been
verbverbverbnountop 100 in film dialogue
- //ˈbɪn//
- /[ˈbɪn]/
- //ˈbiːn//
- /[ˈbɪi̯n]/
remote past form of be.
verb
- 1
remote past form of be.
He been had that job.
We been knew they was doing this.
She was disloyal, Casper was disloyal, so them muthafuckas gotta go. Like you said[,] we been knew we was going to have to kill Frost, so let's do it and Light too.” Star said. “Say no more. I'ma handle Kisha myself.” Max said walking to the door.
- 2
Also a form of bepast participle of be.
All the fries have been eaten.
We're safe, but the car's been totaled.
Postman been?
They been here since yesterday. (dialectal, e.g. AAVE, omitting have)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Germanic *ga- Proto-West Germanic *ga- Old English ġe- Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuHyétider.? Proto-Germanic *beuną Proto-West Germanic *beun Old English bēon Old English ġebēon Middle English been English been From Middle English been (past participle), from Old English (ġe)bēon. By surface analysis, be + -en.
verb
- 1
rareSynonym of be (infinitival sense).
It useta been five foot long.
"Bones", says he, "I tink dey's a-goin' to been a war ober de Alabamy question[…]
Yur a boald 'un to tell the missus theer to hur feeace as how ya wur 'tossicatit whan ya owt to been duing yur larful business.
[…]But one time it use' to been so cold right first of the winter.
Etymology
Either from Middle English been (“to be”, infinitive) (from Old English bēon, equivalent to be + -en (infinitive ending)), or from a dialectal use of the preceding past tense form as an infinitive form (compare dialectal use of (I)'s, (I) is in the first person, (he) am in the third person, etc).
verb
- 1
Also a form of beobsoleteplural simple present of be.
My love is fair, my love is gay, / As fresh as been the flowers in May;
Theſe Beaſtes been of higheſt Regard and Price / To pleaſure Princes and to murder vice.
Where when men been, there's ſeldome eaſe,
O Friar, those are faults that are not seen, / Ours open, and of worse example been.
Etymology
From Middle English been (plural indicative form); equivalent to be + -en (plural present ending).
noun
- 1
Also a form of beeplural of bee
Etymology
From Middle English been, bene, ben, beon, from Old English bēon (“bees”), equivalent to bee + -en (plural ending).