banns

n. (pl.) public announcements of an intendedmarriage,repeated on three successive Sundays inchurch. before the matrimonial ceremonv could takeplace; announcement of a matrimonial contract结婚预告，宣布婚约。
△1H.IV.4.2.17(16): “inquire me outcontracted bachelors,such as had been asked twice onthe banns，” i.e. when the wedding was near. 打听出一些订了婚的单身汉，特别是在教堂结婚预告中被问过两次的。
△Shr.2.1.181(180): “ask the banns”，要求预告结婚。
△Lr.5.3.87(86): “'Tis she is sub-contracted to thislord,/And I,her husband,contradict your banns.”她已跟这位爵爷订了重婚的密约，所以我，她的丈夫，反对你们的婚事预告。

banns[bænz]

n.（教堂公布的）结婚告示
‖ banns of matrimony 结婚预告