Word of the Day

: October 21, 2012

abide

verb uh-BYDE

What It Means

1 : to endure, tolerate, or accept

2 : to remain stable or fixed in a state

3 : to continue in a place

abide in Context

Susan has been a vegetarian for years and can no longer abide even the smell of cooked meat.

"Linen suits have a lot going for them, but if you can't abide all that wrinkling, a linen-wool-blend suit ... looks crisp and still offers linen's cooling properties." - From an article in Esquire, May 1, 2012

Did You Know?

"Abide" may sound rather old-fashioned these days. The word has been around since before the 12th century, but it is a bit rare now, except in certain specialized uses. Even more archaic to our modern ear is "abidden," the original past participle of "abide." Today, both the past and the past participle of "abide" are served by either "abode" or "abided," with "abided" being the more frequent choice. "Abide" turns up often in the phrase "can't (or couldn't) abide." The expression "abide by," which means "to conform to" or "to acquiesce in," is also common. Related terms include the participial adjective "abiding" (which means "enduring" or "continuing," as in "an abiding interest in nature"), the noun "abidance" ("continuance" or "compliance"), and the noun "abode" ("residence").