biden: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicLiterary/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “biden” mean?
To wait patiently.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To wait patiently; to endure or tolerate delay or difficulty.
To remain in a state of expectation or readiness; to withstand hardship or inconvenience without complaint.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally archaic in both varieties. No significant regional variation exists in contemporary usage.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes a formal, old-fashioned, or poetic tone.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. More likely to be encountered in British historical literature due to the larger volume of preserved texts from the period when the word was active.
Grammar
How to Use “biden” in a Sentence
[Subject] bidens[Subject] bidens [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., 'biden for news')[Subject] bidens [Direct Object] (archaic, e.g., 'biden the pain')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “biden” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- "Biden here until I return," the knight commanded.
- She did bidene the winter's chill with steadfast heart.
American English
- The pioneers were forced to biden their journey due to the snow.
- He bidened the criticism without response.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary analysis of older texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biden”
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Confusing it with 'bidden' (past participle of 'bid').
- Misspelling as 'biding' (the modern form).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'bide' is the modern, shortened form that evolved from the Middle English verb 'biden'.
No, it would sound archaic and confusing. Use 'wait', 'stay', or 'bide' instead.
The historical past tense is 'bode' or 'bided'.
For linguistic completeness, historical understanding, and to aid in reading older literature where the word appears.
To wait patiently.
Biden is usually literary/archaic in register.
Biden: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪd(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪd(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “biden one's time”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BIDE your time' – the modern phrase 'bide' comes directly from this older verb 'biden'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENDURANCE IS A LOCATION (to biden is to remain in a state). TIME IS A FORCE TO BE ENDURED (to biden one's time).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'biden' be most appropriately used today?