A source of great harm, distress, or ruin; something that causes death or severe damage.
From Old English 'bana' (murderer, slayer), related to Gothic 'banja' (stroke, wound). Originally meant 'killer' or 'death'; evolved to mean anything causing great harm or destruction.
Originally, 'bane' meant an actual murderer or killer, which is why it has such dark weight when we use it now—'the bane of my existence' literally echoes 'the killer of my happiness,' giving the word its dramatic, serious tone.
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