bonavist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (obsolete/technical)Technical/Historical/Regional
Quick answer
What does “bonavist” mean?
A leguminous plant, also known as Lablab purpureus or hyacinth bean, cultivated for its edible beans and pods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A leguminous plant, also known as Lablab purpureus or hyacinth bean, cultivated for its edible beans and pods.
In historical contexts, the name was used to describe a type of bean from the West Indies; sometimes used regionally for specific bean varieties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. No significant regional preference in modern usage, though historical texts may show colonial usage patterns.
Connotations
Historical, botanical, possibly archaic.
Frequency
Extremely rare. More likely encountered in historical agricultural documents or specialized botanical contexts than in contemporary speech or writing.
Grammar
How to Use “bonavist” in a Sentence
The N (bonavist) is grown for V-ingN (Farmers) cultivate bonavistVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Possible in historical botany or agricultural history papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in some botanical or historical agricultural texts to identify the specific plant species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bonavist”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonavist”
- Using it as a common noun for any bean.
- Capitalising it as a proper name (Bonavist).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered obsolete or highly technical in modern English.
It is most commonly known as the hyacinth bean, lablab bean, or by its scientific name Lablab purpureus.
It would almost certainly not be understood by most speakers. Using 'hyacinth bean' or 'lablab bean' is recommended.
No significant difference exists, as the word is equally obscure in both varieties.
A leguminous plant, also known as Lablab purpureus or hyacinth bean, cultivated for its edible beans and pods.
Bonavist is usually technical/historical/regional in register.
Bonavist: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒnəvɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːnəvɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Bona' (good) + 'vista' (view) - a 'good view' of a historical bean plant.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'bonavist'?