str. Pa. t. abode, also abided. Pa. pple. abode, also abided, abidden. Forms: Inf. 1 abíd-an, 2–4 abid-en, 4–5 abyden, 3–6 abyde, 3– abide. Ind. pres. 3rd sing. 1 abídeð, 1–4 abit, 4– abideth, 6– abides; (north. 3– abydes, -ys -is). Pa. t. 1 abád, 2–3 abad (3 abed, abeod), 3–5 abod (abot), 3–6 abood, 5 abode; also 6–7 abidd, abid, 8– abided; (north. 3–6 abade, 5–6 abaid(e;) pl. 1 abidon, 2–5 abiden, 5 abydyn, abide, aboden, 5–6 aboode, 5– abode. Pa. pple. 1 abiden, 2–7 abiden, 3–6 abyden, 6 abydden, 6–7 abidd, abid, 6– abidden; also 6 aboded, 7 abode, 8 abided. [1. OE. abídan, cogn. w. Goth. us-beidan to remain on; f. A- pref. 1, of onward motion + bídan: see BIDE. 2. The historical conj. is abide, abode, abidden, but pa. t, and pa. pple. have been variously assimilated to each other, and to the weak conjugation. As early as 6, abidden was shortened to abid(d, and this form occ. used for the past (cf. writ, bit). On the other hand, abidden was in 6 assimilated to pa. t. as aboden and abode; the latter is now the common form, though abidden occurs in 19th-c. writers, and some make a weak pa. t. and pa. pple. abided. 3. Orig. intrans. but in OE. as in Gothic taking a genitive of the object that was the occasion of the abiding, as we abidon his, we waited on account of or for him: this was subsequently replaced by a dative or accusative, the simple object of later times, whereby the vb. became transitive.]
I. intr. To wait, stay, remain.
† 1. To remain in expectation, wait. Obs.
c. 1120. O. E. Chron. (Laud. MS.), anno 1091. He [cyng Melcolm] for mid his fyrde ut of Scotlande into Loðene on Englaland and þær abad.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 103. His wite abideð on þere oðre weorlde.
c. 1250. Genesis & Ex., 1638. Ðre flockes of sep ðor-bi, Ðat ðor abiden al for-ði.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boethius (1868), 63. I abood til þat thow haddest swych habyte of thy thowght as thow hast now.
c. 1450. Merlin, xviii. 290. Thei abode stille in the town, and sojourned to abide to here tidinges of Kynge Arthur.
1611. Speed, Hist. G. Brit., IX. xii. 108. Hee had almost abidden in leaguer before it one whole year.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxii. 5. Abide you here with the asse, and I and the lad will goe yonder.
1634. Modern. of Malory’s Prince Arthur (1816), II. 249. Sir Percivale had abidden there till mid-day.
† b. Const. on, upon, for. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydgate, Minor Poems (1840), 223. Wheron was wrytyn a resoun fulle ryghte, And alle was: ‘For the better abyde.’
c. 1450. Lonelich, Graal, II. 329. The steward Of the kynge that Abod vppon hise lord.
1483. Caxton, G. Legend, 215/3. The Gates of heuen were opene and abode for her. Ibid., 99/3. They that were there abode upon thende of the thyng.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, V. 418. The Faderis … determit to abide on the returning of thare legatis.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Paraph., Matt. viii. 12. We know what misery and wretchednes abydeth for us.
† 2. To wait before proceeding further; to pause, delay, stop. Obs.
c. 1230. Ancren Riwle, 338. Moni mon abit to schriuen him uort þe nede tippe.
1297. R. Glouc., 382. He nolde noȝt abyde vorte hys fader deþ.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knight’s T., 2124. Theseus abyden hadde a space Or eny word cam fro his wyse brest.
c. 1420. Palladius on Husb., I. 118. In places cold thyne hervest sede betyme Is best to haast; in springyng seed to abyde.
1496. W. de Worde, Dives & Pauper, VI. xxv. 275/1. God abode of punysshynge tyll he had undernomen Eue.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. ii. 91. Eneas tho gan styntyn and abaide, And wyth ane pietuous regret thus he sayd.
1528. More, Dial. Heresyes, IV. Wks. 1557, 251/1. Abide ye quod I, and ye shal heare worse yet.
1535. Coverdale, Judg. xvi. 2. Abyde, tomorrow whan it is lighte, we wyll slaye him.
† b. To tarry over a work. Obs.
1531. Elyot, Governour (1580), 137. That incomparable treasure called amitie, in the declaration wher-off I haue aboden the longer.
