abide

Abide is a verb with several related senses, most commonly meaning to accept or act in accordance with a rule, decision, or recommendation: to abide by the terms of a contract or to abide by the rules. It can also mean to tolerate or endure something: I cannot abide his rudeness. Additionally, abide can denote staying or remaining in a place or state: they abide in the countryside or the house abides in the valley. In its older or more literary uses, abide can be intransitive, meaning to continue to exist or to dwell.

Etymology and related forms: Abide comes from Old English abidan, meaning to wait, remain, or endure, from Proto-Germanic roots related to the verb bide. The modern verb bide shares the same origin, and in some phrases the meanings overlap. The contemporary participle is abiding, and the past tense has been abided or abode in older or more formal usage. The third-person singular present is abides.

Usage notes and nuance: The collocation abide by is standard when referring to compliance with laws, rules, or agreements, as in "abide by the contract." Abide in or abide with is used in more formal or literary contexts to indicate remaining in a place or staying with someone. Abide one’s time is an older expression meaning to wait for the right moment; in common modern usage, bide one’s time is more typical. Abiding can also function as an adjective, as in "an abiding belief" or "abiding friendship," signaling lasting or persistent quality.

Examples: She vowed to abide by the terms of the agreement. The judge could not abide the delays. They abide in a small village by the river. The poem speaks of an abiding love.