v. & n.
v. (bidding; past bid, archaic bade; past part. bid, archaic bidden) 1 tr. & intr. (past and past part. bid) (often foll. by for, against) a (esp. at an auction) offer (a certain price) (did not bid for the vase; bid against the dealer; bid $20). b offer to do work etc. for a stated price. 2 tr. archaic or literary a command; order (bid the soldiers shoot). b invite (bade her start). 3 tr. archaic or literary a utter (greeting or farewell) to (I bade him welcome). b proclaim (defiance etc.). 4 (past and past part. bid) Cards a intr. state before play how many tricks one intends to make. b tr. state (one's intended number of tricks).
n. 1 a (esp. at an auction) an offer (of a price) (a bid of $5). b an offer (to do work, supply goods, etc.) at a stated price; a tender. 2 Cards a statement of the number of tricks a player proposes to make. 3 colloq. an attempt; an effort (a bid for power). bid fair to seem likely to. make a bid for try to gain (made a bid for freedom). bidder n.
[ OE biddan ask f. Gmc, & OE beodan offer, command ]