bene

B3E1N1E1
/biːn/

noun

A prayer, especially to God; a petition; a boon.

“Stowe your bene!”

Similar
good
OriginMiddle English bene ← Old English bēn ← Proto-Germanic *bōniz →
Less commonFirst used 16th–19th c.Scrabble 6
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Meanings

bene1

nounbene (plural benes)

plural benes · alternative been · alternative ben

  1. dialectalA prayer, especially to God; a petition; a boon.

    What is good for a bootless bene?

    1815, William Wordsworth, The Force of Prayer

bene2

nounbene (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of benne (“sesame”).

bene3

adjectivebene (comparative benar, superlative benat)

comparative benar · superlative benat · alternative ben · alternative bien

  1. UKobsoletethieves' cantGood.First known use 16th–19th c.

    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

    Synonyms: good

nounbene (plural benes)

plural benes · alternative ben · alternative bien

  1. UKobsoletethieves' cantTongue.First known use 16th–18th c.

    Stowe your bene!

bene4

nounbene (plural benes)

plural benes · alternative Bene · alternative benny · alternative Benny

  1. abbreviationfoodAbbreviation of eggs Benedict, an egg dish

bene5

verb
  1. misspellingMisspelling of been.

    That would of^([sic]) bene a good idea...

Bene6

proper nounBene (plural Benes)

plural Benes

  1. A surname.

Bene7

nounBene (plural Benes)

plural Benes · alternative bene · alternative benny · alternative Benny

  1. abbreviationfoodAbbreviation of eggs benedict, an egg dish

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveGood.

Similar
good
Also see
acceptablebadeggs benedictgoodgucciheavenlypositive

Origin

bene · noun

  1. Proto-Germanic*bōniz“supplication”
  2. Old Englishbēn“prayer, request, petition, favour, compulsory service”
  3. Middle Englishbene
  4. Englishbene

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.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

bene · adjective, noun

  1. Italianbene
  2. Latinbene
  3. Englishbene

UK C16. Probably from Latin bene or Italian bene.

More words from Latin, Italian

Full word history & related roots →

bene · noun

Clipping of eggs benedict

Full word history & related roots →

Bene · noun

Clipping of eggs Benedict

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with bene

beenbetweengreenmagazinemeanseenscreenmachinecleangenescenedeanjeanroutineHalloweenbeancuisinevaccineEugeneChristineleanfifteengasolinekeen
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

beanbeen

Anagrams

beenebenneeb
Cite this entry
APA

bene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bene

MLA

“bene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bene.

Source: bene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.