Bane

[Simon J. Branford]

No: HPFGUIDX 3166

Amanda wrote: "*flip* *flip* *flip* ah, here we are....my, my, not a nice
word. "bane. noun. From Anglo-Saxon bana, murderer. 1. That which destroys
life, esp. deadly poison;--now only in ratsbane, henbane, etc. 2. Obsolete:
Murder, death. 3. Ruin; woe; esp. destroying or ruining cause; source of
irreparable harm. Verb, t. & i. To poison, to harm."

I much prefer the following meaning for bane (from the OED online - from the
15 century): A proclamation of a marriage; a prelude of a play. In the
latter sense more freq. in pl. banes, now banns.

Also it is an obsolete form of Bain (readily, willingly) adv. readily, and
bone.

The wonders of having a great dictionary at your fingertips!

Simon