Forms: 1 bodiʓ(e)an, 1–2 bodian, 2–4 bodien, 4, 7 boden, 6–7 boad(e, 4– bode. [OE. bodian, f. boda messenger; cf. ON. boða of same meaning.]

1

  † 1.  trans. To announce, proclaim, preach. Obs.

2

a. 1000.  Hymns, x. 23 (Gr.). Bododon englas, Þæt acenned wæs Crist on eorðan.

3

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiv. 14. Þis godspel byð bodod [c. 1160 Hatton G. boded] ofer ealle eorðan.

4

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1480. Men schal beoden & bodien hit ouer al.

5

  † b.  absol. To preach (the gospel). Obs.

6

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. iv. 17. Syððan ongan se Hæland bodian, and cweðan, Doð dæd-bote. Ibid., Mark v. 20. He ongan bodiʓean [c. 1160 Hatton G. bodiʓen] on decapolim.

7

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 93. [Hi] bodeden mid ane speche.

8

  † 2.  To proclaim authoritatively, decree, order, bid, command (a person) that. Obs.

9

c. 1205.  Lay., 23730. Leteð blawen bemen and bodien mine monnen þat æuer ælc god mon to niht wakien.

10

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 17. I bidde ant bodie þat tu wurche mi wil.

11

  3.  To announce beforehand, foretell, predict, prognosticate, presage. arch.

12

a. 1000.  Elene, 1141 (Gr.). Þæt wæs oft bodod feor ær beforan fram fruman worulde.

13

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 235. Hi … bodeden ures hlafordes tocyme.

14

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1155. Other thu bodes huses brune … Other thu bodes cualm of orve.

15

1676.  Bulloker, Bode, to foretel, or prognosticate.

16

1715.  Pope, Iliad, I. 132. Prophet of plagues, for ever boding ill!

17

1771.  Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 79. There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin.

18

  4.  Of things: To give promise of, be indicative of, betoken, portend.

19

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (1865), II. 293. It bodid grete merite and vertue.

20

1483.  Cath. Angl., 36. To Bode, portendere.

21

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 69. This boades some strange erruption to our State.

22

1650.  R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, III. 60. All things seemed to boad a Civill warre.

23

1822.  Byron, Werner, II. i. 248. So much haste bodes Right little speed.

24

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. § 5. 37. That lingering rosy hue which bodes good weather.

25

  b.  esp. (with well or ill) To give good or bad promise, to augur well or ill.

26

1676.  Dryden, Aurengz., I. 26 (J).

        Sir, give me leave to say, What ever now
The Omen proved, it boded well to you.

27

1832.  Whately, Lett., in Life (1866), I. 159. I can see nothing that bodes well to the Church Establishment: I fear its days are numbered.

28

1870.  Disraeli, Lothair, lxxxiv. 454. Some think this bodes ill for the Church.

29

  † c.  To signify, typify. Obs.

30

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. III. 13. Solomon’s temple, bodede holy chirche [in figura præsentis ecclesiæ].

31

  5.  To have a presentiment of; to forebode (generally evil).

32

1740.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 80. My presaging mind bodes horrid mischiefs.

33

1850.  Blackie, Æschylus, II. 229. And my soul, dark-stirred with the prophet’s mood, Bodes nothing good.

34