benew

English

Etymology

be- +‎ new

Verb

benew (third-person singular simple present benews, present participle benewing, simple past and past participle benewed)

1. (archaic) To make like new; renew; refresh.
   • 1822, “The Naturalist's Diary For April 1822”, in Time's Telescope, page 117:

     The youthful season's-wonted bloom Benews the beauty of each bow'r, And to the sweet-songed bird is come *Glad welcome from its darling flow'r,

   • 1826, George Gordon Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage: A Romaunt, page 101:

     Thus far I have proceeded in a theme Benewed with no kind auspices:—to feel We are not what we have been, and to deem We are not what we should be, and to steel The heart against itself; and to conceal, - With a proud caution, love, or hate, or aught, — Passion or feeling, purpose, grief or zeal, — Which is the tyrant spirit of our though, Is a stern task of soul :— No matter, — it is taught.

   • 1846, The Church of England Magazine - Volume 20, page 23:

     We quitted it with the conviction that the grave could not be called “solitary,” while those the painter dearly loved benewed it with their tears (Art Union Journal for October).

Usage notes

This term is only used in cases where something is made like new. Unlike the similar verb renew, this is never used to mean resume or restart.