Abides

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Accepts and obeys a rule, decision, or agreement ; stays or continues in a place for a period of time
2. Follows and respects a law, custom, or condition ; remains fixed in a specific location or state
3. Observes a requirement or condition without objection ; resides or lingers somewhere without leaving

Etymology: The verb "abide" descends from an Old English word, "ābīdan", meaning to wait, remain, delay, or await. Its deep roots lie in an Old English compound built from "ā-", an intensifying prefix, and "bīdan", "to wait", so the original sense was closer to waiting for something than to tolerating it. The word's family has spread widely: it is cognate with Scots "abide", Middle High German "erbīten" ("to await"), and the Gothic "usbeidan", which meant "to expect, await, have patience". The idea of rule-keeping grew out of the older meaning of enduring or staying put. To abide by something is to remain faithful to it, so the word came to describe holding to a rule, a promise, or a decision. Its sense of putting up with something, as in being unable to abide a noisy neighbour, grew from the same root of remaining and bearing.

Synonyms: tolerates, accepts, endures

Antonyms: rejects, disobeys