General
bene
What does bene mean?
In 'bene whids' — good or fair words; to 'cut bene whids' was to speak kindly.
"Cut bene whids to the mort and she'll think well of you."
Origin
Recorded by Harman (1566), whose canting dialogue uses 'bene' (good) and 'benar' (better), opposed to 'queer' (bad). Listed through B.E. (1699) and Grose (1785). Likely related to Latin 'bene' / Romance 'bene', via beggars' contact with continental cant.
Frequently asked questions
What does bene mean in thieves' cant?
Good or fine — the canting word of approval, opposed to 'queer' (bad), recorded by Harman in 1566.
What is the opposite of bene?
'Queer', the cant word for bad, false or worthless — as in 'queer bouse', bad drink.
Where does bene come from?
It appears in Harman (1566) and likely traces to the Romance/Latin 'bene' (well, good), entering English cant through contact with continental beggars' argot.
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