bounden

/ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/

//ˈbaʊnd(ə)n// adj

"bounden" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“bounden” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.

Corpus desk

Index EN-bounden · bounden · English

bounden · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "B" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for bounden
PropertyValue
Headwordbounden
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “bounden” in English

boundenranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

bounden is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

bounden has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind. The correct English form is bounden, spelled B-O-U-N-D-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.
  2. 2
    Bound.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how bounden appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. And although we be vnworthy (through our manyfolde ſynnes) to offre vnto thee any Sacryfice: Yet we beſeche thee to accepte thys our bounden duetie and ſeruice: and commande theſe our prayers and ſupplicacions, by the Miniſtery of thy holy Angels, to be brought vp into thy holy Tabernacle before the ſyght of thy dyuine maieſtie: […]
  2. Your moſt bounden and devoted friend and ſervant of all men living, Fr. Bacon, C.S.

Etymology

From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "bounden"?
"bounden" is spelled B-O-U-N-D-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/.
What does "bounden" mean?
As an adjective, "bounden" means: Now chiefly in "bounden duty": made obligatory; binding.
How do you pronounce "bounden"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "bounden" is /ˈbaʊnd(ə)n/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "bounden"?
From bound + -en, the archaic past participle of bind. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list