betide

American  

[bih-tahyd] / bɪˈtaɪd /

verb (used with object)

betided, betiding

1. to happen to; come to; befall.

   Woe betide the villain!

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verb (used without object)

betided, betiding

1. to happen; come to pass.

   Whatever betides, maintain your courage.

betide British  

/ bɪˈtaɪd /

verb

1. to happen or happen to; befall (often in the phrase woe betide ( someone ))

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Etymology

Origin of betide

First recorded in 1125–75, betide is from the Middle English word betiden. See be-, tide ²

Explanation

When something betides you, it happens to you. Betide is a literary way of saying “happen,” like in this quote from Jane Austin’s Persuasion, “Woe betide him, and her too, when it comes to things of consequence….” This is an old-fashioned word for things happening, especially uncertain or negative things. This word often appears with woe as in "Woe betide all who date my sister!" Which means, basically, something bad will happen to you if you date her. If you say, "What will the new day betide?" it means, "What will happen tomorrow?" Betide means about the same thing as bechance and befall. We all want good things to betide us.

Example Sentences

"Woe betide you if you were a preacher and you misquoted," Lord Sentamu says.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2022

But woe betide anyone who tried to give her out-of-season berries.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2022

Woe betide the civic leader in a company town who threatens to buck the company’s interests.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2022

Time waits for no man, but if Nadal brings his A-game like their last meeting, that semi-final of 2019, then woe betide Tsitsipas.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2021

Nay, nay, whatever may now betide in war, my line too is ending, even the House of the Stewards has failed.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien