biding

plural bidings

1. An awaiting; expectation.

   I was biding time. And my biding was making me bitter.

   2007, Debrena Jackson Gandy, All the Joy You Can Stand

2. archaicResidence; habitation.

   A moſt poore man, made tame to Fortunes blows Who, by the Art of knowne, and feeling ſorrowes, Am pregnant to good pity. Giue me your hand, Ile lead you to ſome biding.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], page 304, column 1

   2 more examples

   For they brought us to their bidings about two miles from the harborough, where wee saw their women and lodging, which is nothing but the skin of some beast layd upon the ground : and over them in stead of houses, is nothing but five or sixe sticks layd acrosse, which stand upon two forkes with stickes on the ground and a fewe boughes layd on it.

   1600, Richard Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations Voyages Traffiques & Discoveries of the English Nation, volume XI, Glasgow: James MacLehose and Sons, published 1904, page 307

   No, gracious Lady, Flanders claims my Birth; / At Antwerp has my conſtant biding been, / Where ſometimes I have known more plenteous Days / Than thoſe which now my failing Age affords.

   a. 1714, Nicholas Rowe, “The Tragedy of Jane Shore”, in The Dramatick Works of Nicholas Rowe, volume II, London: T. Jauncy, published 1720, page 7

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of bide