Middle English Dictionary Entry

bidden v.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms bidden v. Also (late) bid(en. Forms: sg. 2 biddest, (early) bist; sg. 3 biddeth, (early or S) bit; p. sg. 3 bad, bed (S), bead (early), bat (N, rare), bāde (late), (late) bēd; p.pl. bēde(n, bāden, bad(den; ppl. i)bēde(n, (late) biden.
Etymology OE biddan; bæd; bǣdon, bēdon; ge)beden. ME bidden is influenced by bẹ̄den in meaning & form.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. beden.
1a.
To ask, beg, or plead for (sth.); ~ bone, make a plea or request; ~ mildse, merci, beg for mercy; ~ grith, sue for peace; ~ leve, beg leave, ask for permission; ~ mede, tax, beg alms, ask for reward; -- also with of phrase of the person addressed.
Show 21 Quotations
1b.
To request, beg, or beseech (sb.); -- with clause or inf. phrase of the thing asked for; also with swa, as.
Show 16 Quotations
1c.
To request or beg (sth. of sb.).
Show 12 Quotations
1d.
To make a plea or request.
Show 3 Quotations
2a.
(a) To pray, say a prayer; -- intr. or refl. (early); also with to phrase of the deity or saint addressed; (b) ~ bede, bene, bone, orisoun, praier, to say a prayer; ~ a pater noster, say the Lord's Prayer; etc.; (c) to pray (for sb.).
Show 54 Quotations
2b.
To address a prayer or entreaty to (God, a saint); supplicate, pray; also, worship; -- also with obj. (early, gen.), of phrase, obj. clause, or inf. phrase of the thing asked for.
Show 23 Quotations
2c.
To pray for (sth.); ~ are, bote, grace, merci, etc.; -- with obj. (early, gen.) or obj. clause; also with at, upon, to phrase of the deity addressed.
Show 21 Quotations
3.
(a) To go begging, ask for charity; (b) ~ mete, to beg for a livelihood, live on charity; ~ almes, ask for alms; (c) to ask (sb.) for alms.
Show 11 Quotations
4a.
To demand, prescribe, or order (sth.); ~ husting, call a meeting of councilors; -- (a) with obj.; (b) with two objs.; (c) with obj. clause; (d) with inf. phrase, without or with to; (e) alone.
Show 29 Quotations
4b.
To direct or urge (sb.); require, command, order, bid (sb. to do sth.); -- (a) with inf. phrase, without or with to; (b) with obj. clause.
Show 24 Quotations
4c.
(a) as ye bad, as you requested, directed, urged, or ordered; etc.; (b) as he bad me, as he directed or ordered me; etc.; (c) him was biden, he was requested or ordered (to do sth.); etc.
Show 19 Quotations
5.
(a) To advise or urge (sb. to do sth.); -- with clause or inf. phrase; (b) to suggest (that sth. be done); -- with inf. phrase; (c) to suggest (sth.); admonish (sb.); (d) ~ forth, to urge (sb.) on.
Show 19 Quotations
6.
To invite (sb.); ~ to mete, ask to dinner; ~ (to) gestninge, offer hospitality.
Show 12 Quotations
7.
(a) To offer (sth.) as a gift or in exchange, give; ~ worthshipe, do (sb.) an honor; (b) to deliver (a blow); ~ bak, turn (one's) back, flee; ~ cheke, offer (the other) cheek; (c) to offer or pledge (loyalty); ~ oth, pledge on oath; ~ hond, pledge in hand; etc.; (d) to offer to fight (sb.), challenge; ~ bataille, fight.
Show 18 Quotations
8a.
(a) To seek, desire, or wish (sth.); ~ thrift, wish good luck, bless; (b) to wish or intend (to do sth.).
Show 9 Quotations
8b.
In salutations: bidden farewel, ~ adieu, to say goodbye; also, take leave of (sth.), give up; ~ god morow, say good morning; etc.
Show 7 Quotations
9.
To indicate or tell (sth. to sb.), point out.
Show 3 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22455 : He bade þan to mutu marcelle Þat sone he sulde him hie to helle And telle vnto quintiliane Qwam he within þe tentes had slane: 'Britons abundes on þis maner With manaces and rosinges þis yiere.'
    • Note: New phrase: ~ to, to declare (to sb. that sth. is the case); to command (sb. to do sth.);--with obj. clause or inf. phrase (without to) of the thing declared or commanded.
  • ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23569 : Þe corses of his enemies ilkane..King arthur þoru reuth and pite He had of so gret number to se, To þe contre folk he bade him selfe Anens þar state þai sulde þam delfe.
    • Note: New phrase: ~ to, to command (sb. that sth. be done);--with obj. clause.
  • ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)27293 : Kyng alaine bade to cadwaladre Obeis to his celestiene fadre.
    • Note: New phrase: ~ to, to entreat (sb. to do sth.);--with inf. phrase without 'to'.--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2859 : Before þe emperour þei were..Many causes gunne þei bete and tred, But þe first of alle..to chese..A holy man.
    • Note: New form (if it is this word): Also..bete.
    Note: 'bete' = 'put forward.' Closest sense I could find in MED is bidden v. 1c. or 1d. No such form found in form section.--notes per MG
    Note: Perhaps this word belongs to batten v. (senses formerly treated under bāten v.(2), closest in meaning to sense 2.(b)). Gloss: to discuss (an issue), debate. (Alternatively, this may be a new entry, an apheretic form of dēbāten v.(1))--per MLL

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.