Dictionary

benim en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English benimen, from Old English beniman, from Proto-West Germanic *bineman, from Proto-Germanic *binemaną (“to take away”). Equivalent to be- (“off, away”) + nim. Compare German benehmen.

Meanings

1. (obsolete, transitive) To take away; rob; deprive; ravish
   • […] by his name maketh clepe him and name him Rude Intendment hath made him an espier of ways and a waiter [waylayer] of pilgrims and will benim [rob] them their burdons and unscrip them of their scrips, beguiling them with lying words. 1963, William Matthews, Later medieval English prose:
   • To visit I should much prefer Some sick but wealthy usurer : With patience would I comfort him, In hope some deniers to benimme, And when pale death steals o'er his face, Transport him to the burial-place. 1900, Guillaume (de Lorris), Jean de Meun, Frederick Startridge Ellis, The Romance of the Rose - Volume 2
   • And on the right hand were two flowers like a lily, and the one would have benome the others whiteness, but a good man departed them that the one touched not the other; and then out of every flower came out many flowers, and fruit great plenty. 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “viij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVI:
   • Alas ! it benimeth from man his wit and his reason, and all his debonaire life spiritual that should keep his soul. Certes it benimeth also God's due lordship (and that is man's soul) and the love of his neighbours : […] 1876, Henry Morley, “Illustrations of English religion”, in Chaucer:
   • Benombe of ones lymbes […] […] He is now benomme of his lymmes. 1530, John Palsgrave, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Forms

Relateds

benumb · benimming