bead
- bead
{{11}}bead (n.) mid-14c., bede "prayer bead," from O.E. gebed "prayer," with intensive or collective prefix *ge- + P.Gmc. *bidjan "to pray, entreat" (Cf. M.Du. bede, O.H.G. beta, Ger. bitte, Goth. bida "prayer, request"), from PIE *gwhedh- "to ask, pray." Shift in meaning came via beads threaded on a string to count prayers, and in phrases like to bid one's beads, to count one's beads. German cognate Bitte is the usual word for conversational request "please." Also related to bid (O.E. biddan) and Goth. bidjan "to ask, pray." Sense transferred to "drop of liquid" 1590s; to "small knob forming front sight of a gun" 1831 (Kentucky slang); hence draw a bead on "take aim at," 1841, U.S. colloquial.
{{12}}bead (v.) 1570s, "to adorn with beads," from BEAD (Cf. bead) (n.). Meaning "to string like beads" is from 1883. Related: Beaded; beading.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
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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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bead — bead; bead·ed; bead·er; bead·flush; bead·i·ly; … English syllables
bead — [bēd] n. [ME bede, prayer, prayer bead < OE bed < biddan, to pray, ask: see BID1] 1. a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, metal, etc., pierced for stringing 2. [pl.] ROSARY (sense 1a) 3. [pl.] a string of beads; necklace … English World dictionary
bead´i|ly — bead|y «BEE dee», adjective, bead|i|er, bead|i|est. 1. small, round, and shiny; beadlike: »The mouse has beady eyes … Useful english dictionary
bead|y — «BEE dee», adjective, bead|i|er, bead|i|est. 1. small, round, and shiny; beadlike: »The mouse has beady eyes … Useful english dictionary
bead — ► NOUN 1) a small piece of glass, stone, etc., threaded in a string with others to make a necklace or rosary. 2) a drop of a liquid on a surface. 3) a small knob forming the foresight of a gun. 4) the reinforced inner edge of a tyre. ► VERB 1)… … English terms dictionary
Bead — Bead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beaded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beading}.] To ornament with beads or beading. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Bead — Bead, v. i. To form beadlike bubbles. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bead — [bi:d] n [: Old English; Origin: bed, gebed prayer ; because people counted beads while saying their prayers] 1.) one of a set of small, usually round, pieces of glass, wood, plastic etc, that you can put on a string and wear as jewellery ▪ She… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Bead — Bead. См. буртик. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) … Словарь металлургических терминов
bead — [ bid ] noun count usually plural 1. ) a small usually round piece of plastic, glass, metal, etc. with a hole through it, that you put on a string or chain with other beads and wear as jewelry: a string of beads 2. ) a small drop of a liquid such … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
