to bid beads

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Bead \Bead\ (b[=e]d), n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed, gebed, prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask, bid, G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. pei`qein to persuade, L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]

1.A prayer. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2.A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads,

to be at one's beads,

to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer. [1913 Webster]

3.Any small globular body; as, (a) A bubble in spirits. (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of midnight dew." --Wordsworth. (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim). (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into short embossments. (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax bead; the iron bead, etc. [1913 Webster]

Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges. --Knight.

Bead mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]

Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to make beads or beading.

Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best known species of which (Melia azedarach), has blue flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are poisonous. [1913 Webster]

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]