GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   About , prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. ābutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]
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   Around; all round; on every side of.   “Look about you.” Shak. “Bind them about thy neck.” Prov. iii. 3.
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   In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).  “Have you much money about you?”  
   Bulwer.
   
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   Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
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   Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
   Macaulay.
   
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   Roving still about the world.
   Milton.
   
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   Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.   “To-morrow, about this time.” Exod. ix. 18. “About my stature.” Shak.
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   He went out about the third hour.
   Matt. xx. 3.
   
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   ☞ This use passes into the adverbial sense.
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   In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
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   I must be about my Father's business.
   Luke ii. 49.
   
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   Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
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   Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
   Acts xviii. 14.
   
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   Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.  “To treat about thy ransom.”  
   Milton.
   
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   She must have her way about Sarah.
   Trollope.
   
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2.       
   About, adv.
   On all sides; around.
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   'Tis time to look about.
   Shak.
   
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   In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
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   Here and there; around; in one place and another.
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   Wandering about from house to house.
   1 Tim. v. 13.
   
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   Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of quantity, number, time. “There fell . . . about three thousand men.”  
   Exod. xxii. 28.
   
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   To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about.
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   To bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish. -- To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come. -- To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. “Shall we set about some revels?” Shak. -- Round about, in every direction around.
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