Dictionary

bene en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /biːn/

Etymology

From Middle English bene, from Old English bēn (“prayer, request, petition, favour, compulsory service”), from Proto-Germanic *bōniz (“supplication”). Cognate with Danish bøn (“prayer”), Swedish bön (“prayer”), Icelandic bæn (“prayer”), Icelandic bón (“request”). Related to ban. See also boon, bee.

Meanings

1. (dialectal) A prayer, especially to God; a petition; a boon.
   • What is good for a bootless bene? 1815, William Wordsworth, The Force of Prayer:

Forms

Relateds

beenship

bene en · NOUN · etymology 2

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, uncountable) Alternative form of benne (“sesame”).
   alt of benne

bene en · ADJ · etymology 3

Etymology

UK C16. Probably from Latin bene or Italian bene.

Meanings

1. (UK, obsolete, qualifier:thieves' cant) Good.
   • Egad, you carry a bene blink aloft. Come to the ken alone—no! my blowen; did not I tell you I should bring a pater cove, to chop up the whiners for Dawson? 1828, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Pelham: or The Adventures of a Gentleman, page 383:

Forms

Deriveds

bene mort · bene darkmans · bene cove · bene bowse · beneship · beneshiply · cut bene · bene feaker · bene feaker of gybes · bene lightmans

Synonyms

good

bene en · NOUN · etymology 3

Etymology

UK C16. Probably from Latin bene or Italian bene.

Meanings

1. (UK, obsolete, qualifier:thieves' cant) Tongue.
   • Stowe your bene!

Forms

bene en · NOUN · etymology 4

Etymology

Clipping of eggs benedict

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of) Abbreviation of eggs Benedict, an egg dish
   alt of eggs Benedict

Forms

bene en · VERB · etymology 5

Meanings

1. (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of been.
   alt of been
   • That would of^([sic]) bene a good idea...