by - What does it mean?
'by' hits on the web
You may have been searching for a specific social media @by profile or the tag #by
Definition of 'by'Alternative forms
* bye (archaic for preposition and adverb, not used for abbreviation, preferred for noun and interjection)
Preposition
( en-prep)
Near or next to.
-
At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval.
-
(Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice): Through the action or presence of.
-
* {{quote-news|year=2011|date=September 28|author=Jon Smith|work=BBC Sport
|title= Valencia 1-1 Chelsea
|passage=Valencia threatened sporadically in the first half with Miguel having a decent effort deflected wide by Ashley Cole, while Jordi Alba's near-post cross was flicked into the sidenetting by Pablo Hernandez.}}
(Indicates the creator of a work): Existing through the authorship etc. of.
-
(Indicates the cause of a condition or event): Through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of.
* 1874 , (Thomas Hardy), (Far from the Madding Crowd) , 2005 Barnes & Noble Classics publication of 1912 Wessex edition, p.109:
- In other directions the fields and sky were so much of one colour by the snow that it was difficult in a hasty glance to tell whereabouts the horizon occurred.
(Indicates a means): Involving/using the means of.
-
*
*:"I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by —except steal."
(Indicates a source of light): Medium emanating from hot sources.
* 1945 , Neva L. Boyd, Handbook of Recreational Games , 1975 edition, ISBN 0486232042, p.16 :
- Players: Can we get there by candlelight? ¶ Gatekeepers: Yes and back again.
* 1960 , , (One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish)
- By' the light of the moon, / ' by the light of a star / they walked all night
(senseid).
-
(Indicates the amount of some progression): With a change of.
-
-
(Indicates a referenced source): According to.
-
(Indicates an oath): With the authority of.
-
-
Derived terms
* bit by bit
* by degrees
* by dint of
* by one's lonesome
* by oneself
( rel-mid4)
* by means of
* by rights
* by the book
* by the by
( rel-mid4)
* by the bye
* by the way
* by your leave
* by way of
( rel-mid4)
* do good by
* do right by
* hard by
* side by side
( rel-bottom)
Adverb
( -)
Along a path which runs by the speaker.
- I watched as it passed by .
In the vicinity, near.
- There was a shepherd close by .
- The shop is hard by the High Street.
* Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
- [The helmsman] steered with no end of a swagger while you were by ; but if he lost sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk
To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
- I'll stop by on my way home from work.
- We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
Aside, away.
- The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.
Derived terms
* by the by
* drop by
* full and by
( rel-mid4)
* nearby
* pass by
* passerby
( rel-mid4)
* put by
* right by
* stand by
( rel-mid4)
* stop by
* bypass
( rel-bottom)
Adjective
(-)
Out of the way, subsidiary.
Antonyms
* main, principal
Derived terms
* bypass
* byroad
* bystander
* byway
|
