| 释义 |
unˈbent, ppl. a.
[un-1 8 b; also (in sense 1) f. unbend v.]
1. Not bowed or curved; also, freed from bending, straightened.
1483Cath. Angl. 28/1 Vn Bent, laxus, relaxus. 1611Cotgr., Desbandé, disbanded; vnbent; vnbound. 1813Byron Giaour 27 His queen, the garden queen, his Rose, Unbent by winds, unchill'd by snows. 1860Gosse Rom. 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.
1513Douglas æneid xi. xvii. 18 [They] on thar wery schuldris wyth greit schame Thar byg bowys onbent has tursit hame. 1601Donne Progr. Soul 390 Like an unbent bow, carelesly His sinewy Proboscis did remisly lie. 1663Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxii, Do not think you shall be in danger to lose the Victory over them, if you suffer your Bow sometimes to be unbent. 1728Eliza Heywood tr. Mme. de Gomez's Belle A. (1732) II. 41 She had a Quiver at her Back, and an unbent Bow in her Hand. 1830–4Whittier Mogg Megone 386, I only meant To draw up again the bow unbent.
2. Not wrinkled or knit.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1509 An humble gate, calme looks, eyes wayling still, A brow vnbent that seem'd to welcome wo.
3. fig. Not subdued or made subservient.
1697Dryden æneis vi. 143 Thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. a1718Prior Solomon ii. 554 She looks with Majesty, and moves with State: Unbent her Soul, and in Misfortune great, She scorns the World. 1825Scott Betrothed xxix, The high-spirited entreaties of Eveline, unbent by adversity and want, gradually lost effect on the defenders of the castle. 1845[see unbettered ppl. a.]. |