bain't

See also: baint

English

Contraction

bain't

1. (UK, dialect) be not
   • 1871, Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native:

     "I aint afeard at all, I thank God!" said Christian strenuously. "I'm glad I bain't, for then 'twon't pain me... I don't think I be afeard—or if I be I can't help it, and I don't deserve to suffer. I wish I was not afeard at all!"

   • 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 51:

     "Bain't you glad that we've become gentlefolk?"

Anagrams

• bat in, batin