Bend Meaning

/bɛnd/
B1

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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verbTo cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.

verbTo become curved.

We will not bend to the will of a tyrant.
I can't bend my right arm.
A sharp bend in the road
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the thin wire carefully to avoid breaking it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You need to ____ your knees when you are lifting heavy objects today city.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *bindaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *bandijaną Proto-West Germanic *bandijan Old English bendan Middle English benden English bend From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). Related to bind, band, bond.

"Bend thine ear to supplication." — 1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Towards Coventry bend we our course." — c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene viii]:
"bending her eyes on the floor" — 1816, [Walter Scott], The Antiquary. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
"to whom our vows and wishes bend" — 1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
"Each to his great Father bends." — 1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:

Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the thin wire carefully to avoid breaking it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You need to ____ your knees when you are lifting heavy objects today city.

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