bidden
Definition
- Verb (past participle of ):
- To have been commanded or requested: "bidden" is the past participle form of the verb "bid" in its archaic or formal sense meaning "to command, order, or request." It is used in formal or literary contexts.
- To have been invited: In older or poetic usage, "bidden" can mean "invited," as in being asked to attend an event.
Usage Examples
Formal command:
- The king had bidden the knights to assemble at dawn. (The king had commanded the knights to gather.)
Invitation:
- She was a bidden guest at the royal wedding. (She was an invited guest.)
Advanced Usage
"to be bidden": to be invited or commanded.
- He felt honoured to be bidden to the ceremony. (He felt honoured to be invited.)
"bidden farewell": to have said goodbye in a formal or poetic manner.
- They had bidden farewell to their homeland before sailing. (They had said goodbye formally.)
Variants and Related Words
Bid (verb, present tense): to command, invite, or offer a price.
- I bid you welcome to our home. (I welcome you formally.)
Bade (verb, past tense of bid in formal sense): commanded or invited.
- She bade him enter the room. (She commanded him to come in.)
Bidding (noun): the act of commanding or inviting; also, the offers made in an auction.
- He did her bidding without question. (He obeyed her commands.)
Synonyms
- Commanded: ordered authoritatively.
- Invited: asked to attend.
- Requested: asked politely.
Related Idioms
Do someone's bidding: to obey someone's commands.
- The servant did his master's bidding without hesitation. (He obeyed his master's orders.)
Bid someone adieu: to say goodbye formally.
- They bid their friends adieu before departing. (They said goodbye formally.)