Meaning & use
abideth
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“abideth” is a form of “abide”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitivearchaicreligionliterary
(in old religious or poetic English) lives, stays, or remains in a place or state.
Grammar: An archaic third-person singular form; it takes no object and is usually followed by 'in' or 'with'.
Patterns
- abideth in something
- abideth with someone
The old hymn says that whoever abideth in love abideth in God.
In the prayer, the congregation repeated that his mercy abideth forever.
The poem tells how the shepherd abideth in the green valley all his days.
verbintransitivearchaicreligionliterary
(in old religious or poetic English) continues to be true or valid over time.
Grammar: Used without an object, often of promises, laws, or words that last.
Patterns
- abideth forever
- abideth unto something
The psalm declares that his word abideth forever.
Their covenant abideth from one generation to the next, the preacher said.
The old law abideth even when kings forget it.
Word forms
| base form | abide |
|---|---|
| third person singular (modern) | abides |
| past tense | abode |
Common combinations
- abideth in me
- The verse reads, 'He that abideth in me, and I in him.'
- abideth forever
- The hymn repeats that the truth abideth forever.
- abideth with us
- The prayer asks that peace abideth with us always.
- abideth in the Lord
- The sermon said that whoever abideth in the Lord bears much fruit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- abides
- The modern third-person form; use this in ordinary speech and writing instead of 'abideth'.
- remains
- A neutral modern verb for staying or continuing; it carries no archaic or religious flavor.
- dwells
- Also used in religious and poetic writing, but it stresses living in a place more than simply continuing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: abideth or abide?
abideth vs abide
'Abide' is the base form used with I, you, we, and they, while 'abideth' is only the old form used with he, she, or it.
Practice
Which sentence uses the archaic form 'abideth' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Abideth' is the old third-person singular form, so it goes with 'he', 'she', or 'it'. The other options use I, we, or they, which in this archaic style would take 'abide'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abideth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.