I. ə-ˈbau̇t adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English abūtan, from a- (I) + būtan outside — more at but
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : reasonably close to
about a year ago
b. : almost
about starved
c. : on the verge of — usually used with be and a following infinitive
is about to join the army
— used with a negative to express intention or determination
not about to quit
2. : on all sides : around
3.
a. : in rotation
b. : around the outside
4. : here and there
5. : in the vicinity : near
6. : in the opposite direction
face about
the other way about
II. preposition
Date: before 12th century
1. : in a circle around : on every side of : around
2.
a. : in the immediate neighborhood of : near
b. : on or near the person of
c. : in the makeup of
a mature wisdom about him
d. : at the command of
has his wits about him
3. : engaged in
act as if they know what they're about — T. S. Matthews
4.
a. : with regard to : concerning
spoke about his past
b. : concerned with
c. : fundamentally concerned with or directed toward
poker is about money — David Mamet
5. : over or in different parts of
III. adjective
Date: 1815
1. : moving from place to place ; specifically : being out of bed
2. : around 2