English Dictionary

Definition of “abide

abide (əˈbaɪdPronunciation for abide

Definitions

verb

Word forms: abides, abiding, abode, abided
  1. (tr) to tolerate; put up with
  2. (tr) to accept or submit to; suffer  ⇒ to abide the court's decision 
  3. (intr)  foll by by 
    1. to comply (with)  ⇒ to abide by the decision 
    2. to remain faithful (to)  ⇒ to abide by your promise 
  4. (intr) to remain or continue
  5. (intr) archaic to dwell
  6. (tr) archaic to await in expectation
  7. (tr) archaic to withstand or sustain; endure  ⇒ to abide the onslaught 

Alternative Forms

aˈbidance noun aˈbider noun

Word Origin

Old English ābīdan,  from a-  (intensive) + bīdan to wait, bide

Usage examples

  • She should have known that such fears must never be forgotten and do not abide by the rules of time.
    Loraine, Philip, Loaded Questions (1985)
  • He promised to abide by the court ruling, a dramatic shift for the vhp.
    India Today (2002)
  • In the first week, each women has to abide by the original homemaker's house rules; in the second week, she makes up her own damn rules.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • The UN wants the warring parties to abide by a 1994 peace agreement it brokered.
    Glasgow Herald (2002)
  • O virginity, you abide forever in the chorus of the company of heaven!
    Peter Stanford, HEAVEN: A Traveller's Guide to the Undiscovered Country (2002)

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