[f. BEND v.]
† 1. Drawing tight with a string, tension. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 30. Bendynge of bowys, or oþer lyke, tencio.
2. Curving, crooking, flexure; bowing, inclination, deflection.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xxx. (1495), 342. And yf the sonne beme … metyth wyth a body that puttyth and smytyth the lyghte ayenwarde, suche a smytynge and puttynge is callyd bendynge of the beme.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. iii. 73. Thus long haue we stood To watch the fearefull bending of thy knee.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Course Serm., I. ix. 117. Rent in sunder with trees returning from their violent bendings.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 19. To prevent the sinking and bending of their Walls.
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 277, ¶ 17. The various Leanings and Bendings of the Head.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser I. i. That gentle bending of the body forwards.
fig. 1615. W. Hull, Mirr. Maiestie, 47. Prayer is a deuout bending of the minde to God.
3. The place or part where such curving occurs; a curve, angle, corner; a bend; the spring of an arch or vault.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 95. A selander is in the bendynge of the legge behynde.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Wars, 626. Not far from Harwarden are the bendings of the River.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Hist., V. iv. § 2. The wall … having its bending above the fountain.
4. Naut. The fastening with a ‘bend’ or knot.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vii. 30. To tie two ropes or cables together is called bending.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, v. The bending of the cable escaped my memory.
† 5. The contrivance for drawing up a crossbow; = BENDER 2. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., 197/2. Bendyng for a crosbowe, bendage.
6. (See quot.)
1816. C. James, Mil. Dict., 51/1. Bendings, in military and sea matters, are ropes, wood, &c. bent for several purposes.
