bane

//beɪn//
C1Frequency Level 12Literary
Visual representation of bane

Noun

baneSingular
banesPlural
1

A cause of great distress, annoyance, or ruin; something that causes misery or death.

Mosquitoes are the bane of summer camping trips.

2

(archaic) Poison, especially a deadly poison.

The witch prepared a deadly bane to poison the king's wine.