Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
Boldness, courage; confidence; a feeling of security, assurance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Resource, help, relief; a means of help or relief; support; sustenance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Shelter, refuge or protection.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Northern-England, archaic, uncountable, usually
Qualifier: obsolete elsewhere
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A place of shelter, a refuge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Northern-England, archaic, uncountable, usually
Qualifier: obsolete elsewhere
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To make bold, give courage or confidence to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To defend, protect or shelter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dialectal, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From Middle English belde, beeld, beld, from Old English bieldu (“courage, boldness”), from Proto-Germanic *balþį̄ (“boldness”), from *balþaz (“bold”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel- (“to inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old High German baldī (“boldness, courage”) (Middle High German belde), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌴𐌹 (balþei, “boldness, courage”). More at bold.
From Middle English beelden, belden, from Old English byldan, bieldan (“to encourage, embolden”), from Proto-Germanic *balþijaną (“to make bold”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel- (“to inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old Saxon beldjan (“to encourage”), Old High German baldēn (“to make bold”) (Middle High German belden), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (balþjan, “to make bold”).
