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.]
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).
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.
Neither bid him God speed. --2. John 10.
He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --Granrille.
3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly
obs.]
``Our banns thrice bid !'' --Gay.
4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope
Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --Matt.
xiv. 28
I was bid to pick up shells. --D. Jerrold.
5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.
As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
--Matt. xxii.
9
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.
Syn: To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command;
direct; charge; enjoin.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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