Meanings
plural abidances
- The act of abiding or continuing; abode; stay; continuance; dwelling.First known use Early 17ᵗʰ century.
- Adherence; compliance; conformity.First known use Early 19ᵗʰ century.
A judicious abidance by rules, and holding to the results of experience, are good; but not less so, are a judicious setting aside of rules, and a declining to be bound by incomplete experience.
1862, Sir Arthur Helps, Organization in daily life: an essay, page 781 more example
No wonder then, though the Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine (though this I confess, is but the bark of the text), driving that trade wherewith none ever thrived, the breaking of promises; wherewith one may for a way fairly spread his train, but he will moult his feathers soon after.
1840, Thomas Fuller, The history of the holy war, page 262
Synonyms & antonyms
nounacting according to certain accepted standards
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Englishābīdan
- Middle Englishabiden
- Englishabidance
From Middle English abiden, from Old English ābīdan (“wait”), from ā + bīdan (“to bide, remain”) + ance. * abide + -ance.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch naleving, nakomen van
- nalevingcompliance
- nakomen vancompliance
Cite this entry
abidance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abidance
“abidance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abidance. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abidance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abidance.
Source: abidance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.