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bide Definition

bide (bīd)

intransitive verb bode or bid′ed, bid′ed, bid′·ing

  1. to stay; continue
  2. to dwell; reside
  3. to wait

Etymology: ME biden < OE bidan, to stay, wait < IE base *bheidh- (see bid), prob. in sense “compel oneself,” hence, delay

transitive verb

Now Chiefly Dial. to endure or tolerate

bide Idioms

bide one's time

to wait patiently for a chance

bide Usage Examples

Object

  • time: Truth puddles get cold on leaves But bide time counting every free-falling moon.
  • ye: Bide ye a bit; the good time cometh.
  • wi: The wey it is maist commonly yaised in Scots bides mair wi the aulder senses o the wird.
  • awa: Thocht it wis better tae bide awa, let them get on wi't.
  • wee: If you are mearly curious about my country, bide a wee and enjoy.
  • place: In plain terms, if thou hast anything to say to me, send me away quickly; this is no biding place.

Adjective complement

  • quiet: He exhorted them not to act rashly, but to trust in God and bide quiet.

Modifying Another Word

  • simply: With a few notable exceptions I felt that most of the teachers were simply biding their time for their salaries.
  • just: Maybe he's just biding his time, waiting for his moment to strike.
  • not: It was almost certainly planned, but it does not bide well.
  • quietly: Proponents of the nuclear option seem to be quietly biding their time awaiting changes in the geopolitical situation.
  • merely: The demons that have so fatally tormented European history - most disastrously of all in the twentieth century- are merely biding their time.
  • only: They were both in work, and if plaintiff would only bide her time some other young fellow would come along and marry her.