banns (banz)

pl. [Formerly bannes, often banes, mod. more correctly bans, pl. of ban1, q. v. The spelling banns is now usual in this sense.] 1. The proclamation of intended marriage in order that those who know of any impediment thereto may state it to the proper authorities. Banns were made a part of ecclesiastical legislation by the fourth Council of the Later an, A. D. 1215, whose decrees were confirmed by the Council of Trent. In the Roman Catholic Church the celebration of marriage without previous proclamation of the banns, unle by special dispensation, is gravely illicit, but not invalid. The proclamation is made by the parish priest of each contracting party, on three consecutive festivals during public ma . The proclamation of banns is no longer required in order to a valid civil marriage in England, Scotland, or the United States. 21. The proclamation or prologue of a play. Banes or Prologue [to] the Fall of Lucifer. York Plays , Int., p. lxii. To bid or ask the bannst, to publish the banns. If all parties be pleased, ask their banns , 'tis a match. Burton , Anat. of Mel., p. 561. To forbid the banns, to make formal objection to an intended marriage. A better fate did Maria deserve than to have her banns forbid . Sterne , Tristram Shandy, ix. 24. bannut (ban'ut), n. [E. dial., also written ban net , bannenote (in comp. bannenote IMG:content-1639.png:[blocks in formation] Bantu tive size. Many of these varieties are the exact counterparts, except in size, of the corresponding breeds of full size, and were originally reduced in weight by careful selection and breeding of small specimens from these full-sized breeds. There are other varieties, however, as the Japanese and the Sebright bantams, which do not resemble any of the large breeds. The chief varieties are the African, game (in the several colors), Japanese, Pekin, Polish, and Sebright bantams. 2. Same as Bantam - work. II. a . Pertaining to or resembling the bantam; of the breed of the bantam; hence, diminutive; puny; absurdly combative, or fu y and consequential. Bant Bantam-work (ban'tam-wèrk), n. An old name for carved work, painted in party-colors, imported from the East Indies; "a kind of Indian painting and carving on wood, resembling Japan-work, only more gay," Chambers's Cyc., Supp., 1753.