bield

English

Alternative forms

• beeld

Etymology 1

From Middle English beeld, beld, from Old English byldo, bieldo (“courage, boldness”), from Proto-Germanic *balþį̄ (“boldness”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel- (“to inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old High German baldī (“boldness, courage”) (Middle High German belde), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹 (balþei, “boldness, courage”). More at bold.

Noun

bield (usually uncountable; plural bields)

1. (obsolete or dialectal) boldness, courage; confidence; a feeling of security, assurance.
2. (obsolete or dialectal) resource, help, relief; a means of help or relief; support; sustenance.
3. (obsolete or dialectal) shelter, refuge or protection.
4. (obsolete or dialectal) A place of shelter, a refuge.

Derived terms

• bieldy

Related terms

• bold

Etymology 2

From Middle English beelden, belden, from Old English byldan, bieldan (“to encourage, embolden”), from Proto-Germanic *balþijaną (“to make bold”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel- (“to inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old Saxon beldjan (“to encourage”), Old High German baldēn (“to make bold”) (Middle High German belden), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (balþjan, “to make bold”).

Verb

bield (third-person singular simple present bields, present participle bielding, simple past and past participle bielded)

1. (transitive, obsolete or dialectal) To make bold, give courage or confidence to.
2. (transitive, obsolete or dialectal) To defend, protect or shelter.

Synonyms

• encourage