bode

¹

[bohd]

verb (used with object)

boded, boding 

1. to be an omen of; portend.

   The news bodes evil days for him.

2. Archaic.,  to announce beforehand; predict.

verb (used without object)

boded, boding 

1. to portend.

   The news bodes well for him.

bode

²

[bohd]

verb

1. a simple past tense of bide.

bode

¹

/ bəʊd /

verb

1. to be an omen of (good or ill, esp of ill); portend; presage

2. archaic,  (tr) to predict; foretell

bode

²

/ bəʊd /

verb

1. the past tense of bide

Other Word Forms

• boding noun
• bodement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bode¹

before 1000; Middle English boden, Old English bodian to announce, foretell (cognate with Old Norse botha ), derivative of boda messenger, cognate with German Bote, Old Norse bothi

Word History and Origins

Origin of bode¹

Old English bodian ; related to Old Norse botha to proclaim, Old Frisian bodia to invite

Example Sentences

And if the cliché that directing is 90% casting has an element of truth, it bodes well for Ms. DeBessonet’s tenure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The sour mood as jobs are hard to find and the cost of living keeps rising bodes poorly for the holiday shopping season that starts the day after Thanksgiving.

Read more on MarketWatch

The sour mood at a time when jobs are hard to find and the cost of living keeps rising bodes poorly for the holiday shopping season that starts the day after Thanksgiving.

Read more on MarketWatch

Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity, which petitioned to list the Joshua tree under the California Endangered Species Act, said a hands-off approach generally would not bode well for the iconic trees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Of those with seven or more acting nominations have won multiple Oscars — which bodes well for DiCaprio’s chances of winning his second come March.

Read more on Los Angeles Times