To abide in an abode
Posted by TheFallen on October 17, 2004
In Reply to: Abode? posted by Torsten on October 17, 2004
::: Hello everybody,
::: Could you please tell me when to use the word 'abode'? I understand it means 'dwelling' or 'residence' but how often is it used in modern English? Also, what about the verb 'to abode'? According to the dictionary it can have many different meanings such as 'to stay', 'to dwell' and 'to comply' and 'to obey'.
::: Again, how popular is this word today? Many thanks in advance. Torsten
::In my experience people in the United States don't use "abode" very often in normal conversation. It is used when a person wants to talk formally.
: Hi ESC,
: Many thanks for your immediate response. I take it you are from the US?
The verb is "to abide" and as you rightly say, it means to stay or to dwell. The contruction "to abide by" means to obey or to comply with - "I will abide by your decision" being the most likely usage.
Neither the verb "to abide" nor the noun "abode" are much used in modern UK English, though you will still find the latter featuring in various official and legal documents or forms - "place of abode", for example.
- To abide in an abode David FG 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode ESC 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode Smokey 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode R. Berg 17/October/04
- My humble abode. Smokey Stover 17/October/04
- My humble abode. Lotg 18/October/04
- My humble abode. R. Berg 18/October/04
- My humble abode. David FG 18/October/04
- Abide with me Lewis 18/October/04
- Abide with me Lotg 18/October/04
- Abide with me Lewis 18/October/04
- My humble abode. David FG 18/October/04
- My humble abode. R. Berg 18/October/04
- My humble abode. Lotg 18/October/04
- My humble abode. Smokey Stover 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode R. Berg 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode Smokey 17/October/04
- To abide in an abode ESC 17/October/04