bent sb. (not earlier than 16th c. in any sense)
1.
“at bent for”
(so Ff; Qq and mod. edd. “is
bent”), turned in the direction of
Ham. IV. iii. 48.
2.
inclination of the
mind
Ado IV. i. 188
“the very bent of
honour,”
Cæs. II. i. 210
“give his humour the
true bent”
; of the eyes, &c., H5 V. ii. 16, Ant. I. iii. 36,
Cym. I. i. 13
“the bent Of the king's
looks.”
3.
extent to which a bow
may be bent, degree of tension; (hence) degree of
endurance, capacity Ado II. iii.
243 [232], Tw.N. II. iv. 37, Ham. III. ii. 409 [401] “to the top of my
bent.”
