2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved,
determined, set, etc.; -- said of the mind, character,
disposition, desires, etc., and used with on; as, to be
bent on going to college; he is bent on mischief.
2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [R.] --Dryden.
3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind;
inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. --Shak.
With a native bent did good pursue. --Dryden.
4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course.
Bents and turns of the matter. --Locke.
5. (Carp.) A transverse frame of a framed structure.
6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [Archaic]
The full bent and stress of the soul. --Norris.
Syn: Predilection; turn.
Usage: {Bent}, {Bias}, {Inclination}, {Prepossession}. These
words agree in describing a permanent influence upon
the mind which tends to decide its actions. Bent
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 bent of
his character was toward evil practices. Bias 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, bias applies particularly
to the judgment, and denotes something which acts with
a permanent force on the character through that
faculty; as, the bias of early education, early
habits, etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire
or appetency; as, a strong inclination to the study of
the law. Prepossession 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 prejudice. ``Strong minds will be
strongly bent, and usually labor under a strong bias;
but there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to
have its inclinations, and none so guarded as to be
without its prepossessions.'' --Crabb.
His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. --Drayton.
2. (Bot.) A grass of the genus {Agrostis}, esp. {Agrostis
vulgaris}, or redtop. The name is also used of many other
grasses, esp. in America.
3. Any neglected field or broken ground; a common; a moor.
[Obs.] --Wright.
Bowmen bickered upon the bent. --Chevy Chase.
2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline.
``Bend thine ear to supplication.'' --Milton.
Towards Coventry bend we our course. --Shak.
Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. --Sir W.
Scott.
3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.
To bend his mind to any public business. --Temple.
But when to mischief mortals bend their will.
--Pope.
4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue.
``Except she bend her humor.'' --Shak.
5. (Naut.) 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.
--Totten.
{To bend the brow}, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or
in anger; to scowl; to frown. --Camden.
Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.