Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Etymology
  5. / Phrase Origins

by Anonymous on April 22nd, 2007

Anonymous

Question

Help answer this question below.

Where does the phrase "bane of my existence" come from?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 1 helpful answer below.

  • by singwell-is off researching a lot on June 4th, 2007

    singwell-is off researching a lot

    I knew that a bane was a nemesis, but I was interested to find a bit more info on this phrase on this site:
    ..."bane" was once a very serious word. The Old English "bana" meant
    literally "slayer" in the sense we now use "killer" or "murderer."
    Early on, the English "bane" was also used in the more general sense
    of "cause of death," and by the 14th century "bane" was used in the
    specialized sense of "poison," a sense which lives on in the names of
    various poisonous plants such as "henbane" and "wolfbane."

    From this very literal "something that kills you" usage, "bane" by the
    16th century had broadened into its modern meaning of "something that
    makes life unpleasant, a curse."

    http://www.word-detective.com/052003.html

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Where does the phrase "bane of my existence" come from?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Bane of my existence meaning
Bain of my existence meaning
Bain of my existence
The bane of my existence meaning
The bane of my existence

Answerbag

a Demand Media company