sb. pl. Forms: 5 bane (sing.), 5–7 banes, (6 baynes, 6–7 baines), 6 bannes, 6– bans, banns. [The same word as BAN sb.1 ‘proclamation,’ in a specific use, in which it was from some cause regularly pronounced with long ā from 15th to 17th c. The Prayer-book of 1549, has exceptionally bannes, that of 1552 bannes and banes, all edd. from 1559 to 1661 banes, from 1662 onward banns, after med.L. bannum, used, as well as F. ban, in same sense. The singular occurs in 15th c.; the plural only is found after.]
1. Proclamation or public notice given in church of an intended marriage, in order that those who know of any impediment thereto may have opportunity of lodging objections. Phrases: to bid (obs.), ask, publish, put up the banns.
[1198–1216. Decret. Gregorii, IV. xviii. vi. Quando banna secundum consuetudinem in ecclesiis edebantur.
a. 1328. Concil. Provinc. Cantuar. (Wilkins), II. 554. Contractibus matrimonialibus absque bannorum editione prehabita initis.]
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 22. Bane of a pley (1499 or mariage), Banna, preludium.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 402. The byshop … there dydde axe the banes betwene them.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Matrim. The bannes must be asked three seueral Soondaies.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 181. Ile craue the day When I shall aske the banes, and when be married.
1599. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. i. 124. Go bid the baines and point the bridall day.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., I. ix. 24. Seeing that heaven did ask the banes, why should earth forbid them?
1662. Bk. Com. Prayer, Matrim. The Banns of all that are to be married together must be published. [So in 1885.]
1694. Falle, Jersey, v. 142. The Banes shall be asked three Sundays successively.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), I. 252. Our bans thrice bid!
1863. Haydn, Dict. Dates, 69. The present custom of asking banns … introduced into the Gallican church about A.D. 1210.
b. To forbid the banns: to make a formal objection to the intended marriage. Also fig.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 51. Had not Euphues … forbidden the banes of Matrimony.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 36. The late forbidden bains.
a. 1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 472. If any man can forbid this Banes.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 105, ¶ 4. The Parents of his Mistress forbad the Banes.
a. 1778. Pitt (on coalition of Fox and North). I know of a just and lawful impediment; and in the name of the public weal, I forbid the banns.
1829. Southey, O. Newman, ii. Wks. X. 286. Should loyalty Forbid the banns.
† 2. Proclamation or prologue of a play.
1440. [see 1].
1483. Cath. Angl., 20. Bane (Bayn) of a play, preludium, proludium.
1600. Chester Plays. The Banes which are reade beefore the beginninge of the playes.
c. 1609. D. Rogers, in Digby Myst., Introd. (1882), 19. A man … published the tyme and the matter of ye playes in breife, which was called ‘ye readinge of the banes.’
1884. Symonds, Shaks. Predecessors, iii. 105. The Banes, or proclamation which introduced them to the public.
