bend
UK: bend | US: bend
v. to shape or force something straight into a curve or angle
v. to incline the body; stoop
n. a curved or angled part of something
The word "bend" originates from Old English bendan, meaning "to constrain with a bond" or "to curve." It is related to Proto-Germanic bandijaną ("to bind"), reflecting the idea of forcing something into a curved shape. Over time, the meaning shifted from literal binding to the general act of curving or angling. The word retains its core sense of physical deformation but has also developed metaphorical uses (e.g., "bend the rules").
She carefully bent the wire into a heart shape.
He bent down to pick up the fallen book.
The road bends sharply to the left ahead.
Don’t bend the pages of the book; use a bookmark.
The rules are strict, but sometimes we need to bend them slightly.