Obs. Also 5 beneveneuew, 6 bienveneu, 6–7 benvenue, 7 bienvenu. [Fr. f. bien well + venue coming. Formerly as frequent in Eng. use as adieu.]
1. Welcome.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. To ben upon his bienvenue The firste, which shall him salue.
c. 1440. York Myst., XXX. 280. Now bene-veneuew, beuscher, What boodworde haste þou brought?
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 23 (D.). I hauing no great pieces to discharge for his ben-uenue.
1629. Massinger, Picture, II. ii. They have … given him the bienvenu.
2. A fee exacted from a new workman.
1793. Ann. Reg., 251/1. The compositors demanded of me Bienvenue afresh.
