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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ben, adv., prep., and a. Also: benn, benne, bene. [ME. byn(ne, binne, ONhb. binna, bionna, OE. binnan within. The change of i to e in Sc. is unexplained.]

1. adv. In or towards the inner part or end of a house, etc. But and benn: see But adv. c1420 Wynt. vii. 3129.
Thai tuk wpe the body … And bare it bene in to the qwere Ib. 3131.
Hyr cors thai tuk wp and bare ben a1500 Rauf C. 697.
As he gat ben throw He gat mony greit schow c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 485.
Sum stalwardly steppis ben Ib. 487.
Mony blenkis ben our, that but full fer sittis 1535 Stewart 51442.
He … Intumulat in Drumfermling wes syne … Ben in the queir 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 69.
He saw Elizabeth gang ben to the chalmer quhar James laye a1578 Pitsc. I. 224/17.
They counsellit the king to ryse and gang ben to the invart tollbouth 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 143.
Ben ower the barr he gave a brocht 1596 Dalr. I. 344/19.
King Edward … wald cum farther benn, as we speik, or farther in Scotland 1633 Orkney Bp. Ct. MS. 89 b.
ȝe causit bring ben to the seller ane skaillfull of water 1653 Hope Diary 157.
I went fumouslie benne to the chambre 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 230.
His wife went ben to fetch her some meat

b. Freq. thair ben. (In later use the ben.) c1500 Rowll Cursing 124.
Thow art scho that stall the hen And put hir in the pot thair ben a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 138 b/34.
Considerance hes no lovance Fra thow be bair thair ben 1560 Rolland Seven S. To Rdr. 12.
For to bring but its ill thats not thair ben 1578 Edinb. Test. VI. 133 b.
To Judeth, the stand bed thair ben 1650 Vind. Hammond's Addr. 22 note.
That cannot be brought but, that is not the ben

2. Far ben, in favour, on intimate terms. c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 137.
I was anis als far ben as ȝe ar, And had in Court als greit credence 1632 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 83.
Consider … if ye are not … far ben in the palace of our Lord

3. prep. Through (a house, etc.) towards the inner part or end. 15.. Clar. ii. 1629.
The Merchellis … Full bissilie went ben and but the hall c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 169.
Quhen I come steppand ben the flure 1622 Crim. Trials III. 526.
The deponer hir self nocht being able to wyn ben the hous, becaus of the thrang of peopill 1644 In R. Law Mem. (1818) p. lx.
Ye … bad the father and mother go ben the house a whylle

4. adj. Inward. Benner, inner. 1570 Lennox Mun. 276.
In [the] benner chalmer, ane stand bed 1579 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 518.
The benner chalmer