adv
abed
uh-BEHD
Abed (adv) means In or on a bed; confined to bed. Example: “He lay abed all morning, nursing a fever.”
adv
1
In or on a bed; confined to bed.
"The world was awake to the 2nd of May, but Mayfair is not the world, and even the menials of Mayfair lie long abed."
— Michael Arlen, Ep./4/2 (1922)
"He lay abed all morning, nursing a fever."
"The old phrase "early to bed" comes from the same idea as lying abed."
"Who can lie peacefully abed, while the darkness holds some secret?"
— Alan Paton (1948)
How to use abed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of saying "in bed."
When to use it
Archaic/literary — you'll meet it in older novels and poetry, not in everyday speech.
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Word forms
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He lay _____ all morning, nursing a fever.
Etymology
From Old English on bedde, "on bed" — the a- prefix here just means "in" or "on," the same pattern seen in "asleep" and "afloat."
Rhymes for abed
See all rhymes for abed →Frequently asked questions
What does “abed” mean?
The word “abed” means in or on a bed; confined to bed. In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of saying "in bed.".
How do you pronounce “abed”?
“Abed” is pronounced uh-BEHD (/əˈbɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “abed” in a sentence?
Here is “abed” used in a sentence: “He lay abed all morning, nursing a fever.”
What part of speech is “abed”?
“Abed” is an adverb.
Where does the word “abed” come from?
The word “abed” comes from Old English. From Old English on bedde, "on bed" — the a- prefix here just means "in" or "on," the same pattern seen in "asleep" and "afloat.".
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