[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

bead \bead\ b=ed, n. oe. bede prayer, prayer bead, as. bed,
   gebed, prayer; akin to d. bede, g. bitte, as. biddan, to ask,
   bid, g. bitten to ask, and perh. to gr. pei`qein to persuade,
   l. fidere to trust. beads are used by the roman catholics to
   count their prayers, one bead being dropped down a string
   every time a prayer is said. cf. sp. cuenta bead, fr. contar
   to count. see bid, in to bid beads, and bide.
   1. a prayer. obs.
      1913 webster

   2. a little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and
      worn for ornament; or used in a rosary for counting
      prayers, as by roman catholics and mohammedans, whence the
      phrases to tell beads,

   to be at one's beads,

   to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
      1913 webster

   3. any small globular body; as,
      a a bubble in spirits.
      b a drop of sweat or other liquid. "cold beads of
          midnight dew." --wordsworth.
      c a small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking
          aim whence the expression to draw a bead, for, to
          take aim.
      d arch. a small molding of rounded surface, the
          section being usually an arc of a circle. it may be
          continuous, or broken into short embossments.
      e chem. a glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or
          microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for
          several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron,
          manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the borax
          bead; the iron bead, etc.
          1913 webster

   bead and butt carp., framing in which the panels are
      flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two edges.
      --knight.

   bead mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which
      consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to
      resemble a string of beads. written also bead mould.
      

   bead tool, a cutting tool, having an edge curved so as to
      make beads or beading.

   bead tree bot., a tree of the genus melia, the best
      known species of which melia azedarach, has blue
      flowers which are very fragrant, and berries which are
      poisonous.
      1913 webster
see also:
bid bide to be at one's beads to bid beads bead and butt bead mold 
bead mould bead tool bead tree melia melia azedarach 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

bid \bid\ bi^d, v. t. imp. bade ba^d, bid, obs.
   bad; p. p. bidden, bid; p. pr.  vb. n. bidding.
   oe. bidden, prop to ask, beg, as. biddan; akin to os.
   biddian, icel. biethja, ohg. bittan, g. bitten, to pray,
   ask, request, and e. bead, also perh. to gr. teiqein to
   persuade, l. fidere to trust, e. faith, and bide. but this
   word was early confused with oe. beden, beoden, as.
   be'odan, to offer, command; akin to icel. bj=oetha,
   goth. biudan in comp., ohg. biotan to command, bid, g.
   bieten, d. bieden, to offer, also to gr. pynqa`nesqai to
   learn by inquiry, skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present
   oslav. bud=eti to be awake, e. bode, v. the word now has
   the form of oe. bidden to ask, but the meaning of oe. beden
   to command, except in "to bid beads." root30.
   1913 webster
   1. to make an offer of; to propose. specifically : to offer
      to pay  a certain price, as for a thing put up at
      auction, or to take a certain price, as for work to be
      done under a contract.
      1913 webster

   2. to offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a
      threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid
      good morning, farewell, etc.
      1913 webster

            neither bid him god speed.            --2. john 10.
      1913 webster

            he bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --granrille.
      1913 webster

   3. to proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. mostly
      obs. "our banns thrice bid " --gay.
      1913 webster

   4. to order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
      1913 webster

            that power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --pope
      1913 webster

            lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --matt.
                                                  xiv. 28
      1913 webster

            i was bid to pick up shells.          --d. jerrold.
      1913 webster

   5. to invite; to call in; to request to come.
      1913 webster

            as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
                                                  --matt. xxii.
                                                  9
      1913 webster

   to bid beads, to pray with beads, as the roman catholics;
      to distinguish each bead by a prayer. obs.

   to bid defiance to, to defy openly; to brave.

   to bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair
      promise; to seem likely.
      1913 webster

   syn: to offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command;
        direct; charge; enjoin.
        1913 webster
see also:
bade bid bad bidden bidding to bid beads 
to bid defiance to to bid fair 

Bid >> B Words
Bid, definition of term: Bid
bid_pag1.html

Beads >> B Words
Beads, definition of term: Beads
beads_pag1.html

Bailys Beads >> B Words
Bailys Beads, definition of term: Bailys Beads
bailys+beads_pag1.html