† 3. To stop (absolutely); to come to a halt. Obs.
c. 1305. E. Eng. Poems & Saints’ Lives, 58. Aȝen þe deuel he com adoun: & bad þe schrewe abide.
c. 1430. Syr Generides (1865), 122. Here horses that thei on ride, Were so werie that thei abide.
c. 1480. Robert the Deuyll (Thom’s Romances, I. 54). Abyde, thou false traytour.
1634. Modern. of Malory’s Pr. Arthur (1816), I. 103. I was so furious in my quest that I would not abide.
† 4. To stay behind, to remain (after others have gone). Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XII. 73. Than thai with-drew thaim euirilkane, And durst nocht than abyde to ficht.
c. 1450. Relig. Antiq., I. 309. Fy on a false hert that dar not abyde.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froissart, I. ii. 3. All such as in cruel batels haue ben seen abyding to [= till] the discomfeture.
1565. Golding, Cæsar, 243. Suche as had abidden behinde to tyll the grounde.
5. To remain after other things are taken; to remain over, be left. arch.
c. 1399. Pol. Poems, II. 12 (1859). Here fame abit, bot al is vanité.
1535. Coverdale, Amos ii. 15. The archer shall not abyde, and the swifte off fote shall not escape.
a. 1842. Tennyson, Ulysses, 65. Tho’ much is taken, much abides.
6. To remain without going away, to stay.
1205. Layamon, 13135. Vortiger þer abed [1250 þar abod].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerkes T., 1050. Hem that stooden hir bisyde, Unnethe aboute hir mighte thay abyde.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 1087. Thre dayes and thre nyȝt he þer abodde.
1574. trans. Marlorats Apocalips, 37. You are they that haue abidden by me in al my temptations.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. i. 140. Ile call vpon you straight: abide within.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IX. 407. He within his ships Abode the while.
1820. Scott, Monast. (1867), 459. Had I abidden with him.
a. 1842. Tennyson, Two Voices, 158. While thou abodest in the bud, It was the stirring of the blood.
a. 1845. Lyte, Hymn. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide, The darkness thickens, Lord, with me abide.
7. Of things: To remain, continue (in a place).
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxix. 32. The braunch in hire hond was Abydinge.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas (1641), I. ii. 11/2. 48. Aire clung to Aire, and Earth with Earth abid.
1652. Culpeper, Eng. Phys., 42. Before the stalk with the flowers have abidden a month above ground.
1732. Law, Serious Call, xxiii. 464 (ed. 2). Their guilt still abides upon you.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 185. Whose name abode on Northumbrian tongues as the embodiment of good and just government.
8. To remain in residence; to sojourn, reside, dwell.
1461–82. Ord. for Royal Househ., Edw. IV. 24. A Prince … abyding at sojourne in this court, he hathe been accustomed to pay for his diettes. Ibid., 25. If the prince be so abyding in a household at a certayne … then the Thesaurere to be charged.
1577. St. Augustine’s Manuell, Pref. Thou [God] art in me, because thou abydest in my mynde.
1611. Bible, Luke viii. 27. And ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombes.
1686. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 634. No Martin there in winter shall abide.
1862. Miss Muloch, Domestic Stories, 243. I had abided for a brief space at that paradise of cockneys, Southend.
1875. Helps, Anim. & Masters, vi. 136. I thought of the mean hovels in which many of our peasantry abide.
9. To remain or continue in some state or action, to continue to be something.
c. 1250. Genesis & Ex., 422. An hundred ȝer after is dead, Adam fro eue in srifte abead.
1366. Maundev., (1839), xxviii. 289. The Coles will duellen and abyden alle quyk.
1388. Wyclif, John viii. 7. Whanne thei abiden [v.r. abideden, abedin, 1382 lastiden or contynuede] axynge hym.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 14 b. If thou wilt the loue of thy frend shal abyde ferme unto the, be curteise to him.
a. 1520. Myrroure of Our Ladye, 298. After the byrthe, thou haste abyden vyrgyn vndefowled.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froissart, I. cxcviii. 2. The towne abode frenche.
1611. Bible, John xv. 10. If ye keepe my commandements, ye shal abide in my loue, euen as I have kept my Father’s commandements, and abide in his loue [Wyclif dwelle, Tindale, Coverd. Cranm. Geneva byde, Rheims abide].
1881. Globe, 21 Sept. (leader). One of the few Southerners in public life who abided faithful to the Constitution when the battle of secession began.
10. To abide by: lit. to remain with; hence, to stand firm by, to hold to, remain true to.
1509. Fisher, Wks. I. 221. His commaundement must nedes be obeyed and abyden by.
1528. More, Dial. Heresyes, II. Wks. 1557, 183/1. The verye churche hath euer had some that hath abidden by theyr faith.
1772. Letters of Junius, No. lxviii. 337. You will abide by the authority of this great man.
1813. Mar. Edgeworth, Patronage (1833), I. xix. 333. Lord Oldborough abided not only by his own measures, but by his own instruments.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. xvi. 25. Dare I bid her abide by her word?
