bename: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteArchaic / Literary
Quick answer
What does “bename” mean?
To name or call someone or something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To name or call someone or something.
An archaic or literary term meaning to give a name to, to style, or to call by a particular name.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference exists. Both varieties treat the word as equally archaic.
Connotations
Poetic, old-fashioned, historical.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English, with usage essentially zero in modern corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “bename” in a Sentence
[Someone] benames [someone/something] [name].[Someone] benames [someone/something].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bename” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The poet would bename the hills after ancient heroes.
- They did bename their firstborn son Arthur.
American English
- The old tale said the valley was benamed by the first settlers.
- Shall we bename this river after our captain?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except potentially in historical linguistics or literary analysis of older texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bename”
- Attempting to use it in modern conversation or writing.
- Confusing it with 'became' or 'rename'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is considered obsolete or archaic. It is not used in contemporary English.
The simple verb 'name' (e.g., 'They named the child John.') is the direct modern equivalent.
You might find it in poetry or prose from the Middle English or Early Modern English periods (roughly before the 18th century).
No. You should learn to recognize it as an archaic form, but for active vocabulary, use 'name', 'call', or 'dub'.
To name or call someone or something.
Bename is usually archaic / literary in register.
Bename: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈneɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈneɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BEfore we had the simple word 'name', we might have said 'BE NAME' someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
NAMING IS BESTOWING AN IDENTITY
Practice
Quiz
The word 'bename' is best described as: