Beside

adv. and prep. Forms: 3–4 bisiden, 3–5 bi-side, -syde, byside, 4 bisid, -syd, -seid, (bezide), 4–5 besiden, bysyde, 4–6 bisyde(n, besyde, 5 byside(n, 4– beside. [ME. bi siden, bisiden:—OE. be sídan, i.e., be by, sídan (dat. sing.) side. Found in OE. only as two words, but by 1200 used as an adverb and preposition. Cf. the similar history of BIHALVE, which in early times was a synonym of this.]

  A.  adv.

  1.  By the side, by one’s side. † a. lit. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 12281. Bisiden heo gunnen heongen cniues swiðe longe.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 513. To Britaigne tooke they the righte way Aurelius and this Magicien bisyde.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 545. Some on horsys and some besyde.

1590.  A. Munday, Eng. Romayne Life, in Harl. Misc., v. (1811), 156. Kirbie, quaking when he felt the cart goe away, looked styll how neere the end of it was, till he was quite beside.

  † b.  Side by side in rank, on a level. Obs. rare.

1340.  Ayenb., 125. Hi yelt … loue to ham þet byeþ bezide, grace to ham þet byeþ beneþe.

  c.  Hard by, close, near. arch. † Rarely of time (see quot. 1380). Obs. (Mostly an elliptical use of the prep., or with here-, there-, in place of object.)

1297.  R. Glouc., 558. Þo sei he þer biside … þe erles baner of Gloucetre.

c. 1314.  Guy Warw., 56. An abbay That was bisiden on the way.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 44. [Vulg. Juxta est dies perdicionis] Bisyde is þe day of perdicioun … Biside, þat is, neer is þe day [1611 Deut. xxxii. 35 at hand].

1517.  Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 20. A lityll ther be syd stondyth an old Churche.

1798.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., IV. x. The moving moon went up the sky … and a star or two beside.

1805.  Southey, Madoc in Azt., xvi. Mervyn beside, Hangs over his dear mistress silently.

  2.  In addition, over and above; = BESIDES 2 (by which this is now usually expressed).

1297.  R. Glouc., 92. Of be lond of France, and of oþer londes bi syde.

1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 30. Hem nedeth … Of straunge londes helpe beside.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 144. The goode dedis that thou shalt do besyde.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. i. 25. My selfe, and diuers Gentlemen beside.

1692.  E. Walker, Epictetus’ Mor., xx. Now if the same Behaviour be your Guide, In all the actions of your life beside.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxiv. (1806), 143. We can marry her to another … and what is more, she may keep her lover beside.

1825.  Carlyle, Schiller, I. (1845), 11. It was by stealth if he read or wrote any thing beside.

  b.  As an additional consideration; moreover; = BESIDES A 2 b (by which now usually expressed).

1592.  Greene, Art Conny Catch., III. 8. The Maide … was not a little ioyfull to see him: beside, shee seemed proud that her kinsman was so neat a youth.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. i. 127. Beside he was a shrewd philosopher.

1871.  Browning, Balaustion (1881), 148. Beside, when he found speech, you guess the speech.

  3.  Otherwise, else; BESIDES 3 (by which this is now usually expressed).

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 40. And one day in the week to touch no food, And but one meal on euery day beside.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., Pref. C. Rebels … to God in all thir actions beside.

1734.  Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 243. To all beside as much an empty shade.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. i. 146. We talk’d Of thee and none beside.

1843.  E. Jones, Sens. & Event, 57. And these forgetting, all beside In life will darken.

  † 4.  On or to one side, apart. Obs. (Now ASIDE.)

a. 1375.  Cursor M., 3622 (Trin.). She went bi syde & hir biþouȝt.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XI. 344. The toythir bataills suld be gangand Bisid on sid, a litill space.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 56. Peter tok him be side, & be gan to blam him.

c. 1485.  Digby Myst. (1882), II. 191. Goo thou … In-to the Cyte a lytyll be-syde.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., 152. Whiles y^e armies be fighting together in open feld, they a litle beside not farre of knele upon their knees.

