noun
banns
BANZ/bænz/
Public church announcements of an intended marriage.
The minister reads the banns before the couple's wedding.
Etymology
Bannan supplies the idea of proclaiming publicly: banns are announcements of an intended marriage. Old French ban, 'announcement,' probably also contributed to the word.
In context
Before 1983, canon law required banns to be announced, or "asked", in the home parishes of both parties on three Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation before the marriage.
More examples
- Their banns were announced during the Sunday service.
- The parish recorded the publication of the banns.
- The couple asked when their banns would be read.
Forms
banns
Similar words
- announcement
- Can concern any news rather than an intended marriage.
- notice
- Usually means a written statement made publicly available.