abide

English

Etymology

From Old English ābīdan. From a- (intensive) + bīdan (“to wait”). See also the verb bide.

Pronunciation

• UK: IPA: /əˈbaɪd/
• (US) IPA: /əˈbaɪd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪd

Verb

abide (third-person singular simple present abides, present participle abiding, simple past abode or abided, past participle abode, abided, or (rare), abidden)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To wait; to pause; to delay.
2. (intransitive) 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.
   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), Genesis 24:55

     Let the damsel abide with us a few days.

3. (intransitive) To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue; to remain.
   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), 1 Corinthians 7:20

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

4. (transitive, obsolete with a personal object) To wait for, to be prepared for, to await, to watch for.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XIII:

     Ryght so departed Sir Launcelot and founde hys felyship that abode hys comming [...].

   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), Acts 20:23

     Bonds and afflictions abide me.

   • 1856-1885, Alfred Tennyson, Idylls of the King:

     I will abide the coming of my lord.

5. (transitive) To endure; to sustain; to submit to.
   • 1856-1885, Alfred Tennyson, Idylls of the King:

     […] And shalt abide her judgment on it.

6. (transitive) To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.
   • c. 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2, Act III-ii

     She could not abide Master Shallow.

7. (transitive, confused with aby "to pay for") To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:

     How dearly I abide that boast so vain, […]

Usage notes

• The negative form can't abide is commonly used to indicate strong dislike. Similarly can't stand.

Quotations

• "The Dude abides." Sam Elliot, referring to Jeff Bridges' character, from "The Big Lebowski" a Coen Brothers movie.

Related terms

• abide by
• abidest (archaic second-person singular present form; with “thou”)

Translations

to dwell

Bulgarian: пребивавам (bg), оставам (bg) Dutch: verblijven (nl), wonen (nl) French: demeurer (fr) German: weilen (de)

Italian: vivere (it), abitare (it), risiedere (it), dimorare (it) Latin: possideo (la) Malay: tinggal dalam, duduk Norwegian: forbli (no) Spanish: habitar (es), demorar (es)

to await

Bulgarian: чакам, очаквам (bg) Dutch: afwachten (nl) German: harren (with genitive)

Italian: aspettare (it), attendere (it) Norwegian: avvente (no)

to endure

Bulgarian: търпя (bg) Dutch: ondergaan (nl), verdragen (nl) German: aushalten (de)

Italian: sopportare (it), tollerare (it) Norwegian: holde ut (no) Spanish: quedar (es), permanecer (es)

to tolerate

Bulgarian: толерирам (bg) Dutch: tolereren, toelaten French: tolérer (fr), supporter (fr) German: ausstehen

Italian: sopportare (it), tollerare (it) Norwegian: tolerere (no) Portuguese: suportar (pt) Spanish: tolerar (es), soportar (es)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

Interlingua: demorar Old English: ābīdan Vietnamese: tồn tại, kéo dài, tôn trọng, giữ, tuân theo, chịu theo, trung thành với, ở, ngụ tại, chờ, chờ đợi, chịu đựng, chịu, chống đỡ được

Shorthand

• Gregg (Version: Centennial,Series 90,DJS,Simplified): a - b - i - d

(Version: AnniversaryPre-Anniversary): a - b - i