unbend

verb
/ʌnˈbɛnd/

Etymology

From Middle English unbenden, equivalent to un- + bend.

  1. inherited from unbenden

Definitions

  1. To remove a bend so as to make, or allow to become, straight.

    • to unbend a bow
    • He leant tensely against the corridor wall and frowned like a man trying to unbend a corkscrew by telekinesis.
  2. To release (a load) from a strain or from exertion

    To release (a load) from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax.

    • to unbend the mind from study or care
    • You do unbend your noble strength.
  3. To unfasten sails from the spars or stays to which are attached for use.

  4. + 4 more definitions
    1. To cast loose or untie

      • Unbend the rope.
    2. To cease to be bent

      To cease to be bent; to become straight.

    3. To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like

      • He spent the afternoon shaping a swagger-stick from the branch of jarrah and talking with Miss La Rue, who had sufficiently unbent toward him to notice his existence.
    4. to enjoy oneself

      to enjoy oneself; to become affable and free from formality

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at unbend. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01unbend02stays03stay04prop05scrum06rugby07stiffer08unbending

A definitional loop anchored at unbend. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at unbend

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA