bent

bent · verb, adjective, noun¹

1. Middle English · derived frombenden“to bend”
2. Middle English · inherited frombent
3. Middle English · inherited frombent-
4. English todaybent

From Middle English bent-, preterite stem (as in bente, benten, etc.), and Middle English bent, ibent, ybent, past participle forms of Middle English benden (“to bend”). Equivalent to bend + -t.

bent · noun²

1. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*binut“reed, rush”
2. Old English · inherited from*beonot
3. Middle English · inherited frombent
4. English todaybent

From Middle English bent, benet, from Old English *beonot (attested only in place-names and personal names), from Proto-West Germanic *binut (“reed, rush”), of uncertain origin.

Words from the same roots