To bid fair

To bid fair
Bid Bid (b[i^]d), v. t. [imp. {Bade} (b[a^]d), {Bid}, (Obs.) {Bad}; p. p. {Bidden}, {Bid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bidding}.] [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS. biddian, Icel. bi[eth]ja, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray, ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. teiqein to persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS. be['o]dan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj[=o][eth]a, Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G. bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. pynqa`nesqai to learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present OSlav. bud[=e]ti to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden to command, except in ``to bid beads.'' [root]30.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be done under a contract). [1913 Webster]

2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning, farewell, etc. [1913 Webster]

Neither bid him God speed. --2. John 10. [1913 Webster]

He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --Granrille. [1913 Webster]

3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly obs.] ``Our banns thrice bid !'' --Gay. [1913 Webster]

4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command. [1913 Webster]

That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope [1913 Webster]

Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --Matt. xiv. 28 [1913 Webster]

I was bid to pick up shells. --D. Jerrold. [1913 Webster]

5. To invite; to call in; to request to come. [1913 Webster]

As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. --Matt. xxii. 9 [1913 Webster]

{To bid beads}, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.]

{To bid defiance to}, to defy openly; to brave.

{To bid fair}, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise; to seem likely. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command; direct; charge; enjoin. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bid fair — To seem likely • • • Main Entry: ↑bid bid fair see under ↑bid1 • • • Main Entry: ↑fair * * * bid fair : to seem likely a movie that bids fair to become a big hit [=a movie that will probably be very successful] …   Useful english dictionary

  • bid fair — index promise (raise expectations) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • bid fair — verb To have a reasonable claim; to seem likely. San Francisco bid fair to being as zany as New York. , Tea With the Black Dragon , 1983 …   Wiktionary

  • To bid fair — Fair Fair, adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably. [1913 Webster] {Fair and square}, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. [Colloq.] {To bid fair}. See under {Bid}. {To speak fair}, to address… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bid fair — {v.}, {literary} To seem likely; promise. * /He bids fair to be a popular author./ * /The day bids fair to be warm./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bid fair — {v.}, {literary} To seem likely; promise. * /He bids fair to be a popular author./ * /The day bids fair to be warm./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bid\ fair — v literary To seem likely; promise. He bids fair to be a popular author. The day bids fair to be warm …   Словарь американских идиом

  • bid fair — Promise, seem likely, offer a good prospect, present a fair prospect, make a fair promise …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • bid fair to — archaic seem likely to. → bid for …   English new terms dictionary

  • bid fair — phrasal to seem likely < a movie that bids fair to become a big hit > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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