banns

An alteration of bans.

• IPA^(key): /bænz/
• Rhymes: -ænz
• Homophone: bans

banns pl (plural only)

1. The announcement of a forthcoming marriage (legally required for a church wedding in England and Wales and read on the three Sundays preceding the marriage).

   Synonym: banns of marriage

   • 1766, George Colman, David Garrick, The Clandestine Marriage, a Comedy. […], London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […]; R[oberts] Baldwin, […]; R. Davis, […]; and T[homas] Davies, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 32:

     VVhy the banns have been publiſhed, and nobody has forbidden them, 'tis true—but you know either of the parties may change their minds even after they enter the church.

2. (historical) Any public announcement of an upcoming event.
   • The Banes which are reade beefore the beginninge of the playes of Chester, 4 June, 1600.

banns

1. indefinite genitive singular of bann