Where does “unbending” come from?

Unbending derives from English bend, which comes from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ-, a root meaning to bind or constrain.

unbending (English): inflexible and not yielding; very reserved, aloof...

Definitions

  1. inflexible and not yielding; very reserved, aloof...

Ancestry of “unbending”, step by step

unbending traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English bending

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishbendingpresent participle of bend; A motion or action...
2EnglishbendTo cause to change its shape into a curve, by...
3Middle Englishbenden
4Old Englishbendanto bind; to bend a bow
5Proto-West Germanicbandijanto bind
6Proto-GermanicbandijanąTo bind, fetter, restrain; stretch; To bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰendʰ-to bind; bond

via English unbend

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunbendTo remove a bend so as to make, or allow to...
2Middle Englishunbenden

Words derived from “unbending

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ-