I. ˈbid verb
( bade ˈbad, ˈbaa(ə)d ; or bid or archaic bad ˈbad ; bidden ˈbid ə n ; or bid also bade ; bidding ; bids )
Etymology: partly from Middle English bidden to entreat, pray, invite, command, from Old English biddan to entreat, pray, command; akin to Old High German bitten to entreat, Old Norse bithja, Gothic bidjan to entreat, ask for, Sanskrit bādhate he presses, harasses; partly from earlier bede to invite, command, from Middle English beden to offer, proclaim, invite, command, from Old English bēodan to offer, proclaim, command; akin to Old High German biotan to offer, Old Norse bjōtha to offer, command, Gothic ana biudan to command, Greek pynthanesthai to learn by inquiry, Sanskrit bodhati, bodhate he wakes, is awake, observes
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to ask for insistently : beseech , entreat , pray
b. : to issue an order to either mildly and without especial emphasis or authoritatively or peremptorily
the servant did as he was bidden
they bade him enter
c. : to request to come : invite
as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage — Mt 22:9 (Authorized Version)
2.
a. obsolete : to make known : declare , reveal , proclaim
b. : to give expression to (as a greeting, a farewell, or a wish) to someone
she bade me a tearful farewell
3.
a. : offer — obs except in the phrase to bid defiance
b.
(1) : to offer (a price) whether for payment or acceptance
bid $10,000 less than his nearest competitor
surely you can afford to bid one dollar
(2) : to obtain (goods) by offering a price or premium
bidding scarce goods away from the open market
(3) : to make (a bid) to someone
I'll bid you 50 cents and not one penny more
c. past or past part bid : to make a bid of or in
bid hearts
he bid one spade
d. : to enter a claim for (a vacant job) on the basis of seniority
intransitive verb
1. : to make a bid: as
a. : to state what one will pay or take
b. : to try to obtain or attain something — usually used with for
bidding for the support of special-interest groups
c. : to enter a claim for a vacant job on the basis of seniority — usually used with in or for
he bid in the operation of the big crane
2. : seem , appear — usually used with fair (sense 8a(1)) and now with a complementary infinitive
his effort bids fair to succeed
though formerly also with for
Synonyms: see command
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : the act of one who bids : an offer of a price (as at an auction) : a statement of what one will give or do for something to be received or will take for something to be done or furnished
b. : something offered as a bid
2. : an opportunity to bid
the bid is with you, sir
: one's turn at bidding
it's your bid
3. : invitation
a bid to join a sorority
4. card games
a. : an announcement of willingness to attempt to accomplish a certain result under specified conditions (as to take a stated number of tricks in bridge if a stipulated suit is trumps)
b. : the amount of such a bid
a 3-heart bid
a 350 bid
c. : a bridge hand on which one may reasonably bid
I haven't had a bid in the last three hands
5. : an attempt or effort to win, achieve, or attract
he made a strong bid for the championship
sometimes : an appeal or plea especially for sympathy
III.
archaic
past part of bide