Benjamin
(Ben"ja*min) n. [Corrupted from benzoin.] See Benzoin.
Benjamin
(Ben"ja*min), n. A kind of upper coat for men. [Colloq. Eng.]
Benjamite
(Ben"ja*mite) n. A descendant of Benjamin; one of the tribe of Benjamin. Judg. iii. 15.
Benne
(Ben"ne) n. [Malay bijen.] (Bot.) The name of two plants (Sesamum orientale and S. indicum),
originally Asiatic; — also called oil plant. From their seeds an oil is expressed, called benne oil, used
mostly for making soap. In the southern United States the seeds are used in candy.
Bennet
(Ben"net) n. [F. benoîte, fr. L. benedicta, fem. of benedictus, p. p., blessed. See Benedict,
a.] (Bot.) The common yellow-flowered avens of Europe (Geum urbanum); herb bennet. The name is
sometimes given to other plants, as the hemlock, valerian, etc.
Benshee
(Ben"shee) n. See Banshee.
Bent
(Bent) imp. & p. p. of Bend.
Bent
(Bent), a. & p. p.
1. Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; as, a bent pin; a bent lever.
2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved, determined, set, etc.; — said of the mind,
character, disposition, desires, etc., and used with on; as, to be bent on going to college; he is bent on
mischief.
Bent
(Bent), n. [See Bend, n. & v.]
1. The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity; as, the bent of a
bow. [Obs.] Wilkins.
2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [R.] Dryden.
3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination; disposition; purpose; aim. Shak.
With a native bent did good pursue.
Dryden.
4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course.
Bents and turns of the matter.
Locke.
5. (Carp.) A transverse frame of a framed structure.
6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [Archaic]
The full bent and stress of the soul.
Norris.
Syn. — Predilection; turn. Bent, Bias, Inclination, Prepossession. These words agree in describing
a permanent influence upon the mind which tends to decide its actions. Bent denotes a fixed tendency
of the mind in a given direction. It is the widest of these terms, and applies to the will, the intellect, and
the affections, taken conjointly; as, the whole bent of his character was toward evil practices. Bias is
literally a weight fixed on one side of a ball used in bowling, and causing it to swerve from a straight
course. Used figuratively, bias applies particularly to the judgment, and denotes something which acts
with a permanent force on the character through that faculty; as, the bias of early education, early habits,
etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a strong inclination to the study of the
law. Prepossession is a mingled state of feeling and opinion in respect to some person or subject,
which has laid hold of and occupied the mind previous to inquiry. The word is commonly used in a good
