I. wə̇ˈthin, -thin adverb
Etymology: Middle English withinne, withinnen, from Old English withinnan, from with, preposition + innan, adverb & preposition, in, inwardly, within, from in, preposition — more at with , in
1.
a. : on the inside or on the inner side : internally , inside
had plastered the walls and whitewashed them within and without — Ellen Glasgow
b. : inside the body : underneath the skin
a man whose blood is warm within — Shakespeare
c. : herein
the person within named
2. : inside the bounds of a place or region
but whom they fear'd without, they found within — John Dryden
traitors within , as well as exiles without — George Grote
3.
a. : in or into a building : indoors
rooms for rent, inquire within
b. : in an inner room or enclosure
presenting action which must be shown within (as in a curtained study or bedroom) — Leslie Hotson
c. : behind the scenes — used in stage directions
one calls within — Shakespeare
d. : at home
not being within when he called — Jane Austen
4. : in one's inner thought, disposition, or character : inwardly
an air of aloofness about him … he lived within — H.A.McHugh
outwardly calm but raging within
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English withinne, withinnen, from Old English withinnan, from with, preposition, + innan, adverb & preposition
1. — used as a function word to indicate enclosure or containment: as
a. : in the inner being of
build up a state of tension within themselves — Vance Packard
his heart sank within him
b.
(1) : in the inner or interior part of : inside of
the water is stored within the soil — W.P.Webb
the spirit of adventure being strong within me — H.A.Chippendale
(2) : in the limits or compass of : not beyond
research conducted within university grounds — J.B.Conant
within the country
within the company
c. : enclosed or confined by
within the walls
within the doors
d. : forming a section of : included in
a continent within a continent — Allan Murray
a musical within a musical — Time
e. archaic : on the further side of : approached by means of
2.
a.
(1) : not longer in time than : before the end or since the beginning of
within four years he had become superintendent — Current Biography
troops would be withdrawn … within two years after the end of the war — F.W.D.Deakin
(2) obsolete : during the course of : at any time during
died within the year of our redemption four hundred twenty-six — Shakespeare
b.
(1) : not exceeding in quantity or degree
lived within his income
(2) — used as a function word to indicate a specified difference or margin of error
came within two percentage points of a perfect mark
guessed her weight to within two pounds
c. : not farther in length or distance than : nearer than
took pictures within feet of stampeding elephants, within inches of the fangs of deadly snakes — H.C.Adamson
within one short flight of a cuckoo from this home — John Galsworthy
d.
(1) : not going outside the scope or influence of : subject to
societies have to operate within the possibilities and limitations of their particular historical situation — Erich Fromm
the producer must indeed work within conditions set by consumers' demand — G.D.H.Cole
(2) — used as a function word to indicate accessibility to some action, effort, or means of perception
within reach
within sight
within hearing
(3) : not beyond the capacity or power of
indulge in indoor and outdoor sports within their physical capabilities — J.A.Brussel
the hunter will usually gallop well within himself — Henry Wynmalen
3.
a. : to the inside of : into
sunk the sea within the earth — Shakespeare
escaped, however, and fled within the British lines — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
b. archaic : in or into the midst or keeping of
take every object by the hand, and lead it within me — Walt Whitman
c.
(1) — used as a function word to indicate self-containment or independence
the world to which they belonged … was strictly circumscribed and complete within itself — Laurence Binyon
(2) : with respect to : so far as concerns
things good within themselves but beyond the possibility of accomplishment — W.J.Humphreys
d. obsolete : in the control of
good madam, keep yourself within yourself — Shakespeare
III. adjective
: lying or to be found inside : enclosed, included
the within complaint
the within indictment
IV. noun
( -s )
: an inner or enclosed place or space
the within of the stand always has an air of coziness — John McNulty