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A Writer's Dictionary:

by the by Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with B » by rights ... Byzantine » by the by


by
prep
    1. Next to, beside or near.
      Example: standing by the door
    2. Past.
      Example: I'll drive by the house
    3. Through, along or across.
      Example: enter by the window
    4. (especially after a passive verb) used to indicate the person or thing that does, causes or produces, etc something.
      Example: He was bitten by a dog
      Example: destroyed by fire
    5. Used to show method or means.
      Example: travel by air
      Example: sent by registered post
    6. Not later than.
      Example: Be home by 10pm
    7. During.
      Example: escape by night
    8. Used to show extent or amount.
      Example: bigger by six feet
      Example: The price fell by £2
      Example: worse by far
    9. Used in stating rates of payment, etc.
      Example: paid by the hour
    10. According to.
      Example: It's 8.15 by my watch
      Example: By my calculation, we're overdrawn
    11. Used to show the part of someone or something held, taken or used, etc.
      Example: grabbed her by the throat
      Example: pulling me by the hand
    12. Used to show the number which must perform a mathematical operation on another.
      Example: divide six by two
      Example: multiply three by four
    13. Used in giving measurements and compass directions, etc.
      Example: a room measuring six feet by ten
      Example: north-north-east by north
    14. Used to show a specific quantity or unit, etc that follows another to bring about an increase or progression.
      Example: step by step
      Example: little by little
      Example: two by two
    15. With regard to someone or something.
      Example: do his duty by them
    16. In oaths, etc: in the name of, or strictly ‘with the witness of' or ‘in the presence of' (a specified deity, thing or person)
      Example: I swear by all that's holy
      Example: By God, you're right!
    17. Fathered or sired by.
      Example: two children by her first husband
adverb
    1. Near.
      Example: live close by
    2. Past.
      Example: drive by without stopping
    3. Aside; away; in reserve.
      Example: put money by
    (chiefly N Amer)
    4. To or at one's or someone's home, etc.
      Example: Come by for a drink later
      Example: said he'd stop by after work
noun
    byes
    1. Same as bye1.
Idiom: by and by
    rather literary or old use
    After a short time; at some time in the not-too-distant future.
Idiom: by and large
    Generally; all things considered. A 17c: originally a nautical expression, used in reference to a ship sailing both by (ie into the wind) and large (ie with the wind).
Idiom: by itself
Idiom: by oneself
    Alone.
      Example: Sit by yourself over there
    Without anyone else's help.
      Example: can't do it by myself
Idiom: by the by (by the bye, by the way)
    colloq
    While I think of it; incidentally.
Etymology: Anglo-Saxon be or bi.



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