[f. BID v. + -ER1.]
† 1. One who asks or begs; bidders and beggars is frequent in P. Plowman, referring to those who made a trade of begging. Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., Prol. 40. Bidders [v.r. bydderes] and Beggers · faste a-boute eoden. Ibid. (1393), C. X. 61. Beggers and bydders beþ nat in [þat] bulle.
2. One who commands or orders.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3679. Onence þe bidder it standes in nede.
1632. Sherwood, A bidder, commandeur.
3. One who invites, or delivers an invitation.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xxii. 4. They agayne neglected the bidder.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 205. On the Bidder’s Part every Circumstance conspires to magnify his Condescension.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Pref. 9. To the burying the parish clerk was the usual Bidder.
4. One who makes an offer for a thing, esp. at a public auction; also fig. (The usual sense.)
1685. Lond. Gaz., No. 2050/4. The Bidder to advance 6d. per Gross upon each bidding. Ibid. (1702), No. 3832/4. To be sold to the highest Bidder.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 195, ¶ 5. This over-stock of Beauty, for which there are so few Bidders.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 109. The Roman world was to be disposed of to the best bidder by public auction.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 5. 203. The Universities will be the only bidders for such eminent qualities.
