What does 撓｛た｝める mean in these 2 sentences?


> 1) 又八｛またはち｝は、壁の陰に立って、刀を振りかぶり、彼らの首が入口から三寸と出たら、ばさりと斬ッて落そうと、 **撓｛た｝め** きッている。
>
> 2) 武蔵｛たけぞう｝は黒樫の木剣を横に **撓｛た｝め** て待っていた、そして典馬｛てんま｝の脚もとを目がけて、半身を投げ出すように烈しく払った。

｛宮本武蔵（1935年–1939年、朝日新聞連載、吉川英治）｝

What dictionary meaning would fit with how 撓｛た｝める is used here? Could it be
aiming (弓・鉄砲で、ねらいをつける。三省堂 スーパー大辞林)?




From my first impression, that ためる means
["力などを発揮するのをぎりぎりまで押さえて、たくわえておく。"](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/139058/meaning/m0u/)
(Being still with all your power so that you can release it at any point.)

But, it seems that 溜める is usually used in that case.

The kanji, 撓 generally means bending. And, it is a little bit strange to use
it here.

I have no good explanation, but 吉川英治 is an old popular novelist, so he could
have some different rules from now a days. Anyway, 溜 and 撓 are not in 常用漢字
(2136 kanjis that the government suggests to use in daily life.) So, we are
not good at telling their differences.

