bis

¹ American  

[bis] / bɪs /

adverb

1. twice.

2. again (used as an enthusiastic call for the repetition of a musical performance).

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bis ² American  

[bis] / bɪs /

noun

1. a sheer, often embroidered linen, used in the manufacture of altar cloths.

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B.I.S. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Bank for International Settlements.

2. British Information Services.

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BIS ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Bank for International Settlements: an institution, based in Basel, Switzerland, that accepts deposits, makes loans for national central banks, and assists in offsetting speculative movements of funds between the major currencies; set up in 1930

2. Bosnia-Herzegovina (international car registration)

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bis ² British  

/ bɪs /

adverb

1. twice; for a second time (used in musical scores to indicate a part to be repeated)

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1. encore! again!

Etymology

Origin of bis¹

1810–20; < Italian < Latin; OL duis twice

Origin of bis²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin byssus byssus

Example Sentences

“This lexicon gives a humorous and precise overview of the most important words and phrases of politically correct newspeak,” the back cover of Klaus Rainer Röhl’s Politisch Korrekt von A bis Z from 1995 promises.

From Slate • Jan. 5, 2025

Cospito, 55, is an Italian anarchist who has been on a hunger strike for more than 100 days to protest against being jailed under the strict "41 bis" isolation regime.

From Reuters • Jan. 31, 2023

The outside of the house, at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil in Paris, is another story.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2016

So, there was no bis, as the Italians call it, no repeat.

From The Guardian • May 31, 2016

He moved quickly to throw back the sheet but stopped with a hiss at the creak or scratch of his shoulder, which he had forgotten in bis sleep.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• anew
• over
• repeatedly