thoughts that come to the mind unbidden
she arrived, unbidden, to help out at the Red Cross center
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The surprise, unbidden possibility of victory endowed Harris with a mystique.—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 7 Sep. 2024 These are the moments when artistry sneaks in unbidden; Annabel understands that if art is created out of life, the latter has to have space to happen.—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024 Still, unbidden and unpaid endorsements are regularly provided by celebrities, including Kerry Washington and Kendall Jenner, who have raved in interviews about the Cloud Sofa, an RH staple that currently starts at about $4,800.—David Segal, New York Times, 8 June 2024 After dessert, Caro went unbidden to the kitchen, returning with a thermal carafe of hot water and a brown jar of Nescafé.—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unbidden
Word History
Etymology
Middle English unbiden, unbeden, from Old English unbeden, from un- + beden, past participle of biddan to entreat — more at bid entry 1
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of unbidden was
before the 12th century
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