v. Obs. Chief forms: Inf. 1 beniman, 2–4 binime(n, 4–5 bynymen, 6 benymme, (bynemme). Pa. t. 1 benam, 1–5 binam, 2–4 binom, 4–5 by-, benam(e, -naam, -nom. Pa. pple. 1 benumen, 2–3 binume(n, 3–5 bi-, benome, -nomin, -nummen, (5 byname, 6 binomed). [A common Teut. compd. vb.: OE. bi-, be-niman = OHG. bineman, MHG. benemen, mod.G. benehmen, Du. benemen, Goth. biniman, f. bi-, BE- + niman, OTeut. *neman to take: see NIM. Little used after 1500; exc. in pa. pple. benumen, benum, now BENUMB, BENUMBED. See also BENEME.]
1. trans. To take away generally.
a. 1000. Metr. Boeth., 271. Þa ær se swearta storm benumen hæfde leafa ʓehwelces.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 143. Þis woreld hwile gilð wunne . and hwile hit eft binimð.
1297. R. Glouc., 375. Vor he … by nome her lond.
1436. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 159. Allas! oure reule halteth, hit is benome.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, B ij b. Hit shall benymme hir grece.
b. with dat. of possessor (= from).
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen. (Gr.), 362. He us hæfþ heofonrice benumen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 772. Sone him was sarrai binumen.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxviii. 19. And shal bynyme then ther trauailes [1388 hath priued hem of her trauelis].
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 92. Þis word … binam me al my list.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 170 b. Thou benymest the aungelles in heven their Joye.
[1560. Chaucer’s Boeth. (ed. Speght), 204/1 (ed. 1868 II. iv. 43). Ne Fortune may not benemme [1374 by-nyme] it thee. Ibid., 208/1 (ed. 1868 III. iii. 70). Money, that hath been binomed [1374 bynomen] hem.]
c. from a possessor.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1764. [I]c was for-dred ðe miȝte timen, fro me ðine doutres bi-nimen.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 486. It bynymeth fro man his witte.
1494. Fabyan, III. lx. 39. Offa King of Mercia … by name & toke from them that dignyte.
2. trans. To rob, deprive, bereave. Const. orig. gen., later of (? at, from).
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, III. vii. (Bosw.). He hine his ríces benam.
c. 1205. Lay., 8798. Þat he me nolde ut driuen, binimen me æt þan liue.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 35. Þe care aȝain þi pinunge þrahen binimeð þe nihtes slepes.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 140. Þese may benym þy souerayne from many nyghtis restis.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VII. 93/1. To benymme Edwarde of his ryght.
b. Without const.: To rob; to spoil, ravish.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1706. Lia bar last dowter dinam, Sichem, siðen, hire ille bi-nam.
1340. Ayenb., 23. Ydelblisse benimþ god and stelþ þet his is. Ibid., 39. Þise greate prela[te]þ þat benimeþ and robbeþ hire onderlinges.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., xcvi. 76. Euer he that was strengest bynome hym that was feblyst.
