Defn: Of or pertaining to Bentham or Benthamism.
BENTHAMISM
Ben"tham*ism, n.
Defn: That phase of the doctrine of utilitarianism taught by Jeremy Bentham; the doctrine that the morality of actions is estimated and determined by their utility; also, the theory that the sensibility to pleasure and the recoil from pain are the only motives which influence human desires and actions, and that these are the sufficient explanation of ethical and jural conceptions.
BENTHAMITE
Ben"tham*ite, n.
Defn: One who believes in Benthamism.
BENTHOS
Ben"thos, n. [NL., fr. Gr. depth of the sea.]
Defn: The bottom of the sea, esp. of the deep oceans; hence (Bot. & Zoöl.), the fauna and flora of the sea bottom; — opposed to plankton.
BENTING TIME
Bent"ing time".
Defn: The season when pigeons are said to feed on bents, before peas
are ripe.
Bare benting times . . . may come. Dryden.
BENTY
Bent"y, a.