things that recover their position when the bending force is withdrawn.)
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1378. Thogh she bende, yet she stont a-rote.
a. 1593. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 90. A house bending to fall.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 311. The waving Harvest bends beneath his Blast.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 144, ¶ 8. The trees that bend to the tempest erect themselves again when its force is past.
1753. Hervey, Medit., II. 33. The knotty Oaks bend before the Blast.
9. spec. Of persons: To bend the body, to stoop; to assume a bent or stooping posture. To bend over, i.e., with attention.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 186. Hir daunger made him boothe bowe and beende.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 39. I vvould bend vnder anie heauie vvaight.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 462. A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd, Bending to look on me.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. 174. One of the servants opening the door, I bent down to go in.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. xi. The sooty smith bends over his anvil.
1850. Lytton, My Novel, VI. vi. He bent down and kissed her cheek.
b. To stoop down as from a height.
1839. Sir R. Grant, Hymn, ‘Saviour, when in dust to Thee,’ i. Bending from Thy throne on high, Hear our solemn Litany!
1853. Maurice, Theol. Ess., vi. 108. We want to see absolute Goodness and Truth. We want to know whether they can bend to meet us.
c. esp. To bend the body in submission or reverence; to bow (unto, to, before, towards).
a. 1586. Sydney, in Farr’s Sel. P., I. 63. The desert-dwellers at his beck shall bend.
1611. Bible, Isa. lx. 14. The sonnes also of them that afflicted thee, shall come bending vnto thee.
1648. Milton, Psalm lxxxi. 62. Who hate the Lord should then be fain To bow to him and bend. Ibid. (1667), P. L., II. 477. Towards him they bend.
1763. Churchill, Poems, I. 72. Here let me bend, great Dryden, at thy shrine.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, IV. xxx. Their chief to Wilfrid bended low.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. II. ii. (1864), 24. Science bending before the Child, becoming childlike.
10. fig. To submit, to bow; to yield, give way to; to prove pliant, tractable, or subservient.
a. 1400[?]. Cursor M., 1584 (Fairfax MS.). He wende þat alle sulde til his wil bende.
1644. Quarles, Judgm. & Mercy, 146. Whose leaden souls are taught by stupid reason to stand bent at every wrong.
1723. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks., 1753, I. 9. Under this law both kings and kingdoms bend.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., § 12. 207. But particular and well attested Facts are stubborn Things, and will not bend to general Affirmations.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 92. If any excessive paroxysms do not immediately bend before it.
1841. Macaulay, Lett., in Trevelyan, Life (1876), II. ix. 108. All considerations as to dignity of style ought to bend to his consideration.
11. trans. To cause (a person, the temper, spirit, mind or will) to bow, stoop, incline or relent.
1538. Starkey, England, 24. Bend your selfe to that to the wych you are borne.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 65. Yf that prayer annye the bendeth.
1652. L. S., People’s Lib., i. 2. Seeing he will not be bended by reason.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 331. The spirit of the rustic gentry was not to be bent.
1872. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xviii. 156. The sight in no way bent the hearts of the men of Exeter.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., xv. 367. To ask pardon, no doubt a hard thing to bend his mind to.
12. To bend the head or face: to lower it or direct it downwards, by bending the neck; to bow the head.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., i. 6. With their faces bended downwards.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 740. Trees bent their Heads to hear him.
c. 1720. S. Wesley, Hymn of Eupolis, 102. Bend your heads, in homage bend.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 3. 29. He took my hand and, silently bending down his head, kissed it.
b. intr. (for refl.) Predicated of the head.
1872. Geo. Eliot, in Cross, Life, III. 169. The sight of the dull faces bending round the gaming tables.
1875. Miss Thackeray, Miss Angel, xxi. 195. The heads bend in long line.
** Of the direction in which a thing lies.
13. trans. To turn away from the straight line (without reference to the curve imparted); to incline in any direction; to deflect, turn.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. vi. 23. The cartis stand with lymowris bendyt strek.
1563. Hyll, Arte Garden. (1593), 155. [They] will in the next morrow, bee turned or bended another way.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Introd. The foremost longest [legges] are bended forewards; but those that leap … are bended backward.
