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Behn

British  
/ bɛn /

noun

  1. Aphra (ˈæfrə). 1640–89, English dramatist and novelist, best known for her play The Rover (1678) and her novel Oroonoko (1688)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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At the end of his book, Mr. Currey regrets not having the space to discuss even more artists, mentioning the choreographer Pina Bausch, the novelist John O’Hara, the playwright Aphra Behn and others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Behn, who was first elected to the state house in a 2023 special election, is a longtime liberal activist who was an organizer for progressive groups like Indivisible.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2025

As of this morning, Behn is within 2 points of Matt Van Epps, the Republican nominee for the seat, according to a survey from Wednesday.

From Salon • Dec. 1, 2025

On CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday,” host Manu Raju asked Ms. Behn if she regretted making these remarks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

In England, it was the playwright Aphra Behn who translated Fontenelle and the poet Elizabeth Carter who translated Algarotti, so the female audience was more than fictional.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton