Bead \Bead\ (b[=e]d), n. [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed,
   gebed, prayer; akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask,
   bid, G. bitten to ask, and perh. to Gr. pei`qein to persuade,
   L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by the Roman Catholics to
   count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string
   every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar
   to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]
   1. A prayer. [Obs.]
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   2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and
      worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting
      prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the
      phrases to tell beads,

   to be at one's beads,

   to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
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   3. Any small globular body; as,
      (a) A bubble in spirits.
      (b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of
          midnight dew." --Wordsworth.
      (c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking
          aim (whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to
          take aim).
      (d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the
          section being usually an arc of a circle. It may be
          continuous, or broken into short embossments.
      (e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or
          microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for
          several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron,
          manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax
          bead; the iron bead, etc.
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   Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in which the panels are
      flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges.
      --Knight.

   Bead mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which
      consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to
      resemble a string of beads. [Written also bead mould.]
      

   Bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to
      make beads or beading.

   Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best
      known species of which (Melia azedarach), has blue
      flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are
      poisonous.
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Bid \Bid\ (b[i^]d), v. t. [imp. Bade (b[a^]d), Bid, (Obs.)
   Bad; p. p. Bidden, Bid; p. pr. & vb. n. Bidding.]
   [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS.
   biddian, Icel. bi[eth]ja, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray,
   ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. teiqein to
   persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this
   word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS.
   be['o]dan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj[=o][eth]a,
   Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G.
   bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. pynqa`nesqai to
   learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present
   OSlav. bud[=e]ti to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has
   the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden
   to command, except in "to bid beads." [root]30.]
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   1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer
      to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at
      auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be
      done under a contract).
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   2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a
      threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid
      good morning, farewell, etc.
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            Neither bid him God speed.            --2. John 10.
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            He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --Granrille.
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   3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly
      obs.] "Our banns thrice bid !" --Gay.
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   4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
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            That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope
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            Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --Matt.
                                                  xiv. 28
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            I was bid to pick up shells.          --D. Jerrold.
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   5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.
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            As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
                                                  --Matt. xxii.
                                                  9
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   To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics;
      to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.]

   To bid defiance to, to defy openly; to brave.

   To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair
      promise; to seem likely.
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   Syn: To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command;
        direct; charge; enjoin.
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