ben

n. [ See Ben, adv. ] The inner or principal room in a hut or house of two rooms; -- opposed to but, the outer apartment. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. An old form of the pl. indic. pr. of Be. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A hoglike mammal of New Guinea (Porcula papuensis). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ p. p. Benamed, Benempt. ] To promise; to name. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Benches [ OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw. bänk, Dan bænk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach. ] 1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's bench. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The seat where judges sit in court. [ 1913 Webster ]

To pluck down justice from your awful bench. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the full bench. See King's Bench. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised platforms. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bench mark (Leveling), one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed. See bench mark in the vocabulary. --
Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in council. --
Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes. --
Bench show, an exhibition of dogs. --
Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Benched p. pr. & vb. n. Benching. ] 1. To furnish with benches. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T was benched with turf. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stately theaters benched crescentwise. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To place on a bench or seat of honor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whom I . . . have benched and reared to worship. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To sit on a seat of justice. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Eng. Law) One of the senior and governing members of an Inn of Court. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An alderman of a corporation. [ Eng. ] Ashmole. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A member of a court or council. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]