abide

present singular third person abides · participle present abiding · past abode · past abided · past abid · participle past abode · participle past abided · participle past abid · participle past rare abidden

1. transitiveTo endure without yielding; to withstand.First known use mid-12th c.

   The old oak tree abides the wind endlessly.

   Synonyms: hold on, resist, astand, bear up, carry on, continue, endure, follow up

2. transitiveTo bear patiently.First known use late 15th c.

   "I never could abide shoemakers," said an old servant,—and it ended in her marrying one.

   4 more examples

   VVe will be Kings and Lords within our ſelues, And not abide the pride of tyrranie.

   1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act III

   Neuer neuer: ſhe would alwayes ſay ſhee could not abide M[aster] Shallow.

   c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 87, column 2

   We are vegetarian leaning, dislike smoking and alcohol, cannot abide drugs.

   1978 December 2, “!HELP!! (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 19, page 14

   By God sir. I will not abide another toe.

   1998, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, The Big Lebowski (motion picture), spoken by The Big Lebowski (David Huddleston)

   Synonyms: brook, put up with, tolerate, abear, aby, accept, allow, bear

3. transitiveTo pay for; to take the consequences of.First known use late 16th c.

   If it be found ſo, ſome will deere abide it.

   1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 122, column 1

   2 more examples

   Diſparage not the faith thou doſt not know, / Leſt to thy perill thou abide it deare.

   [c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 154, column 2

   Ay me, they little know / How dearly I abide that boaſt ſo vaine, / Under what torments inwardly I groane[…]

   1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Synonyms: answer for, suffer, atone

4. Used in a phrasal verb: abide by (“to accept and act in accordance with”).

   The new teacher was strict and the students did not want to abide by his rules.

5. intransitiveobsoleteTo wait in expectation.First known use mid-12th–mid-17th c.

   And Abraham ſaid vnto his yong men, Abide you here with the aſſe, and I and the lad will goe yonder and worſhip, and come againe to you.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 22:5

   Synonyms: hold on, stay, back that train up, bide, bide one's time, expect, defer, hang on

6. intransitiveobsoleteTo pause; to delay.First known use ca. 1150—1350 to mid-17th c.
7. ScotlandarchaicintransitiveTo stay; to continue in a place; to remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to be left.First known use ca. 1150—1350

   Let euery man abide in the ſame calling wherein he was called.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 7:20

   2 more examples

   One generation passeth away, and another generation commeth: but the earth abideth for euer.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 1:4

   But they constrained him, saying, Abide with vs, for it is towards euening, and the day is farre spent: And he went in, to tarrie with them.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 24:29

8. archaicintransitiveTo have one's abode.First known use ca. 1350—1470

   And her brother and her mother ſaid, Let the damſell abide with vs a few dayes, at the leaſt ten ; after that, ſhe ſhall goe.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 24:55

   2 more examples

   "As how, my lambkin," blushing, she replide, / "Because I in this dancing schoole abide? / If that it be, that breede's this discontent, / We will remoue the camp incontinent: / For shelter onelie, sweete heart, came I hither, / And to auoide the troblous stormie weather; / But now the coaste is cleare, we will be gonne, / Since, but thy self, true louer I haue none."

   1593, Thomas Nashe, The Choice of Valentines

   In empty hush, in airless gloom, Mr. Knott abode, in the large room set aside for his exclusive enjoyment, and that of his attendant.

   1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC

   Synonyms: dwell, live, reside, bedwell, belive, dwell, haunt, inhabit

9. archaicintransitiveTo endure; to remain; to last.First known use ca. 1350—1470

   The Dude abides.

   1998, Joel and Ethan Coen, The Big Lebowski (motion picture), spoken by Narrator (Sam Elliot)

10. archaictransitiveTo stand ready for; to await someone; watch for.First known use early 12th c.

    I will abide the coming of my lord.

    1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 52

    1 more example

    Saue that the holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in euery city, ſaying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 20:23

    Synonyms: await, wait for, attend, await, bide, expect, hold up, keep

11. obsoletetransitiveTo endure or undergo a hard trial or a task; to stand up under.First known use ca. 1150—1350 to early 18th c.

    […]And shalt abide her judgment on it.

    1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 31

12. archaictransitiveTo await submissively; accept without question; submit to.First known use ca. 1350—1470

    The grand Conſpirator, Abbot of Weſtminſter, / With clog of Conſcience, and ſowre Melancholly, / Hath yeelded vp his body to the graue : / But here is Carlile, liuing to abide / Thy Kingly doome, and ſentence of his pride.

    1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi], page 45