benignity 
2. Mildness ; want of severity. 
Like the mildness, the serenity, the continuing benignity 
of a summer's day. D. Webster, Adams and Jefferson. 
3. A benign or beneficent deed ; a kindness. 
benignly (be-nin'li), adv. In a benign manner; 
favorably; kindly; graciously. 
benimt, ' t. [< ME. benimen, binimeu, < AS. 
beniman (= OS. biniman = OFries. binima = D. 
benemen = OHG. bineman, MHG. benemen, G. 
benehmen = Goth, biniman), take away, < be- + 
iiiman, take: see be- 1 and nim, and cf. pp. and 
deriv. verb benum, benumb.'] To take away; 
deprive. 
All togider he is benoine 
The power both of honde and fote. 
Gower, Coat. Amant., iii. 2. 
Ire . . . benimeth the man from God. 
Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
benincasa (ben-in-ka'sa), x. [NL., named af- 
ter Giuseppe Benincasa, an early patron of bot- 
any, and founder of the garden at Pisa.] The 
white gourd-melon, Benincasa liispida, resem- 
bling the pumpkin, but covered with a waxy 
pulverulent coat. It is very generally culti- 
vated in tropical countries, 
benish (be-nesh'), n. [Ar. benish.] A kind of 
pelisse worn by Arabs. 
A beneesh, or benish ; which is a robe of cloth, with 
long sleeves. E. W. Law, Modern Egyptians, I. 34. 
benison (ben'i-zn), n. [< ME. benisoun, bene- 
son, benesun, beneysun, < OF. beneison, beneic/un, 
beueicon, < LL. benedictio(n-), a blessing: see 
benediction, and cf. malediction, malison.'] Bless- 
ing; benediction. [Chiefly in poetry.] 
God's benison go with you. Shak., Macbeth, ii. 4. 
More precious than the benison of friends. 
Taffuurd, Ion, i. 2. 
Ben-Israel (ben'iz'ra-el), n. An Abyssinian 
pygmy antelope of the genus Ncotragus. 
benitier (F. pron. ba-ne'tia), >i. [P., < ML. 
benedictariutn, holy-water font, < LL. beneilic- 
ts, blessed: see 
Benitier.- Villeneuve-le-Roi. France ; 
i3th century. (From Viollet-le- Due's 
"Diet, de 1' Architecture.") 
benedict.] Afont 
or vase for holy 
water, placed in 
a niche in the 
chief porch or 
entrance of a 
Roman Catholic 
church, or, com- 
monly, against 
one of the in- 
terior pillars 
close to the 
door, into which 
the members of 
the congrega- 
tion on entering 
dip the fingers of 
the right hand, 
blessing them- 
selves by mak- 
ing the sign of 
the cross. Also 
called asperso- 
rium, stoup, and 
holy-water font 
(which see, un- 
der font). 
benjamin 1 (beii'- 
ja-min), . [Appar. from the proper name Ben- 
jamin.] A kind of top coat or overcoat for- 
merly worn by men. 
Sir Telegraph proceeded to peel, and emerge from his 
four benjamins, like a butterfly from its chrysalis. 
Peacock, Melincourt, xxi. 
benjamin 2 (ben'ja-min), . [= G. benjamin; 
a corruption of benjoin, an earlier form of ben- 
zoin, q. v.] 1. Gum benjamin. See benzoin. 
2. An essence made from benzoin. 
Pure benjamin, the only spirited scent that ever awaked 
a >eapolitan nostril. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, v. 2. 
benjamin-bush (ben'ja-min-bush), n. An aro- 
matic shrub of North" America, Lindera Ben- 
zoin, natural order Lauracew. Also called spice- 
bush. 
benjamin-tree (ben'ja-min-tre), n. A popu- 
lar name (a) of the tree Styrax Benzoin, of 
Sumatra (see benzoin), and (6) of Ficus Ben- 
jaminea, an East Indian tree. 
benjoint (ben' jo-in), n. An earlier form of ben- 
zoin. 
benjy (ben'ji), n. [Origin obscure ; perhaps 
from Benjy, dim. of Benjamin, a proper name.] 
A low-crowned straw hat having a very broad 
brim. 
ben-kit (ben'kit), n. A large wooden vessel 
with a cover to it. Thoresby. [Local, Eng.] 
benmost (ben'most), a. [< benl + -most. Cf. 
inmost.] Innermost. See ben 1 . [Scotch.] 
benne, bene 3 (ben'e), i. [Of Malay origin.] An 
annual plant, Kcsamum Indicum, natural order 
PedaliacetB, a native of India, but largely cul- 
tivated in most tropi- 
cal and subtropical 
countries for the sake 
of the seeds and the 
oil expressed from it. 
The leaves are very muci- 
laginous, and readily im- 
part this quality to water. 
