Bane: meaning, definitions and examples
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bane
[ beɪn ]
poisonous substance
A bane is a poisonous substance that causes harm or death to living organisms. It is often used metaphorically to describe something that is a cause of harm, annoyance, or misery.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The villain used a bane to poison the hero.
- Jealousy can be the bane of a healthy relationship.
- The pollution in the river is a bane to the local wildlife.
cause of ruin or harm
In literature, a bane is often portrayed as a cause of ruin or harm. It is something that brings about destruction or downfall.
Synonyms
catastrophe, downfall, ruin, undoing
Examples of usage
- The character's ambition proved to be his bane.
- Excessive pride was the bane of the king in the story.
archaic term for killer
In archaic usage, a bane referred to a killer or murderer. It was used to describe a person who caused death or harm to others.
Synonyms
assassin, killer, murderer, slayer
Examples of usage
- The bane lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.
- The town was terrorized by a bane who preyed on the innocent.
Translations
Translations of the word "bane" in other languages:
🇵🇹 maldição
- ruína
- flagelo
🇮🇳 अभिशाप
- विनाश
- आपदा
🇩🇪 Fluch
- Verderben
- Geißel
🇮🇩 kutukan
- malapetaka
- bencana
🇺🇦 прокляття
- руйнація
- біда
🇵🇱 klątwa
- zguba
- plaga
🇯🇵 呪い (noroi)
- 破滅 (hametsu)
- 災い (wazawai)
🇫🇷 malédiction
- ruine
- fléau
🇪🇸 maldición
- ruina
- flagelo
🇹🇷 lanet
- felaket
- bela
🇰🇷 저주 (jeoju)
- 파멸 (pamyeol)
- 재앙 (jaeang)
🇸🇦 لعنة (la'na)
- دمار (damar)
- كارثة (karitha)
🇨🇿 kletba
- zkáza
- pohroma
🇸🇰 kliatba
- záhuba
- pohroma
🇨🇳 诅咒 (zǔzhòu)
- 灾难 (zāinàn)
- 祸害 (huòhài)
🇸🇮 prekletstvo
- propad
- nadloga
🇮🇸 bölvun
- tortíming
- plága
🇰🇿 қарғыс
- жойылу
- апат
🇬🇪 წყევლა
- დაღუპვა
- უბედურება
🇦🇿 lənət
- məhv
- bəla
🇲🇽 maldición
- ruina
- flagelo
Word origin
The word 'bane' originated from Old English 'bana', meaning 'killer' or 'destroyer'. It has been used in literature and language to signify something that causes harm or ruin. The metaphorical use of 'bane' to describe a source of misery or destruction has been prevalent in various works of art and storytelling.