Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To release from mental tension, strain, or formality; relax.
- intransitive verb To release (a bow, for example) from flexure or tension.
- intransitive verb Nautical To untie or loosen (a rope or sail).
- intransitive verb To straighten (something crooked or bent).
- intransitive verb To become less tense; relax.
- intransitive verb To become less strict.
- intransitive verb To become straight.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To become relaxed or unbent.
- To rid one's self of constraint; act with freedom; give up stiffness or austerity of manner; be affable.
- To free from flexure; make straight: as, to
unbend a bow. - To relax; remit from a strain or from exertion; set at ease for a time: as, to
unbend the mind from study or care. - Nautical: To unfasten from the yards and stays, as sails.
- To cast loose, as a cable from the anchor.
- To untie, as a rope.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen.
- transitive verb A remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax.
- transitive verb To unfasten, as sails, from the spars or stays to which they are attached for use.
- transitive verb To cast loose or untie, as a rope.
- intransitive verb To cease to be bent; to become straight or relaxed.
- intransitive verb To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like; hence, to indulge in mirth or amusement.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen; as, to unbend a bow.
- verb A remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax; as, to unbend the mind from study or care.
- verb To unfasten, as sails, from the spars or stays to which they are attached for use.
- verb To cast loose or untie, as a rope.
- verb To cease to be bent; to become straight or relaxed.
- verb To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like; hence, to indulge in mirth or amusement.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb make less taut
- verb become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
- verb straighten up or out; make straight
- verb free from flexure
- verb unfasten, as a sail, from a spar or a stay
- verb release from mental strain, tension, or formality
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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They call me Goddess, Angel, and court me with dainties fit for queens 'tables and farfetched wines such as unbend the soul from cares.
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So badly did his misused body stiffen, that when he was called it required another ten minutes and a second glass of whisky to unbend his joints and limber up the muscles.
Trust 2010
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First, of course, we had to unbend Michael, put his boots back on, and swing his legs over the dented Honda.
Off the Beaten Track Finn-Olaf Jones 2010
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When I took the steering-oar I had first to unbend her cramped fingers.
Chapter 27 2010
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He personally conducted the tour of the F&D facilities, leading them through the various labs and showing them a number of “wow” demonstrations that had been set up: a polymer that could be deformed – bent, crumpled, folded – and yet would “remember” its original shape and slowly unfold, uncrumple, unbend itself to become almost flat again in a matter of minutes.
VELOCITY DEE JACOB 2010
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He personally conducted the tour of the F&D facilities, leading them through the various labs and showing them a number of “wow” demonstrations that had been set up: a polymer that could be deformed – bent, crumpled, folded – and yet would “remember” its original shape and slowly unfold, uncrumple, unbend itself to become almost flat again in a matter of minutes.
VELOCITY DEE JACOB 2010
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He personally conducted the tour of the F&D facilities, leading them through the various labs and showing them a number of “wow” demonstrations that had been set up: a polymer that could be deformed – bent, crumpled, folded – and yet would “remember” its original shape and slowly unfold, uncrumple, unbend itself to become almost flat again in a matter of minutes.
VELOCITY DEE JACOB 2010
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I'd supposed that after Fort Buford she might unbend a little; after all, by then I'd absorbed all there was to know of her Bismarck scheme, and seen the kind of country to be settled; I'd even drafted (with a straight face) a letter to Otto explaining the thing and inviting his approval-God alone knew what he'd make of it if it ever reached him, with my monicker on it.
Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010
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Norine was the high-spirited sort who would never unbend.
"Power" by Harl Vincent, part 12 Johnny Pez 2010
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He personally conducted the tour of the F&D facilities, leading them through the various labs and showing them a number of “wow” demonstrations that had been set up: a polymer that could be deformed – bent, crumpled, folded – and yet would “remember” its original shape and slowly unfold, uncrumple, unbend itself to become almost flat again in a matter of minutes.
VELOCITY DEE JACOB 2010
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