bead: [13] The word bead originally meant ‘prayer’. It comes ultimately from Germanic *beth-, source also of English bid. This passed into Old English as gebed, which by the 13th century had lost its prefix to become bede. (German has the parallel gebet ‘prayer’.) The modern sense ‘small pierced decorative ball’ developed in the 14th century, from the use of a string of rosary beads for counting while saying one’s prayers. => bid
bead (n.)
mid-14c., bede "prayer bead," from Old English gebed "prayer," with intensive or collective prefix *ge- + Proto-Germanic *bidam "entreaty" (cognates: Middle Dutch bede, Old High German beta, German bitte, Gothic bida "prayer, request"), from PIE *gwhedh- "to ask, pray."
Shift in meaning came via beads threaded on a string to count prayers, and in phrases like to bid one's beads, to count one's beads. German cognate Bitte is the usual word for conversational request "please." Also related to bid (Old English biddan) and Gothic bidjan "to ask, pray." Sense transferred to "drop of liquid" 1590s; to "small knob forming front sight of a gun" 1831 (Kentucky slang); hence draw a bead on "take aim at," 1841, U.S. colloquial.
bead (v.)
1570s, "to adorn with beads," from bead (n.). Meaning "to string like beads" is from 1883. Related: Beaded; beading.
例文
1. Her bead necklaces and bracelets jangled asshe walked.
彼女のビーズネックレスとブレスレットは彼女が歩いている間にチリンと鳴っていた。
2. Bead ?work，applique and embroidery add a uniquely feminine touch.
ビーズ、エンボス、刺繍は独特の女性らしさを加えることができる。
3.She accidetally swallowed a glass bead .
彼女はうっかりガラス玉を飲み込んでしまった。
4.The bead is put on the forehead of the dead shepheard ahead of the herd.
珠は畜群の前の死んだ羊飼いの額につけられている。
5.Glass bead gels need not be hydrated prior to use.