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bent

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Determined or strongly inclined toward a particular course of action; also refers to a natural tendency or aptitude, or to a grassy slope or hillside.

Detailed Definition
As “inclined,” “bent” denotes resolute purpose—“bent on revenge”—common in heroic or tragic verse. As “slope,” it evokes pastoral landscapes. Both meanings appear in poetry: the former for psychological intensity, the latter for natural imagery. The duality allows rich metaphor—e.g., a “bent” mind mirroring a windswept hill—linking inner state to environment in Romantic and Renaissance traditions.
Example
Example in poetry:
"His bent was ever toward the stars," describing a poet’s inclination; In Shakespeare: "The bent of his own disposition"; "The bow’s bent threatens the unwary," a metaphor for tension; "Her bent was gentle, yet firm as oak"; Milton writes of angels "bent on high designs"; The knight’s bent was honor, though the world prized gold.
Additional Notes
“Bent” as “determined” (e.g., “bent on revenge”) derives from the idea of being bent toward a goal; in poetry, it conveys unwavering resolve, often tragically misguided, and contrasts with physical “bent” (grassland) to create layered imagery.
Also Known As
inclination disposition tendency
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