Bide
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /baɪd/
- Rhymes: -aɪd
Origin
From Middle English biden, from Old English bīdan ("to stay, continue, live, remain, delay; wait for, await, expect; endure, experience, find; attain, obtain; own"), from Proto-Germanic *bīdaną ("to wait"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeydʰ- ("to command, persuade, compel, trust"). Latinate cognates (via PIE) include faith and fidelity.
Full definition of bide
Verb
- (transitive, chiefly dialectal) To bear; to endure; to tolerate.
- (intransitive, archaic or dialectal) To dwell or reside in a location; to abide.
- MiltonAll knees to thee shall bow of them that bide
In heaven or earth, or under earth, in hell. - (intransitive, archaic or dialectal) To wait; to be in expectation; to stay; to remain.
- (transitive, archaic) To wait for; to await.
Usage notes
The verb has been replaced by abide in Standard English for almost all its uses, and is now rarely found outside the expression bide one's time.