Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for unbent on Thesaurus.com simple past tense and past participle of unbend . Show More
not bent ; unbowed. not having yielded or submitted. Show More
Origin of unbent 1475–85; (in defs 2, 3) un-1 +
bent1 verb (used with object), un·bent or (Archaic ) un·bend·ed, un·bend·ing. to straighten from a bent form or position. to release from the strain of formality, intense effort, etc.; relax: to unbend one's mind. to release from tension, as a bow. Nautical to loose or untie, as a sail or rope. to unfasten from spars or stays, as sails. Show More
verb (used without object), un·bent or (Archaic ) un·bend·ed, un·bend·ing. to relax the strictness of formality or ceremony; act in an easy, genial manner: Imagine him unbending! to become unbent; straighten. Show More
Origin of unbend Middle English word dating back to
1200–50; see origin at
un-2 ,
bend1 Related forms un·bend·a·ble , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for unbent short ,
straightforward ,
solid ,
smooth ,
successive ,
consecutive ,
nonstop ,
true ,
unwind ,
recline ,
soften ,
calm ,
breathe ,
relax ,
lean ,
deign ,
rectify ,
uncoil ,
loosen ,
defrost Examples from the Web for unbent Historical Examples of unbent Caradoc unbent his dignity and explained what he had observed.
But since the day of the funeral her supple nature had unbent .
Necessarily he must have or he couldn't have unbent to me as he did.
But the captain took not the offered hand nor unbent his angry brow.
Here the sails were unbent to be repaired, and tents were set up on shore.
British Dictionary definitions for unbent the past tense and past participle of unbend Show More
not bent or bowed not compelled to yield or give way by force Show More
verb -bends , -bending or -bent to release or be released from the restraints of formality and ceremony informal to relax (the mind) or (of the mind) to become relaxed to become or be made straightened out from an originally bent shape or position (tr) nautical to remove (a sail) from a stay, mast, yard, etc to untie (a rope, etc) or cast (a cable) loose Show More
Derived Forms unbendable , adjective Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for unbent v. "to relax a bow by unstringing it," mid-13c., from un- (2) + bend (v.). Figurative meaning "to become genial, relax" (1748) has a sense opposite to that of unbending "inflexible, obstinate" (1680s), which does not derive from the bowstringing image.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
