unbentadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈbɛnt/, U.S. /ˌənˈbɛnt/ 1.
a. Not bowed or curved; also, freed from bending, straightened.
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the world > space > shape > straightness > [adjective]
rightOE
straightc1350
rightfulc1384
line-rightc1400
rule-righta1450
streckc1480
unbent1483
straight forth1536
unwried1558
steel-straighta1560
untwisted1575
uncurled1597
rectified1598
cornerless1605
uncrooked1611
unbended1648
retent1656
uninflected1713
curveless1800
arrow-straight1834
unconvoluted1839
unwarped1855
curlless1861
undistorted1881
poker-straight1949
1483 Cath. Angl. 28/1 Vn Bent, laxus, relaxus.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Desbandé, disbanded; vnbent; vnbound.
1813 Ld. Byron Giaour (ed. 3) 2 His queen, the garden queen, his Rose, Unbent by winds, unchill'd by snows.
1860 P. H. Gosse Romance Nat. Hist. 61 These venerable giants of the forest, that have stood unbent beneath the weight of a thousand years.
b. Of a bow: Not bent; released from a bent state.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [adjective] > attributes of bow
unbent1513
torquesa1568
stringless1597
nervous1638
strung1695
unbended1726
unstrung1744
self1801
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xi. xvii. 18 [They] on thar wery schuldris wyth greit schame Thar byg bowys onbent has tursit hame.
a1631 J. Donne Progresse of Soule xxxix, in Poems (1633) 20 Like an unbent bow, carelesly His sinewy Proboscis did remisly lie.
1663 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xxii Do not think you shall be in danger to lose the Victory over them, if you suffer your Bow sometimes to be unbent.
1728 E. Haywood tr. M.-A. de Gomez Belle Assemblée (1732) II. 41 She had a Quiver at her Back, and an unbent Bow in her Hand.
1830–4 J. G. Whittier Mogg Megone 386 I only meant To draw up again the bow unbent.
2. Not wrinkled or knit.
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the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > forehead > [adjective] > contracted or relaxed
frounceless?a1366
brentc1400
brant1483
unbent1594
contracted1603
knotted1632
exporrect1649
exporrected1650
brow-bent1796
knitting1816
gathered1823
knitted1855
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. L1 An humble gate, calme looks, eyes wayling still, A brow vnbent that seem'd to welcome wo. View more context for this quotation
3. figurative. Not subdued or made subservient.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [adjective] > not overcome or overwhelmed
unvanquisheda1382
unquelledc1440
unoverthrown1535
unconquered1549
unvicta1560
unvicteda1560
unmastered1565
unsubdued1590
unwon1593
unsuppressed1626
unbent1697
unbeaten1757
undefeated1819
unrouted1888
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > [adjective] > not subordinate or subject > not subdued or subjected
unsubjected1513
unthirled1533
unbent1697
unsubjugated1837
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 366 Thou, secure of Soul, unbent with Woes.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 452 She looks with Majesty, and moves with State: Unbent her Soul, and in Misfortune great, She scorns the World.
1825 W. Scott Betrothed xiii, in Tales Crusaders II. 269 The high-spirited entreaties of Eveline, unbent by adversity and want, gradually lost effect on the defenders of the castle.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 310 Even these..Unbent, unbettered will again rush forth In all the might of madness and despair.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1483