[f. BIDE v. + -ING1.]
1. Awaiting, expectation; remaining, tarrying.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4708. And men sal wax dry … for lang bydyng þar-in.
1483. Cath. Angl., 31. A Bydynge, expectacio, perseuerancia.
a. 1657. Sir J. Balfour, Ann. Scot. (1825), II. 315. His longe delay and bydinng out.
1862. Barnes, Rhymes Dorset Dial., II. 182. But bidin up till dead o’ night … do soon consume The feäce’s bloom.
† b. concr. The object of expectation. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xiv. 8. Thou biding [Vulg. expectatio] of Irael, his saueour in tyme of tribulacioun.
2. Stay, residence, dwelling.
c. 1400. Cov. Myst., 22. In erthliche paradys withowtyn wo I graunt the bydyng.
1653. Milton, Ps. v. 11. Evil with thee no biding makes.
1713. Rowe, Jane Shore, I. ii. At Antwerp has my constant biding been.
1866. [see 3].
† b. concr. An abode, dwelling, habitation. Obs.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy., III. 809 (R.). They brought us to their bidings about two miles from the harborough.
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 228. I’ll lead you to some biding.
a. 1687. Cotton, Voy. Irel., I. 66. Three miles ere we met with a biding.
3. attrib., as biding-place, place of abode.
1557. Paynell, Barclay’s Jugurth, 17 b. They had no certayne bydinge place.
1626. Milton, Death Fair Inf., 21. He … Unhoused thy virgin soul from her fair biding-place.
1866. Mrs. Whitney, L. Goldthwaite, i. How many different little biding-places there are in the world.
