about

about
I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English abūtan, from 1a- + būtan outside — more at but Date: before 12th century 1. a. reasonably close to <
about a year ago
>
b. almost <
about starved
>
c. on the verge of — usually used with be and a following infinitive <
is about to join the army
>
— used with a negative to express intention or determination <
not about to quit
>
2. on all sides ; around 3. a. in rotation b. around the outside 4. here and there 5. in the vicinity ; near 6. in the opposite direction <
face about
>
<
the other way about
>
II. preposition Date: before 12th century 1. in a circle around ; on every side of ; around 2. a. in the immediate neighborhood of ; near b. on or near the person of c. in the makeup of <
a mature wisdom about him
>
d. at the command of <
has his wits about him
>
3. engaged in <
act as if they know what they're about — T. S. Matthews
>
4. a. with regard to ; concerning <
spoke about his past
>
b. concerned with c. fundamentally concerned with or directed toward <
poker is about money — David Mamet
>
5. over or in different parts of III. adjective Date: 1815 1. moving from place to place; specifically being out of bed 2. around 2

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • About — A*bout , adv. 1. On all sides; around. [1913 Webster] Tis time to look about. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. [1913 Webster] 3. Here and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • About — A*bout , prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. [=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See {But}, {Out}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Around; all round; on every side of. Look about you. Shak. Bind them about thy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • about to — 1. Close to; ready to. Used with an infinitive. * /We were about to leave when the snow began./ * /I haven t gone yet, but I m about to./ Compare: GOING TO, ON THE POINT OF. 2. {informal} Having a wish or plan to. Used with an infinitive in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • about to — 1. Close to; ready to. Used with an infinitive. * /We were about to leave when the snow began./ * /I haven t gone yet, but I m about to./ Compare: GOING TO, ON THE POINT OF. 2. {informal} Having a wish or plan to. Used with an infinitive in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • About-sledge — A*bout sledge , n. The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • About.com — Infobox Website name = About.com caption = url = [http://www.about.com www.about.com] commercial = yes type = online resource language = English registration = owner = The New York Times Company author = launch date = launch date|1997|3|12… …   Wikipedia

  • About a Boy — This article is about the novel. For the film, see About a Boy (film); for the film s soundtrack album by Badly Drawn Boy, see About a Boy (soundtrack). Infobox Book | name = About a Boy title orig = translator = image caption = author = Nick… …   Wikipedia

  • About Schmidt — Infobox Film name = About Schmidt imdb id = 0257360 producer = Michael Besman and Harry Gittes director = Alexander Payne writer = Novel: Louis Begley Screenplay: Alexander Payne Jim Taylor starring = Jack Nicholson Kathy Bates Hope Davis Dermot… …   Wikipedia

  • about time — {n. phr.} Finally, but later than it should have been; at last. * /Mother said, It s about time you got up, Mary. / * /The basketball team won last night. About time./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • about time — {n. phr.} Finally, but later than it should have been; at last. * /Mother said, It s about time you got up, Mary. / * /The basketball team won last night. About time./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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