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What is "to bend the brow"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To bend the brow

Bend \Bend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bended or Bent; p. pr. & vb. n. Bending.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind. See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th Bend.]

  1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.

  2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. ``Bend thine ear to supplication.''
    --Milton.

    Towards Coventry bend we our course.
    --Shak.

    Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent.
    --Sir W. Scott.

  3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.

    To bend his mind to any public business.
    --Temple.

    But when to mischief mortals bend their will.
    --Pope.

  4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. ``Except she bend her humor.''
    --Shak.

  5. (Naut.) To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor.
    --Totten.

    To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to frown.
    --Camden.

    Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.

To bend the brow

Brow \Brow\ (brou), n. [OE. browe, bruwe, AS. br[=u]; akin to AS. br[=ae]w, bre['a]w, eyelid, OFries. br[=e], D. braauw, Icel. br[=a], br[=u]n, OHG. pr[=a]wa, G. braue, OSlav. br[u^]v[i^], Russ. brove, Ir. brai, Ir. & Gael. abhra, Armor. abrant, Gr. 'ofry`s, Skr. bhr[=u]. Cf. Bray a bank, Bridge.]

  1. The prominent ridge over the eye, with the hair that covers it, forming an arch above the orbit.

    And his arched brow, pulled o'er his eyes, With solemn proof proclaims him wise.
    --Churchill.

  2. The hair that covers the brow (ridge over the eyes); the eyebrow.

    'T is not your inky brows, your brack silk hair.
    --Shak.

  3. The forehead; as, a feverish brow.

    Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow.
    --Shak.

  4. The general air of the countenance.

    To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.
    --Milton.

    He told them with a masterly brow.
    --Milton.

  5. The edge or projecting upper part of a steep place; as, the brow of a precipice; the brow of a hill.

    To bend the brow, To knit the brows, to frown; to scowl.