When you type hide there is a chance that you hide in the room. If hidden you can only be seen by the "sense life" spell. Hide is broken by pressing return, regardless of whether you typed a command or not. Example: > hide Ok. > (you wait for ex. 5 mins and remain hidden for 5 mins) > (You pressed enter and no longer hide) Note, that only thieves could hide properly ... other classes are not as good at hiding and stealth as them at all.

See also: in-mud help for sneak