Main Entry: ¹by

Pronunciation: \ˈbī, before consonants also bə\

Function: 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>

— by the by or by the bye : incidentally 2