Pronunciation: [bˈe͡ɪn] (IPA) 
The word "bane" is spelled with the letters B-A-N-E. In IPA phonetic transcription, it would be /beɪn/. The "b" sounds like the letter "b" in the English alphabet, while the "a" sounds like the "a" in "day." The "n" sounds like the letter "n" in the English alphabet, and the "e" sounds like the "ay" in "hay." Together, these sounds create the word "bane," which means a cause of misery or harm.
Bane, noun.
1. Something that causes great harm, ruin, or destruction; a source of misery or annoyance. Often used in the phrase "bane of one's existence."
Example: The constant noise from the construction site next door was the bane of Sarah's existence, disrupting her peace and preventing her from concentrating on her work.
2. A poisonous substance or venom. In this context, bane is often associated with a specific plant, animal, or substance that can inflict harm or death when ingested or injected.
Example: The bite of the black widow spider contains a potent bane that can lead to severe pain and even death if left untreated.
3. A curse or evil influence that brings about one's downfall or leads to negative consequences. This usage is often found in literary or poetic contexts.
Example: Greed proved to be his bane, as it drove him to make unethical decisions that ultimately cost him his reputation and business.
4. A person or thing that is detested or reviled.
Example: For many, spiders are the bane of their existence, as they provoke intense fear or disgust.
5. In some dialects, bane can refer to a boon or blessing, opposite in meaning to its common usage. This usage is not as prevalent or widely understood.
A poison of a deadly quality; any fatal cause of mischief.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word bane can be traced back to Middle English, where it originally came from the Old English word bana. In Old English, bana meant killer or slayer. The word has Germanic roots and is related to the Old High German word bano, which also means murderer or destroyer. The origin of the word can be further traced back to the Proto-Germanic word banô, which signifies death, wound, or murder.
