adverb
belive
bih-LYV
Belive (adverb) means Soon, shortly, or before long (archaic). Example: “The messenger promised the letter would arrive belive.”
adverb
1
Soon, shortly, or before long (archaic).
"The messenger promised the letter would arrive belive."
"She said she would return belive, once her errands were done."
verb
1
To stay or remain (archaic).
"The old ballad tells the knight to belive at the castle until dawn."
How to use belive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word meaning "soon" or "to stay put" — you will only meet it in older poetry or ballads today.
When to use it
Archaic; not used in modern English outside historical or literary texts.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- belives
- Past tense
- belove, beliven
- Comparative
- more belive
- Superlative
- most belive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The messenger promised the letter would arrive _____.
Etymology
From Old English belifan, "to remain," related to the modern word "leave."
Rhymes for belive
See all rhymes for belive →Frequently asked questions
What does “belive” mean?
The word “belive” means soon, shortly, or before long (archaic). In plain terms, an old-fashioned word meaning "soon" or "to stay put" — you will only meet it in older poetry or ballads today.
How do you pronounce “belive”?
“Belive” is pronounced bih-LYV (/bɪˈlaɪ̯v/ in IPA).
How do you use “belive” in a sentence?
Here is “belive” used in a sentence: “The messenger promised the letter would arrive belive.”
What part of speech is “belive”?
Depending on how it is used, “belive” can be an adverb and a verb.
Where does the word “belive” come from?
The word “belive” comes from Old English. From Old English belifan, "to remain," related to the modern word "leave.".
How many meanings does “belive” have?
“Belive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: soon, shortly, or before long (archaic).
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