1860. Tyndall, Glaciers, I. § 24. 171. The rules were fixed, and I must abide by them.
11. To continue in existence, endure, stand firm or sure.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. xxxiv. 480. The cyte in mount Segor sholde haue stonde stronge and abyde, yf they had not synned.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 86. Hys Highness woll establish the same Lyvelood than remayning, to abyde perpetually to his Crowne.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. xci. 7. But thou Lorde o most hyest, abydest worlde without ende.
1611. Bible, Ps. cxix. 90. Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. iv. 153. The Norman … abides in his lineage and in his works, but he is Norman no longer.
1878. Joaquin Miller, Songs of Italy, 123. Nothing has been that abideth now … Nothing shall be that shall abide.
II. trans. To wait for, await the issue of, endure.
12. To wait for, await; remain ready for, watch for, expect. (The object was orig. a genitive.)
a. lit. of persons awaiting persons or things. arch.
c. 1000. O. E. Gosp., Matt. xi. 3. Eart þu be to cumenne eart, oððe we oþres sceolon abidan? (Lindisf. Oðer we bidas.)
c. 1150. Hatt. Gosp., Luke i. 21. And þæt folc wæs zacharium ʓe-abyddende.
1205. Layamon, III. 226. Þer heo abiden wederes, For þe wind heom stod toȝæines.
c. 1230. Ancren Riwle, 358. Menske & reste abit us et hom, in ure owune londe.
c. 1280. Owl & Night., 1700. Ȝef ȝe abideth mine [= wait for me] here, Ȝe schule on other wise singe.
c. 1305. E. E. Poems, Life of Pilate, 113. Ech schrewe wole abide his tyme.
a. 1315. Northern Psalter, xxxix. 2. Abidand Laverd abade I.
1382. Wyclif, Luke ii. 25. To alle þat abiden þe redempcion of israel.
c. 1400. Syr Perecyvelle, 1278. My lady, lele Lufamour, Habyddis the in hir chambour.
1423. James I., King’s Quair, IV. x. Wele is him that his tyme will abit.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 206. Whom alle holi men fro the bigynnyng of the world Aboden.
1483. Caxton, G. Leg., 21/1. We have abyden the every day.
1520–41. Wyatt, Poet. Works (1861), 17. I abide, and abide; and better abide, After the old proverb, the happy day.
1541. Elyot, Image Gov., 41. He abode an answer thereof.
1605. Stow, Annales, 676. 500 men … abiding the wind in the port of Sandwich.
1722. De Foe, Hist. Plague, 21. The generality stayed and seemed to abide the worst.
1829. Scott, Antiq., xxi. 143. ‘I wad e’en streek mysell out here, and abide my removal.’
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 980. I will abide the coming of my lord.
b. fig. of things (as fate, surprise, punishment) awaiting persons. arch.
1340. Ayenb., 128. Þe wrechche ne þengþ of þe gibet þet him abit.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xx. 23. Bondis and tribulaciouns at Jerusalem dwellen to me [one MS. abyden me; text of 1388 abiden me].
1526. Tindale, ibid. Bondes and trouble abyde me.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Paraphr., 1 Pet. ii. 10. As long as we were the sonnes of the synful Adam, an infortunate enheritaunce abode us.
1619. T. Taylor, Titus, i. 13. 260. He knewe that bands and imprisonment did abide him in euerie citie.
1640. Homilies, I. 11. III. 88. Those most grieuous and intolerable torments, which abide all uncleane persons.
1826. E. Irving, Babylon, II. VI. 142. A foretaste of the fiery lake which abideth him.
† 13. To wait till the end of, hear through. Obs.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xv. 769. And Iosephes Abod Alle hire Answere Evene to the Ende that scho seide þere. Ibid., xxiii. 5. And the Kyng Alle his tales wel Abod, & ful wel hem likede.
14. To await defiantly, to face, to encounter, withstand, or sustain.
1297. R. Glouc., 302. Dreduol he was to ys fon, þat hym durste vewe abyde.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 14. He bauldly thaim abaid.
c. 1435. Torrent of Portugal, 1470. He wold not the geaunt abyde.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., II. lvii. 421. A man or a woman may abide the conflicte of all vices, but [lechery] he moste flee.
1570–87. Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), I. 378. The other cast themselves about and manlie abode their enemies.
1623. J. Bingham, Hist. Xenophon, 47. They had not the heart to abide you; why should you be afraid of them.
1649. Cromwell, Lett. & Sp. (Carl.), Let. 67. Those gentlemen who have abid the brunt of the service.
1816. Scott, Old Mort. (1868), xv. 724. The … insurgents appeared to be drawn up with the purpose of abiding battle.
1858. H. Miller, Sch. & Schoolm., 133. He soon learned to abide … terrors which most of my bolder companions shrank from encountering.
