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

He fluffs his chip up, which comes back towards bis feet.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2022

For him, there is only the Zarathustran heroism of clawing from null bis eins, of escaping the herdlike mentality of das Mann for the freedom of the Übermensch.

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2016

I am bis queen, but I will always be bis cub as well, and be will always guard me.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• anew
• over
• repeatedly