The quality or state of lasting, enduring, or remaining permanent over time.
From Middle English 'abiden' (to remain, wait), from Old English 'abīdan' (to endure), combined with the suffix '-ingness' (quality of). The root connects to Proto-Germanic '*bi-' (by, near) and '*īdan' (to go), evolving from its original sense of 'waiting' to mean 'lasting'.
The word captures something profound: medieval people used 'abide' not just for staying in a place, but for enduring hardship—like the carol 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' sings 'cheer, cheer the weary traveler' with its 'abidingness' through winter. It's why we still say 'abide by' the rules, meaning to stick with them faithfully.
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