bode
/boʊd/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.03 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To declare (something, such as a future event) before it occurs; to foretell, to predict; specifically, to predict (something undesirable); to forebode.
Archaic; Transitive verb
verb
Often followed by ill or well: of a thing: to be an indication, omen, or sign of something.
Intransitive verb
noun
A feeling that something is going to happen; a premonition, a presentiment.
Example Sentences
- "But in the thought and ſcope of my opinion, / This bodes ſome ſtrange eruption to the ſtate."
- "O heauen; O earth, beare vvitness to this ſound, / And crovvne vvhat I profeſſe vvith kinde euent / If I ſpeake true: If hollovvly inuert / VVhat beſt is boaded me, to miſchiefe: I, / Beyond all limit of vvhat elſe i'th vvorld, / Do loue, prize, honor you."
- "But so much haste bodes / Right little speed, and— […]"
- "It bodeth evil for Atlantis that I come back with my spirit sore to find Oltis stepping into the place of high priest."
- "Augur accurſt! denouncing Miſchief ſtill, / Prophet of Plagues, for ever boding Ill!"
- "Forgive my Impatience: But my preſaging Mind bodes horrid Miſchiefs!"
Etymology
The verb is derived partly from the following: * From Middle English boden, bodian (“to be a sign or symbol, betoken, signify; to be an omen of a future event, forebode, foreshadow; to foretell, presage; to command, order; to deliver a message, proclaim, report; to preach”), from Old English bodian (“to announce, proclaim, tell; to foretell, prophesy; to preach; etc.”), from Proto-West Germanic *bodōn (“to announce, proclaim; to call, summon”), from Proto-Germanic *budōną (“to announce, proclaim; to call, summon”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewdʰ- (“to be awake; to be aware”). Doublet of bid (“to make an attempt; to make an offer”). * A back-formation from forebode. The noun is derived from Middle English bod (“foreboding, omen; message, report; command, edict; (Christianity) commandment; etc.”), from Old English bod (“command, edict, order”), from Proto-West Germanic *bod (“command, mandate, order”), from Proto-Germanic *budą (“message; offer”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewdʰ- (see above).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /boʊd/
- British English: /bəʊd/
Usage
Inflected Forms
bodes (present, singular)
boding (participle, present)
boded (participle, past)
boded (past)
no-table-tags (table tags)
glossary (inflection template)
boded (first person, past)
bodest (archaic, present)
boded (past, second person)
bodedst (archaic, past)
bodeth (archaic, present)
boded (past, singular)