bename

English

Etymology

From Middle English benamen. Equivalent to be- +‎ name. Compare Middle English benemnen, from Old English benemnan, a closely related formation. Compare further Saterland Frisian benaame, German benennen, Swedish benämna, Dutch benoemen.

Verb

bename (third-person singular simple present benames, present participle benaming, simple past benamed, past participle benamed or benempt)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To swear on oath; to solemnly declare; promise; give.
2. (transitive) To name; give a name (to); mention by name; nominate; denominate; call.
   • 1896, Percival Lowell, Mars:

     Unfortunately, the planet has been quite too much benamed, — benamed, indeed, out of all recognition.

   • 1994, Mervyn Sprung, After Truth: Explorations in Life Sense, SUNY Press, page 71:

     As though the benamed things carried the longings of humans;

   • 2006, Roy Ascott, Engineering Nature: Art & Consciousness in the Post-Biological Era, Intellect Books:

     In other words, […] that 'names' do not 'form' benamed objects but are mere signifiers […]

3. (transitive) To name; call; style; describe as.

Synonyms

• (to swear on oath): vow
• (to give a name, call): designate, dub, name; see also Thesaurus:denominate
• (to describe as): refer to, term

Translations

to give a name, call

• Dutch: benamen (nl), benoemen (nl), namen (nl), vernoemen (nl)
• French: appeler (fr)

Anagrams

• Beeman, Mebane, bemean

Dutch

Verb

bename

1. (dated or formal) singular past subjunctive of benemen