abed
adverb
in bed.
A.B.Ed.
2
American
abbreviation
abed
British
/ əˈbɛd /
adverb
Etymology
Origin of abed
Middle English word dating back to 1200–1300; see origin at a- 1, bed
Explanation
To be abed means to be in bed, whether you're resting, sleeping, or just lounging with a good book. Derived from the Old English term onbedd, the word abed paints a cozy picture of rest and relaxation. It refers to the act of staying in bed for any reason, whether to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning or to recuperate from an illness. Staying abed allows you to snuggle under warm blankets, savor a good book, or simply enjoy the comfort of home while recharging your energy.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But we have also filled our cemeteries with those who defied the remedies of sunshine and citrus, and died abed anyway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2024
Above the narrow little room where May and Timothy sit plotting, their father lies abed, his wits gone haywire.
From New York Times ● Oct. 19, 2021
I began to notice I was losing sleep about a decade ago − at first just a little top-and-tailing of the main period of repose, so I lay abed an hour or so less.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2015
“Respectable” women were abed and largely avoided Whitechapel to begin with.
From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2014
“The most healthy among them are lying abed, reading out fairy tales to one another.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
