An archaic adverb meaning quickly, soon, or immediately.
From Middle English bedene, from Old English, possibly related to be- (prefix intensifier) and dene or a similar root. The exact etymology is uncertain but it appears in Middle English texts meaning 'straightaway' or 'at once.'
Bedene captures a moment in English history—it was common in medieval texts but disappeared completely, replaced by 'soon' and 'quickly,' showing how languages shed old words when newer ones work better.
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