banns, n. pl.
(bænz)
Forms: 5 bane (sing.), 5–7 banes, (6 baynes, 6–7 baines), 6 bannes, 6– bans, banns.
[The same word as ban n.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 Shakes. 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 y⊇ playes in breife, which was called ‘y⊇ readinge of the banes.’ 1884 Symonds Shaks. Predecess. iii. 105 The Banes, or proclamation which introduced them to the public. |