Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4–5 bayn, 5 beyn, 5–6 bayne, 6–9 bane, 6–7 bain. [a. ON. beinn straight, direct; also, ready to serve, hospitable.]
A. adj. 1. Ready, willing, inclined.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 136. So bayn wer þay boþe two, his bone for to wyrk.
c. 1440. Morte Arth. (Roxb.), 104. To batayle be ye bayne.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. ii. 58. To seik ȝour ald modir mak ȝou bane.
c. 1550. Turke & Gowin, 109, in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 94. I will be att thy bidding baine.
1674. Ray, N. Countr. Wds., 4. Bain, Willing, Forward.
2. Supple, lithe, limber.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 29. Beyn or plyaunte, Flexibilis.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., III. (1593), 77. And wantonly they writh … among the waves their bodies baine and lyth.
1674. Ray, S. & E. Countr. Wds., 59. Bain, Lithe, limber-joynted.
3. Direct; near, short. north. dial. [Cf. ON. ‘beinstr vegr straightest, shortest way,’ Vigfusson.]
1864. Atkinson, Whitby Gloss., Banest, nearest, ‘That way ’s the banest.’
1864. T. Clarke, in Kendal Merc., 30 Jan. (Westm. dial.), A swind mi ways t’ banest geeat ower t’ fell.
B. quasi-sb. A ready or willing one.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 82. He has bene sene agane, The buxumnes of his bane [respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ].
C. as adv. 1. Readily, willingly.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1511. Ful bayn birlen þise oþer.
c. 1450. Gaw. & Gologras, I. vi. The berne besely and bane blenkit hym about.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. Prol. 58. Byand byssely, and bane [v.r. bayne], buge, beuir, & bice.
2. Conveniently near, ‘handy.’ north. dial.
a. 1700[?]. Anc. Poems, Ball., etc. (1846), 215. Bane ta Claapan town-gate lived an oud Yorkshire tike.
1824. Craven Dial., i. 11. We’re vara bane tot’ beck.
