by

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 by5: 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> bchiefly Scottish : in comparison with : beside9—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

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