The seeds have from an- 
cient times been cl;i>sr<l 
with the most nutritious 
grains, and are still exten- 
sively used for food in Asia 
and Africa. They yield 
about half their weight 
of oil (known as benne-, 
gingili-, teel-, or sesame- 
oil), which is inodorous, 
not readily turned rancid 
by exposure, and in uni- 
versal use in India in cooking and anointing, for soaps, 
etc. Large quantities of both oil and seeds are imported 
into France, England, and the United States, and are used 
chiefly in the manufacture of soap and for the adultera- 
tion of olive-oil, or as a substitute for it. 
bennet 1 (ben'et), n. [Var. of bent*, ult. < AS. 
'beonet : see bentV.] A grass-stalk ; an old stalk 
of grass. [Prov. Eng.] 
bennet 2 (beu'et), . [< ME. benet, beneit, in 
hen-be beneit, < OF. *herbe beneite (mod. F. be- 
noite) = It. erba benedetta, < ML. herba bene- 
dicta, i. e., 'blessed herb': see herb and bene- 
dict.] The herb-bennet, or common avens, 
Geiim urbanum. 
bennick, binnick (ben'ik, biu'ik), . [E. dial. 
(Somerset); origin obscure.] A local English 
name of the minnow. 
ben-nut (ben'uut), . [< 6c0 -f- nut.] The 
winged seed of the horseradish-tree, Moringa 
pterygosperma, yielding oil of ben, or ben-oil. 
See horseradish -tree. 
ben-oil (ben'oil), n. [< 6e6 + oil.] The ex- 
pressed oil of the ben-nut, bland and inodorous, 
and remarkable for remaining many years 
without becoming rancid. At a temperature near 
the freezing-point it deposits its solid fats, and the re- 
maining liquid portion is used in extracting the perfumes 
of flowers, and by watchmakers for the lubrication of deli- 
cate machinery. The true ben-oil, however, is said to be 
derived from the seeds of Moringa aptera of Abyssinia 
and Arabia. Also called oil of ben. 
benome 1 !, p. a. See benumb. 
benome'-'t, benoment. [See benumb, benim.] 
Earlier forms of benum, past participle of benim. 
benorth (be-n6rth'), prep. [< ME. be (bi, by) 
ncrthe, < AS. be-northan (= MLG. benorden), 
< be, prep., + northan, from the north : see 6e-2 
and north, and cf . besoutli, etc.] North of: as, 
benorth the Tweed. [Scotch.] 
benote (be-not'), . i. [< be-i + note.] To 
annotate or make notes upon, 
benothing (be-nuth'ing), v. t. [< 6c-l + no- 
thing.] To reduce to nothing ; annihilate, 
bensel (ben'sel), n. [Also bensall, bensil, ben- 
sail, and bentsail (simulating bent + sail), < 
Icel. benzl, bending, tension, < benda, bend: 
see bendi.] 1. Force ; violence ; impetus. 2. 
A severe stroke or blow, properly that re- 
ceived from a push or shove. [Scotch and 
prov. Eng.] 
bensel (ben'sel), v. t. [< bensel, n.] To beat ; 
bang. Jamieson. [Scotch.] 
benshie (ben'she), n. Same as banshee. 
bent 1 (bent), a. [Fret, and pp. of &e<*l.] 1. 
Curved; deflected; crooked: as, a bent stick. 
2f. Determined; set. 
The bent enemie against God and good order. 
Aschain, The Scholemaster, p. 87. 
bent 1 (bent), n. [Var. of bendl, n., perhaps 
after benfl, pret. and pp. ; but cf. descent, < de- 
scend; ascent, < ascend, etc.] 1. The state of 
being bent; curved form or position; flexure; 
curvature. [Now rare.] 
With reverence and lowly bent of knee. 
Greene, Menaphon's Eclogue. 
Hold your rod at a bent a little. 
/. Walton, Complete Angler. 
2f. A curved part; a crook or bend. 3. De- 
gree of flexure or curvature ; tension ; strain- 
ing; utmost force or power : an archery expres- 
sion, but used figuratively of mental disposi- 
tion. 
Her affections have their full bent. 
Shak., Much Ado, ii. 3. 
Then let thy love be younger than thyself, 
Or thy affection cannot hold the bent 
Shak., T. N., ii. 4. 
1 here are divers subtle inquiries concerning the strength 
required to the bending of bows ; the force they have in 
ben-teak 
the discharge according to the several bents, and the 
strength required to be in the string of them. Bp. Wilkins. 
4. Declivity; slope. [Rare.] 
And downward on an hill under a bente 
Ther stood the temple of Mare armipotent. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 1123. 
The free hours that we have spent, 
Together, on the brown hill's bent. 
fjrtitt, Mannion, Int., ii. 
