Unbending

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Unbending \Un*bend"ing\, a. [In senses 1, 2, and 3, pref. un-
     not + bending; in sense 4, properly p. pr. of unbend.]
     1. Not bending; not suffering flexure; not yielding to
        pressure; stiff; -- applied to material things.
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              Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the
              main.                                 --Pope.
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     2. Unyielding in will; not subject to persuasion or
        influence; inflexible; resolute; -- applied to persons.
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     3. Unyielding in nature; unchangeable; fixed; -- applied to
        abstract ideas; as, unbending truths.
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     4. Devoted to relaxation or amusement. [R.]
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              It may entertain your lordships at an unbending
              hour.                                 --Rowe.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Un*bend"ing*ly}, adv. --
        {Un*bend"ing*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Unbend \Un*bend"\ ([u^]n*b[e^]nd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Unbent}
     ([u^]n*b[e^]nt"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Unbending}.] [1st pref.
     un- + bend.]
     1. To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become,
        straight; to loosen; as, to unbend a bow.
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     2. A remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for
        a time; to relax; as, to unbend the mind from study or
        care.
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              You do unbend your noble strength.    --Shak.
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     3. (Naut.)
        (a) To unfasten, as sails, from the spars or stays to
            which they are attached for use.
        (b) To cast loose or untie, as a rope.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  unbending
       adj : incapable of adapting or changing to meet circumstances; "a
             rigid disciplinarian"; "an inflexible law"; "an
             unbending will to dominate" [syn: {inflexible}, {rigid}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  127 Moby Thesaurus words for "unbending":
     adamant, adamantine, aloof, arrowlike, cast-iron, constant,
     dead straight, direct, distant, dour, even, firm, fixed, flat,
     flinty, fundamentalist, grim, hard, hard-core, hidebound,
     horizontal, immovable, immutable, implacable, impliable, in a line,
     inductile, inelastic, inexorable, inextensible, inextensile,
     inextensional, inflexible, insociable, intractable, intractile,
     intransigent, iron, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded,
     irreconcilable, irresilient, level, lineal, linear, loyal,
     muscle-bound, nonelastic, nonstretchable, obdurate, obstinate,
     offish, orthodox, procrustean, purist, puristic, puritan,
     puritanic, rectilineal, rectilinear, relentless, reserved, right,
     rigid, rigorist, rigoristic, rigorous, rock-ribbed, rockbound,
     ruler-straight, set, settled, single-minded, smooth, sot,
     standoffish, staunch, steadfast, steady, steely, stern, stiff,
     straight, straight-cut, straight-front, straight-side,
     straightlaced, straitlaced, streamlined, stubborn, true,
     unaffected, unalterable, unapproachable, unbent, unbowed, unbroken,
     unchangeable, uncommunicative, uncompromising, uncurved,
     undeflectable, undeflected, undeviating, undistorted, unextendible,
     unextensible, unflappable, unflexible, ungiving, uninterrupted,
     unlimber, unmalleable, unmoved, unpliable, unpliant, unrelenting,
     unshaken, unswayable, unswerving, untractable, unturned,
     unyielding, upright, vertical, withdrawn