from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bid \Bid\ (b[i^]d), v. t. [imp. {Bade} (b[a^]d), {Bid}, (Obs.)
{Bad}; p. p. {Bidden}, {Bid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bidding}.]
[OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS.
biddian, Icel. bi[eth]ja, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray,
ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. teiqein to
persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this
word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS.
be['o]dan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj[=o][eth]a,
Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G.
bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. pynqa`nesqai to
learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present
OSlav. bud[=e]ti to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has
the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden
to command, except in "to bid beads." [root]30.]
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1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer
to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at
auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be
done under a contract).
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2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a
threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid
good morning, farewell, etc.
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Neither bid him God speed. --2. John 10.
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He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --Granrille.
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3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly
obs.] "Our banns thrice bid !" --Gay.
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4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
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That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope
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Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --Matt.
xiv. 28
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I was bid to pick up shells. --D. Jerrold.
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5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.
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As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
--Matt. xxii.
9
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{To bid beads}, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics;
to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.]
{To bid defiance to}, to defy openly; to brave.
{To bid fair}, to offer a good prospect; to make fair
promise; to seem likely.
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Syn: To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command;
direct; charge; enjoin.
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