bend-v; 7 Senses

Sense Number 1: Change direction.

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1 [theme[concrete]] BEND
NOTE: Always intransitive

Examples:
The road bends ahead.
The Monaco racecourse bends wildly.

Mappings:
VerbNet: meander-47.7
FrameNet: Path_shape
PropBank: bend.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 2: Bend one's back forward from the waist on down.

Commentary: INCLUDES: BEND DOWN

Examples:
The kind gentleman bent to pick up the girl's purse.
I bent down to inspect the rock.

Mappings:
VerbNet: assuming_position-50
FrameNet: Posture,Body_movement,Change_posture
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 3: (Cause to) turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest; cause to bend or give way.

Commentary:
NOTE: Entity bent must be abstract.
NOTE: Compare to Sense 4; in Sense 3, there is no intent to falsify.

Examples:
It is unlikely that presidential pleas will lead House Democrats to
bend.
I will not bend or break.
The author bent the story to an unpredictable, incredible conclusion.
Furthermore, it is also likely to encourage those on Capitol Hill
asking for cuts in the assistance to El Salvador if President
Cristiani does not bend to demands of the Marxist guerrillas.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Path_shape
PropBank: bend.01,bend.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 4: Distort or modify with the intent to falsify or make subjective.

Commentary:
NOTE: Entity bent must be abstract.

Examples:
Reporters must strive never to bend the truth in order to make a more
interesting story.
Pressure was put on him to bend the report in a certain direction.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM

Sense Number 5: Bend a joint.

Commentary:
NOTE: Body part must be specified.

Examples:
He painfully bent his elbow for the doctor, revealing the extent of
his injury.
I bent my knees.

Mappings:
VerbNet: bend-45.2,spatial_configuration-47.6
FrameNet: Body_movement
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 6

Sense Number 6: Cause to assume a crooked, angular, or twisted form; (cause to) form a curve.

Commentary: NP1 [agent] BEND NP2 [patient,+concrete]

Examples:
The weightlifter could bend the metal rods without trouble.
The stick did not bend.
The last time I baked, I tried to bend the dough into a braid.

Mappings:
VerbNet: bend-45.2,knead-26.5,spatial_configuration-47.6
FrameNet: Reshaping
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 7: BEND OVER BACKWARD(S): try very hard to please someone.

Commentary: IS: BEND OVER BACKWARD(S)

Examples:
She bends over backwards when she sees her mother in law.
He bent over backward to please her.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
bend_over_backwards 1