abiding
uh-BY-ding
/əˈbaɪdɪŋ/
(Of a feeling or memory) lasting a long time; enduring.
Usually used for deep, internal things like love, faith, or respect.
The story behind the word. From the Old English 'abidan', meaning 'to wait' or 'to remain'. If a feeling is abiding, it 'waits' with you forever.
Word relationships
- enduring: Enduring can apply to physical things; abiding is almost always emotional or mental.
- fleeting: Fleeting means lasting for a very short time; abiding means lasting for a long time.
Commonly confused with
- abide: Abide is the verb (to stay or follow rules); abiding is the adjective (lasting).
Word family
- abide (verb): To accept or act in accordance with.
Collocations
- abiding love
- abiding faith
- law-abiding
Example sentences
- "He had an abiding interest in ancient history that began when he was a small child." Describing a long-term interest.
Memory hook
Abiding = Always Biding (its time). It stays with you. Stays with you forever.
When not to use
Don't use it for physical objects like 'an abiding car'.
Fun facts
- The famous hymn 'Abide with Me' uses this root to ask for a presence that stays through the 'eventide'.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.