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

“That won’t bode well for our business, because there’s a certain human purity to having an actual model do a campaign.”

From Los Angeles Times

With one goal scored and eight conceded, they are currently showing that worrying combination of struggling to score and letting in plenty, which does not bode well for aspirations of avoiding a season of struggle.

From BBC

While Newsom hasn’t publicly commented on the case — and has separately considered granting the brothers’ clemency — his track record on high-profile parole cases doesn’t bode well for the brothers.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, he added, the president’s current course doesn’t bode well for the future.

From Salon

It bodes well for 22 August, when England kick off their home World Cup campaign against the United States at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

From BBC