BÆN
nafnorðkvenkyn
and bón, f. [biðja], prayer, request, boon; these two words are nearly identical in form, and sometimes used indiscriminately as to sense; but in most cases they are different, bæn having a deeper sense, prayer, bón, request, boon; we may say biðja e-n bónar, and biðja e-n bænar, but the sense is different; only bæn can be used of prayer to God; göra e-t at bæn e-s, Fs. 38; er su bæn allra var, at …, we all beg, that…, Eg. 28; skaltú veita mér bæn þó er ek mun biðja þik, Nj. 26; fella bæn at e-m, to pray one earnestly, Ísl. ii. 305.
β. prayer to God, often in plur.; vera á bænum, to be at prayers; hon var löngum um nætr at kirkju á bæuum sínum, Ld. 328; hann hellir út bænir fyrir dómstól Krists, Hom. 13, 156; bæn ok ölmusugjafir, Bs. i. 370, Pass. 4. 22, 44. 17: the phrase, vera e-m góðr (illr) bæna (gen. pl.), to turn the ear (or a deaf ear) to one’s prayers, Hom. (St.) 95; ver mér nú svá bæna, sem þú vilt at Guð sé þér á dómsdegi, Orkn. 174; Drottinleg bæn, the Lord’s Prayer; kveld-bæn, evening prayer; morgun-bæn, morning prayer; lesa bænir sínar. to say one’s prayers, etc.