5. Inclination ; disposition ; a leaning or bias 
of mind ; propensity : as, the bent of the mind 
or will ; the bent of a people toward an object. 
It is his [the legislator's) best policy to comply with the 
union bent of mankind. Hume, Essays, Commerce. 
My smiling at this observation gave her spirits to pur- 
sue the bent of her inclination. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 2. 
The strong bent of nature is seen in the proportion 
which this topic of personal relations usurps in the con- 
versation of society. Emerson, Love. 
6. Direction taken ; turn or winding. 
For souls already warp'd receive an easy bent. 
Dryden, Hind and Panther, iii. 399. 
If your thoughts should assume so unhappy a bent, you 
will the more want some mild and affectionate spirit to 
watch over and console you. Sheridan, The Rivals, v. 1. 
7. In carp., a segment or section of a framed 
building, as of a long barn or warehouse. 
8. A framed portion of a wooden scaffolding 
or trestlework, usually put together on the 
ground and then raised to its place. 9. A 
large piece of timber. 10f. A cast, as of the 
eye; direction. 
Who neither looks on heaven, nor on earth, 
But gives all gaze and bent of amorous view 
On the fair Cressid. Shak., T. and C., iv. 5. 
= Syn, 5. Bent, Propensity, Bias, Inclination, Tendency, 
Prwututt, I>i*t">*ition, all keep more or less of their ori- 
ginal ngurativeness. Bent is the general and natural state 
of the mind as disposed toward something; a decided and 
fixed turning of the mind toward a particular object or 
mode of action. Propensity is less deep than bent, less a 
matter of the w hole nature, and is often applied to a strong 
appetency toward that which is evil. Bias has often the 
same meaning as bent, but tends specially to denote a 
sort of external and continued action upon the mind: 
as, "morality influences men's minds and gives a bias to 
all their actions," Locke. Bias is often little more than 
prejudice. Inclination is a sort of bent ; a leaning, more 
or less decided, in some direction. Tendency is a little 
more than inclination, stronger and more permanent. 
Proneness is by derivation a downward tendency, a strong 
natural inclination toward that which is in some degree 
evil : as, proneness to err, to self-justification, to vice ; 
but it is also used in a good sense. Disposition is often a 
matter of character, with more of choice in it than in the 
others, but it is used with freedom in lighter senses : as, 
the disposition to work ; the disposition of a plant to climb.' 
They fool me to the top of my bent. 
Shak., Hamlet, iii. 2. 
Without the least propensity to jeer. 
Byron, Don Juan, x. 42. 
The bias of human nature to be slow in correspondence 
triumphs even over the present quickening in the general 
pace of things. Gevrye Eliot, Middlemarch, II. 263. 
Itis so much your inclination to do good, that you stay 
not to be asked; which is an approach so nigh to the 
Deity, that human nature is not capable of a nearer. 
Dryden, Ded. to Indian Emperor. 
Everywhere the history of religion betrays a tendency to 
enthusiasm. Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. 26. 
Actions that promote society and mutual fellowship 
seem reducible to a proneness to do good to others and a 
ready sense of any good done by others. South. 
It cannot be denied that there is now a greater disposi- 
tion amongst men toward the assertion of individual lib- 
erty than existed during the feudal ages. 
11. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 187. 
bent' 2 (bent), . [Also dial, bennet; < ME. bent, 
< AS. "beonet (found only in comp., in local 
names, as in Beonetledh, > E. Bentley) = OS. 
"binet (not authenticated) = LG. behnd (Brem 
Worterb.) = OHG. binnz, binez, MHG. binz, G. 
binse, a bent, rush; origin unknown.] 1. Any 
stiff or wiry grass, such as grows on commons 
or neglected ground. The name is given to many spe- 
cies, as Agrostis vulqaris, A gropyrum jutueum, species of 
Aira, etc. ; in America it is applied exclusively to Ai/rostin 
vulijaris and A. canina. Also bent-grass. 
2. The culm or stalk of bent ; a stalk of coarse 
withered grass; a dead stem of grass which 
has borne seed. 
His spear a bent both stiff and strong. 
Drayton, Nymphidia. 
3. A. place covered with grass; a field; unin- 
closed pasture-land ; a heath. 
Vche beste to the bent that that bytes on erbej. 
Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 532. 
Black bent, Alopeairus agrestii.'Oos r brown bent 
Agrostis canina. Marsh, creeping, fine, or white 
bent, Affrottii mlgarii. Reed bent, Ammofkila arun- 
dinacea. -Wire bent, Xardus stricta. To take the 
bent, to take to the bent ; run away. [Scotch.] 
Take the bent, Mr. Rashleigh. Make ae pair o' legs 
worth twa pair o' hands. Scott, Rob Roy, II. 4. 
ben-teak (ben'tek), . A close-grained, infe- 
rior kind of teak, used in India for buildings 
