I. ˈbī, before consonants also bə 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
II. ˈbī adverb
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : close at hand : near
b. : at or to another's home
stop by
2. : past
saw him go by
3. : aside , away
III. adjective
or bye ˈbī
Date: 14th century
1. : being off the main route : side
2. : incidental
IV. noun
or bye ˈbī
( plural byes ˈbīz)
Date: 1567
: something of secondary importance : a side issue
V. interjection
or bye ˈbī
Etymology: short for goodbye
Date: 1709
— used to express farewell; often used with following now