1877. Proctor, Spectroscope, i. 11. The ray is again bent from the perpendicular.
fig. 1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xvi. 123. He used generally to bend conversation in such way as to avoid coming into dispute with his companions.
14. intr. To have a direction away from the straight line, to incline in any direction, to trend.
1572. Mascal, Govt. Cattle (1627), 255. His groyne and snout short, and beinding backeward.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 216. The Island … bending from him full West.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 117. That mountaine of the one side bendeth downe toward Euxinus.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Sam. xx. 41. David rose out of his place which did bend to the South.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 267. Spikes … which stretched forward into the Arena, and … bended towards it.
1858. Longf., Discov. North Cape, xviii. And now the land … Bent southward suddenly.
† b. fig. To tend. Obs.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 641/1. These three bend (as it were) to one, to wit, the riche men must do good, and part with their goodes to other, and giue willingly.
† 15. trans. (fig.) To turn aside or pervert from the right purpose or use; to twist, wrest. Obs.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 332. Forasmuch as I have heard, Ecce vobiscum sum … bended to corroborate the same.
1562. Cooper, Answ. Def. Truth (1850), 91. Their successors, by little and little, bent the same name unto the action and celebration of the Sacrament.
† 16. trans. To incline, dispose in mind; mostly in pass. to be inclined or disposed to, towards; to be prone, liable, ready; to be addicted, given. Obs.
1538. Starkey, England, 78. Thys idulnes and vanyte, to the wych the most parte of our pepul ys much gyven and bent.
1579. E. K., in Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., April, 5, Gloss., Aprill … is most bent to showres.
1607. Topsell, Serpents, 782. There is not one of them so ill bent, so malapertly sawcy, and impudently shamelesse.
1708. Swift, Sacr. Test, Wks. 1755, II. I. 124. I am hugely bent to believe, that whenever you concern yourselves in our affairs, it is certainly for our good.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xi. Seemed bent to extenuate.
† b. intr. To incline, lean, in mind or conduct.
1567. Triall Treas. (1850), 16. He that bendeth to folowe his own inclination.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1029/2. Although Ket bent to all vngratiousnes.
III. To direct, aim (as a bow bent for shooting).
Cf. Jer. li. 3 Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow.
† 17. trans. To direct, turn, aim, level, bring to bear (cannon, forces, etc.) against, upon, at. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 448/1. They bended agaynst the castell ten courtaultes and fyftene serpentynes.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1095/2. They bent their ordinance against the gate.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 37. Our cannon shall be bent Against the browes of this resisting towne.
1649. Cromwell, in Carlyle, Lett., cvii. (1871), II. 163. They bent their guns at the frigate.
1801. Scott, Cadyow Castle, xxxv. With hackbut bent, my secret stand Dark as the purposed deed I chose.
† b. To aim, couch, direct (a spear or sword).
1591. Spenser, Virgil’s Gnat, lii. Each doth against the others bodie bend His cursed steele. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., I. iii. 34. So bent his speare and spurd his horse with yron heele.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 95. Thy murd’rous Faulchion … The which thou once didd’st bend against her brest.
† c. fig. To direct (hostile action or words) against, on, (prayers) to heaven, etc. Obs.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 96. The persecution … was so vehemently bent against him.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. i. 48. The Gods ’Gainst Paricides did all the thunder bend.
1653. Cromwell, Lett. & Sp. (Carl.), III. 219. I shall rather bend my prayers for you.
1681. E. Sclater, Serm. Putney, 12. All their Subtlety and Polity must be bent against them.
† d. intr. (for refl.) Obs.
a. 1636. Milton, Arcades, 6. This, this is she To whom our vows and wishes bend.
18. trans. To direct, apply, or bring to bear strenuously (one’s mind, energies, etc.) on, upon.
c. 1510. More, Picus, Wks. (1557), 30. A very louer beleueth in his mynde, On whom so euer he hath his heart Ibente, That in that person menne maye nothing finde, But honorable.
1577. Harrison, England, II. iii. (1877), 79. If they bend their minds to the knowledge of the same.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. v. § 10. The scope … whereunto they bend their endeavours.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. 1842, II. 313. They bent … their designs and efforts to revive the old French party.
