dictionary definitions for "bid"


From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.]
     [1913 Webster]
     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.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bid \Bid\, n.
     An offer of a price, especially at auctions; a statement of a
     sum which one will give for something to be received, or will
     take for something to be done or furnished; that which is
     offered.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bid \Bid\,
     imp. & p. p. of Bid.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bid \Bid\, v. i. [See Bid, v. t.]
     1. To pray. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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     2. To make a bid; to state what one will pay or take.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  bid
      n 1: an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
           [syn: command, bid, bidding, dictation]
      2: an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for
         power"; "he made a bid to gain attention" [syn: bid,
         play]
      3: a formal proposal to buy at a specified price [syn: bid,
         tender]
      4: (bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to
         contract to make [syn: bid, bidding]
      v 1: propose a payment; "The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for
           the painting" [syn: offer, bid, tender]
      2: invoke upon; "wish you a nice evening"; "bid farewell" [syn:
         wish, bid]
      3: ask for or request earnestly; "The prophet bid all people to
         become good persons" [syn: bid, beseech, entreat,
         adjure, press, conjure]
      4: make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands;
         "He called his trump" [syn: bid, call]
      5: make a serious effort to attain something; "His campaign bid
         for the attention of the poor population"
      6: ask someone in a friendly way to do something [syn: invite,
         bid]


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