adjective
bona
BOH-nuh
adjective
1
Good. (dated slang)
"That's a right bona bit of luck."
adverb
1
Well; in a good way. (dated slang)
"The show went off bona, all things considered."
How to Use Bona
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned slang word meaning "good."
Memory tip
Mostly seen in older British slang (e.g. Polari) rather than everyday modern speech.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
bona fide
Word Forms
more bona comparative, more bona comparative, most bona superlative, most bona superlative
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Etymology
From Mediterranean Lingua Franca (Sabir) bona ("good"), ultimately from Latin bonus, the same root that gives English "bonus" and "bon" in "bon voyage."