(Irregular preterit, past participle: bent).
1. To cause to assume a crooked or angular form; SYN. deform, twist.
2. To change direction.
3. To form a curve; SYN. flex.
To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to sink through fear.
ETYM Old Eng. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Related to Crosier, Crook.
To bend one's back as in fear or deference; SYN. stoop, bend, bow.
bend · bow · hunker · hunker down · scrunch · scrunch up · squat · stoop · stoop to
1. To submerge or plunge suddenly.
2. To move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away.
circumvent · dip · dodge · douse · elude · evade · fudge · hedge · parry · put off · sidestep · skirt
(Homonym: stoup).
To sink in status or dignity, or worsen in condition; SYN. descend.
bend · bow · condescend · crouch · lower oneself · stoop to