15. To await submissively, await the disposal of, submit to.
c. 1360. Chaucer, A.B.C., 131. My faderes chastisinge þat dar I nouht abiden in no wise.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 24. On his deeþ, bed to a-bide Goddes wille.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Englond, ccxlii. 277. He founde suffisaunt suerte to abyde the lawe.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froissart, I. xxv. 36. To abyde the ordynaunce of the Kyng of Fraunce.
1594. Shaks., Rich. II., V. vi. 23. Heere is Carlile, liuing to abide Thy Kingly doome, and sentence.
1705. Perry, Hist. Coll. Am. Col. Ch., I. 163. Having abiden her Majesty’s just determination.
1791. T. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 158. Mr. Burke argues that the creditors ought to have abided the fate of the Government which they trusted.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Met. Leg., Wallace, xcv. 4. He must abide his fatal doom.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 584. [Thou shalt] Crave pardon for that insult done the Queen, And shalt abide her judgment on it.
† 16. To endure, suffer, bear, undergo, sustain. Obs.
1205. Layamon, 15565. He þeos dundes abad [later text: And he his dunt a-bod].
1465. M. Paston, in Paston Lett., 503, II. 190. He wold noth abyde the sorow and trobell that ye have abyden to wyn all Sir John Fastolf ys gode.
1526. Tindale, Hebr. xii. 2. For the ioye that was set before hym abode the crosse.
1584. Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 199. The castele Abood diuerse assaults.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 125. Christ our lord … abaid ye schame of ye croce.
1601. Holland, Pliny (1634), I. 59. The other name … Valerius Soranus blurted out and soone after abid the smart for it. Ibid. (1606), Suetonius, 239. Domitian abidd condigne punishment for his avarice and crueltie.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 412. The best and sweetest, though not alwaies stronger than that which hath abode the presse.
1638. Sanderson, Serm., II. 96. Service so hard that it might not be abiden.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 103. It will not be strong enough to abide tough Work.
17. To bear, endure, tolerate, put up with; rarely (now never) in a simple affirmative sentence, but in such as ‘I cannot abide, I can scarcely abide, who can abide?’
1526. Tindale, John viii. 43. Ye cannot abyde the hearynge off my wordes.
1535. Coverdale, Job xix. 17. Myne owne wyfe maye not abyde my breth.
c. 1585. Faire Em., II. 591. Of all things, I cannot abide physic.
1618. Raleigh, Remains (1644), 128. Oyntment is pleasing to Man; but Beetles and Bees cannot abide it.
1622. Babington, Wks., III. 121. If Saint Iohn should haue done so, no man would haue abid him.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, etc., 121. He would not haue aboad it.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, II. i. 15 (1684). He calls me Rogue, tells me he can’t abide me.
1727. De Foe, Hist. Apparitions, xv. 370. He could not abide an ass.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, III. 84. She could not abide the country, and would not be tempted to leave dear London.
1875. Helps, Anim. & Masters, i. 6. People can’t abide pamphlets in these days.
b. With an infinitive object: To endure, bear.
c. 1460. Poem agt. Friars, in Rel. Antiq., I. 322. To serve to that same frer, the Pope mot abyde.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, 162. [I] was not sure whether he coulde abyde that anye thynge shoulde be sayde.
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Instit., I. 36. Who can abyde to say, that then the Sonn entred into the bosome of the Father.
a. 1593. H. Smith, Serm., 97. Nature cannot abide that any place should be empty.
1603. Drayton, Barons Warres, II. 2. Could not abide to heare the name of Peace.
1607. Topsell, Four-footed Beasts (1673), 244. A horse cannot abide to look upon a camel.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 2. They cannot abide to heare of altering.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. State, V. viii. 389. Painted faces cannot abide to come nigh the fire.
1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conq., I. i. 50. I can’t abide to disappoint myself.
1840. Gen. Thompson, Exercises (1842), V. 323. One or two lords cannot abide to see a Pasha set up his back against his ‘legitimate master.’
¶ Through confusion of form with ABYE, q.v., when that vb. was becoming archaic, and through association of sense between abye (pay for) a deed, and abide the consequences of a deed, abide has been erroneously used for abye = pay for, atone for, suffer for.
1586–93. Marlowe, Edw. II., II. ii. 882. Dear shall you both abide this riotous deed.
1607. Shaks., Jul. Caes., III. ii. 119. If it be found so, some will deere abide it.
1719. Young, Revenge, III. i. Wks. 1757, II. 148. O sacred faith! How dearly I abide thy violation!
