Webster's English Dictionary

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by

1. by \(')bi-, esp before consonants b*\ pp [ME, prep. & adv., fr. OE, 
   prep., be, bi-; akin to OHG bi-] by, near, L ambi- on both sides, around, 
   Gk amphi 1: in proximity to : NEAR  2a: through or through the medium of : 
   VIA {enter ~ the do or} 2b: in the direction of : TOWARD {north ~ east}  
   2c: into the vicinity of and beyond : PAST {went right ~ h im} 3a: during 
   the course of {studied ~ night}  3b: not later than {~ 2 p.m.}  4a: through 
   the agency or instrumentality of {~ force}  4b: sired by  5: with the 
   witness or sanction of {swear ~ all that is holy}  6: in conformity with {~ 
   the rules} : according to  7: with respect to  8a: in or to the amount or 
   extent of {win ~ a nose}  chiefly Scot  8b: in comparison with : BESIDE  9: 
   in successive units of {walk two ~ two}  10: - used as a function word in 
   multiplication and in measurements {2  ~ 4}
2. by \'bi-\ av 1a: close at hand : NEAR  1b: at or to another's home {stop 
   ~ for a chat}  2: PAST {saw him go ~}  3: ASIDE, AWAY 
3. by or bye \'bi-\ aj 1: off the main route : SIDE  2: INCIDENTAL 
4. by or bye \'bi-\ \'bi-z\ n or byes pl  : something of secondary 
   importance : a side issue  : by the way : INCIDENTALLY  - by the by