by

I. preposition Etymology: Middle English, preposition & adverb, from Old English, preposition, be, bī; akin to Old High German bī by, near, Latin ambi- on both sides, around, Greek amphi Date: before 12th century 1. in proximity to ; near <

standing by the window

> 2. a. through or through the medium of ; via <

enter by the door

> b. in the direction of ; toward <

north by east

> c. into the vicinity of and beyond ; past <

went right by him

> 3. a. during the course of <

studied by night

> b. not later than <

by 2 p.m.

> 4. a. through the agency or instrumentality of <

by force

> b. born or begot of c. sired or borne by 5. with the witness or sanction of <

swear by all that is holy

> 6. a. in conformity with <

acted by the rules

> b. according to <

called her by name

> 7. a. on behalf of <

did right by his children

> b. with respect to <

a lawyer by profession

> 8. a. in or to the amount or extent of <

win by a nose

> b. chiefly Scottish in comparison with ; beside 9. — used as a function word to indicate successive units or increments <

little by little

> <

walk two by two

> 10. — used as a function word in multiplication, in division, and in measurements <

divide a by b

> <

multiply 10 by 4

> <

a room 15 feet by 20 feet

> 11. in the opinion of ; from the point of view of <

okay by me

> II. adverb Date: before 12th century 1. a. close at hand ; near b. at or to another's home <

stop by

> 2. past <

saw him go by

> 3. aside, away III. adjective or bye Date: 14th century 1. being off the main route ; side 2. incidental IV. noun or bye (plural byes) Date: 1567 something of secondary importance ; a side issue V. interjection or bye Etymology: short for goodbye Date: 1709 — used to express farewell; often used with following now