Bid

[imp. BID or BĀDE; p. p. BID, BIDDEN; p. pr. & vb. n. BIDDING.] [A-S. biddan, O. S. biddian, Icel. & Sw. bidja, O. H. Ger. bidjan, N. H. Ger. bitten, to pray, ask, request; A-S. beodan, to offer, to command, O. S. biodan, Icel. bioda, Goth. biudan, O. H. Ger. biutan, biotan, N. H. Ger. bieten, D. bieden, to offer, N. H. Ger. gebieten, entbieten, D. gebieden, to command, bid.]

1. To offer; to propose; to make an offer of; specifically, to offer to pay, as for a thing put up at auction.
2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance, and the like; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning, farewell, &c.; to bid defiance.

Neither bid him God speed. 2 John 10. He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. Granville.

3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Obs. or rare.] “Our bands thrice bid.” Shak.
4. To lay before, as a command or injunction; to order; to direct; to enjoin; to command. “Bids him contemplate.” Everett.

Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water. Matt. xiv. 28. 5. To invite; to call in; to request to come. As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9. To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to distinguish each bead by a prayer.—To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise.