Bent
/bɛnt/noun
Curved, not straight; also the past tense and past participle of bend.
Did you know?English bent comes from the same old Germanic root as *band*, *bind*, and *bond*—a root tied to fastening, tying, and forced shape, not just simple curvature.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhendh-
“to bind, tie, fasten”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*bandijaną / *bandaz
“to bind; something that is tied or fastened”
Old English
OE
bendan
“to bend, curve, bow”
Old English
OE
bent
“curved, crooked; also a reed or grass stalk”
Middle English
ME
bent
“curved, inclined; past tense/past participle of bend”
Modern English
English
bent
“curved; inclined; determined; the past tense and past participle of bend”