1876. Green, Short Hist., ii. § 8 (1882), 102. A sovereign who bent the whole force of his mind to hold together an Empire.
b. refl. To direct or apply oneself. rare.
1591. Lok, in Farr’s S. P. (1845), I. 140. Whilst in the garden of this earthly soile Myself to solace and to bath I bend.
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 362. Many Bishops bent themselves to alter the Emperours minde.
1669. Bunyan, Holy Citie, 56. If any shall … bend themselves to disappoint the designs of the Eternal God.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxi. To the completion of which he bent himself with all his might.
c. intr. (for refl.)
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., iii. 285. If to the Warlike Steed thy Studies bend, Or for the Prize in Chariots to contend.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxvi. 258. Bending to our oars as the water opened [we] reached the shore.
19. To be bent: to be intent, determined, resolved. Const. on or upon (to, for, obs.) an object or action; also (arch.) to do (something).
c. 1400. Cov. Myst. (1841), 3. Now be we bent In this pagent the trewthe to telle.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 66. To bring him to be more hedefully bent to make amendes.
1626. Bacon, New Atl., 15. And was only bent to make his Kingdom and People happy.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. W., vi. (1837), 26. The youth seems obstinately bent on finding you out.
a. 1859. De Quincey, Wks., XIII. 49. He is … bent upon confusing us; and I am bent upon preventing him.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par., II. (1870), 173. Like my fathers, bent to gather fame.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. vii. 158. A project on which the King was fully bent.
IV. Figurative uses in which ‘direct, aim,’ and ‘bow, deflect, turn,’ are combined.
20. intr. To direct oneself, proceed, turn. arch.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeless, III. 76. Þei … burnisched her beekis, and bent to-him-wardis And ffolowid him ffersly.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 303 (Mätz.). To hir buxumly I red that we bende.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, III. ii. 57. Thence we came: And … Thither we bend againe.
1698. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 438. Why to the Shore the thronging people bent.
1713. Addison, Cato, III. ii. 124. But see! My brother Marcus bends this way!
1813. Byron, Corsair, I. xvii. He … Down to the cabin with Gonsalvo bends.
b. trans. To direct or turn (one’s steps, course, way, etc.).
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 19. Hee knewe not which way to bende his pace.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 24. Oure course tward Italye bending.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 573. Thither his course he bends Through the calm Firmament.
1718. Pope, Iliad, II. 64. To the fleet Atrides bends his way.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Wallace, xxii. And to the wild woods bent his speed.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, xii. 268. Thither we all three bent our steps.
c. trans. To direct (anything led, driven or carried). arch.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 47. To Troy ward when first you bended a nauye.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. v. 14. Many other of great name and worth: And towards London do they bend their power.
1746. Collins, Ode to Peace. To Britain bent his iron Car.
21. trans. To direct, turn or incline (the eyes, or ears), in the direction of anything seen or heard.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 314 b. The pearcyng light of the Sunne … doth blinde the sight, if the eyes be over much bente thereunto.
1586. Lett. Earle Leycester, 31. I neuer … bent my eares to credite a tale that first was tolde mee.
1648. Milton, Psalm lxxxviii. 8. And to my cries … Thine ear with favor bend.
a. 1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, IV. 62. Every eye on her was bent.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, iv. 54. His eyes bent on the ground in deep thought.
V. Senses of doubtful origin.
† 22. intr. ‘To spring, to bound.’ Sc. Obs. [Perh. related to 3, or 17.]
c. 1530. Lyndesay is referred to by Jamieson.
23. ‘To drink hard; a cant term’ (Jamieson). [Perh. ‘to pull, strain’ in reference to pulling or straining a bow (cf. 3); or ‘to ply, apply oneself to’ (cf. 18).] trans. and intr.
a. 1758. A. Ramsay, Poems (1800), I. 215 (Jam.). Braw tippony … Which we with greed Bended, as fast as she could brew. Ibid., ii. 73 (Jam.). To bend wi’ ye, and spend wi’ ye, An evening, and gaffaw.
[1860. Ramsay, Remin., Ser. I. (ed. 7), 47. Bend weel to the Madeira at dinner, for here ye’ll get little o’t after. Cf. 18 b.]
