Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An example; a model; a pattern.
  • noun A parable; a fable.
  • noun A proverb.
  • To give as an example.
  • To furnish with examples.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An example; model; pattern
  • noun A parable; fable
  • noun A proverb, byspel
  • verb To give as an example.
  • verb To furnish with examples.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English forbisen, forbison, forbysen, forbysne, forbus ("example"), from Old English forebȳsen ("example"), from fore- + bȳsen ("model, exemplar, pattern, parable, command"), from Proto-Germanic *būsniz (“command, precept”), from Proto-Germanic *beudanan (“to ask, beg”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewdʰ- (“to be awake, perceive fully”). Cognate with Old Saxon am-busan ("a command, precept"), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌱𐌿𐍃𐌽𐍃 (anabusns, "a command"), Old Norse bȳsn ("wonder, premonition"). More at bid.

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