bode

[ bohd ]

See synonyms for bode on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),bod·ed, bod·ing.

to be an omen of; portend: The news bodes evil days for him.
Archaic. to announce beforehand; predict.

verb (used without object),bod·ed, bod·ing.

to portend: The news bodes well for him.

Origin of bode

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

Other definitions for bode (2 of 2)

bode²

[ bohd ]

verb

a simple past tense of bide.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bode in a sentence

It certainly bodes well to the film adhering to what you were saying before, about humor being as important as the horror.
R.L. Stine’s Secret to Scaring the Crap Out of Kids | Kevin Fallon | October 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But the difficulty over agreeing to an extension of the talks bodes poorly for the next round, if it even materializes.
Obama Admin Confirms: We May Free Israeli Spy to Save Peace Talks | Josh Rogin | April 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I think with De Blasio coming in, it bodes very differently for the city.
Rosario Dawson on ‘Cesar Chavez,’ Immigration, Gentrification in NYC, and Beating Hollywood Bias | Marlow Stern | March 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
That bodes ill for Rousseff, who has announced her candidacy for reelection in the October 2014 presidential contest.
Dilma Rousseff’s Dilemma | Mac Margolis | July 7, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
That bodes well for the housing market—people can take the cash realized from sales and buy new homes.
New August Data Shows Housing Is Back | Matthew Zeitlin | September 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

The heart of your friend bodes to-day, bodes, bodes; but is not afraid: a tough heart, Madge.
The Lord of the Sea | M. P. Shiel
Gaunting bodes wanting ane o' things three—sleep, meat, or gude companie.
The Proverbs of Scotland | Alexander Hislop
Bodes possible acquaintance with the English original previous to 1764 has been already noted.
Laurence Sterne in Germany | Harvey Waterman Thayer
Hearts fluttered by a breeze That bodes dark morrows, morrows,— Bodes dark morrows!
Songs from Vagabondia | Bliss Carman and Richard Hovey
Where dogs run they are wont to bark: oft bodes the bay of dogs the flight of javelins.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson | Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson

British Dictionary definitions for bode (1 of 2)

bode¹

/ (bəʊd) /

verb

to be an omen of (good or ill, esp of ill); portend; presage
(tr) archaic to predict; foretell

Origin of bode

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

Derived forms of bode

boding, noun, adjective
bodement, noun

British Dictionary definitions for bode (2 of 2)

bode²

/ (bəʊd) /

verb

the past tense of bide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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