[be.side] prep [ME, adv. & prep., fr. OE be sidan at or to the side, fr. be at (fr. bi) + sidan, dat. & acc. of side side--more at by] (13c) 1 a: by the side of "walk ~ me" b: in comparison with c: on a par with
2: besides
3: not relevant to "~ the point" -- beside oneself : in a state of extreme excitement
[2]beside adv (14c) 1 archaic: nearby
2. archaic: besides