from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Abide \A*bide"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Abode}, formerly {Abid};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Abiding}.] [AS. [=a]b[imac]dan; pref. [=a]-
(cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + b[imac]dan to
bide. See {Bide}.]
1. To wait; to pause; to delay. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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2. To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to
dwell; to sojourn; -- with with before a person, and
commonly with at or in before a place.
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Let the damsel abide with us a few days. --Gen.
xxiv. 55.
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3. To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to
continue; to remain.
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Let every man abide in the same calling. --1 Cor.
vii. 20.
[1913 Webster] Followed by by:
{To abide by}.
(a) To stand to; to adhere; to maintain.
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The poor fellow was obstinate enough to abide by
what he said at first. --Fielding.
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(b) To acquiesce; to conform to; as, to abide by a
decision or an award.
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