adv. and prep. Obs. [f. BE- + HITHER, cf. behind, before, besides, beyond, etc. (A useful word, worth reviving.)]
A. prep. 1. On this side of. (L. cis, citra.)
1521. Abp. Warham, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 241. Yt shuld engendre grete obloquy and sclandre to the Universitie, bothe behyther the See and beyonde.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 257. The Italian … calleth the Frenchman … and all other breed behither their mountaines Appennines, Tramontani.
1679. Evelyn, Diary (1827), III. 14. I called at my cousin Evelyn’s who has a very pretty seat in the forest, 2 miles behither Cliefden.
1711. J. Greenwood, Eng. Gram., 82. The Parlour lies behither, or on this Side the Kitchin.
2. Short of, barring, save.
1633. G. Herbert, H. Baptism, in Temple, 36. Let me be soft and supple to thy will … to others, mild, Behither ill.
1671. Oley, Herbert’s C. Parson, Pref. A ij b (N.). I have not any one thing, behither vice, that hath occasioned so much contempt of the clergie.
B. adv. On this side, on the nearer side.
1650. Elderfield, Tythes, 280. Of what is behither … I need say nothing.
