Also 4–5 bi path(e, 4–6 bypathe, 8 bye path. [f. BY- 3 b + PATH.] A side path, as opposed to the high-road; a private, retired or unfrequented path.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1706. Tho swifte stedis thre, Which that drawyn forth the Sunnis chare, Hath go some bi path in despite of me, That makith hit so sone day to be.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 12. Brune … cam in a derke wode … were as reynard had a bypath whan he was hunted.
a. 1520. Myrr. our Ladye, 140. There ys a dyfference bytwyxte an hyghe waye and a bypathe.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 70. The Travellers have been made … to walk thorough by-Paths.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek (1868), 70. Nouronihar … coming to the turn of a little bye path, stopped.
1814. Scott, Wav., lx. By following by-paths, known to the young farmer, they hoped to escape.
b. fig. (Formerly often in a bad sense.)
c. 1400. Test. Love, I. (1560), 275/2. The bypathes to heaven.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. xiii. (1859), 10. Bypathes of synne and al vnthryftynes.
1528. More, Heresyes, II. Wks. 202/2. Such euil persons as … led his flocke out of the right way in a bypath to helward.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 185. By what by-pathes, and indirect crook’d-wayes I met this Crowne.
1779. Johnson, Butler, Wks. II. 188. The bye-paths of literature.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. 142. Shining on the bypaths of history like a rare rich flower.
Hence † By-pathed ppl. a.
1641. J. Johnson, Acad. Love, 3. I found a by-pathed gate, which led me into Loves pleasant garden.
