[f. UNBEND v.] The action of the verb, esp. in senses 3 and 8.
1552. Huloet, Vnbendinge, remissio.
1611. Cotgr., Destenture, an vnbending, vnstretching, slackening, loossing.
1648. Hexham, Ontspanninge, a Loosening, an Vnbending, or an Vnspanning.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal’s Sat., Ded. (1697), p. xxix. Recreation, for the unbending of our Minds.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), IV. 105. He found his Understanding return with double Force after such Unbendings.
1756. Monitor, No. 53, II. 12. The rest of the evening was spent in table talk, and the easy unbendings of these little nocturnal assemblies.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxxvi. With such unbendings did Richard … relieve the tedium of his confinement.
1859. G. A. Sala, Tw. round Clock, 218. He was of a disposition, save in casual moments of unbending, quite surprising for its saturnine taciturnity.
b. attrib. (or ppl. a.).
1701. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., Ded. I hope it may indifferently Entertain your Lordship at an unbending hour.
1740. Cibber, Apol., I. Ded. (1756), p. viii. Where like the fam’d orator of old, when publick cares permit, you pass so many rational unbending hours.