  † b.  esp. with set, put, leave, etc. (See ASIDE 4).

1414.  Brampton, Penit. Ps., lxxxvi. 33. Lust and lykyng I sette be syde.

1436.  Pol. Poems (1859), II. 187. Yeue us grace alle sloughte to leue bysyde.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. i. 21. He set his elder brother besyde.

a. 1604.  Hanmer, Chron. Irel., 17. In the end the two sonnes were put beside.

  † 5.  Toward the side, sidewise. Obs. (= ASIDE 7).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1221. Lamydon at the laste lokit besyde.

  † 6.  By the side so as to miss, by, past. To go beside: to pass on one side, to miss. Obs.

c. 1430.  Stans Puer, 60, in Babees Bk. (1868), 31. Fille not þi spoon lest in þe cariage It scheede bi side, it were not commendable.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 35 b. And where it purposeth to go ouer the brydge, it gothe besyde, and falleth into the dyche.

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 981. Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside which her cheek melts.

  B.  prep.

  1.  lit. By the side of; hence, close to, hard by.

  a.  strictly. By the side of a person, animal or thing that has a recognized side. (The more definite by the side of, by his, her, etc. side, is now often used instead, as being more distinct from b.)

c. 1205.  Lay., 21408. Þer fæht Baldulf bisiden his broðer.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3873. Bisid lya al night he lai. Ibid., 1787. Þe leon suam beside þe hert.

1493.  Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 10. Thenne falleth his sede besyde the waye.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 155. The thefe that honge on the crosse besyde our lorde.

1611.  Bible, Ps. xxiii. 2. He leadeth mee beside the still waters.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 460, ¶ 7. The boy who stood beside her.

1727.  Thomson, Summer, 11. Beside the brink Of haunted stream.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxi. (1806), 125. We sate beside his kitchen fire.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. i. 319. Let me sit down beside you.

  b.  Less exactly: Close to, near any part of, by.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8207. And did be siden þaim laumpis liht.

c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag. (W.), 3315. That castell That the se ran fast byside.

c. 1375.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 189. She saat bisiden cristis feet.

c. 1430.  How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, 172, in Babees Bk. (1868), 41. Please weel þi neiȝboris þat dwelle þee biside.

1611.  Bible, Song. Sol. i. 8. Feede thy kiddes beside the shepheards tents.

c. 1680.  Beveridge, Serm. (1729), II. 299. It doth not fall upon him but beside him.

1884.  L. Keith, Venetia’s Lov., II. 11. You’ll come beside us in the drawing room.

  † c.  Formerly with names of towns, etc., where we now use by, near. Obs.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 31. Þe herdes wakeden ouer here oref biside þe burch belleem.

1297.  R. Glouc., 558. To a toun biside Wircetre, þat Kemeseie ihote is.

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. xiii. 18. Abram … dwellide biside the valey of Mambre.

1418.  E. E. Wills (1882), 32. Seint Gyles beside Holbourne.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xiv. 14. At the palaice of Westminster, beside London.

1581.  Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 556. He … was buried a little beside the same Citie.

  d.  fig. (a.) Side by side with in rank, on a level with. (b.) By the side of for comparison, compared with.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 365. Besyde Latyne our langage is imperfite.

1843.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint. (1851), I. Pref. 20. Gainsborough’s power of colour … is capable of taking rank beside that of Rubens.

  2.  In addition to, over and above, as well as; = BESIDES B 2 (by which now usually expressed).

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3697. Bot speciel prayers with gude entente, Þat es made besyde þe sacramente.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 435. For þise sixe kyndenessis bysyde goostliche suffragies.

1558.  Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacr., xxx. 191. The priest … beside his praiers, doth minister the outwarde sacrament of Aneiling.

1611.  Bible, Lev. xxiii. 38. Beside the Sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts.

1774.  Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., vi. (1876), 396. Beside his master Andrea Sacchi, he imitated Rafaelle.

1832.  J. C. Hare, in Philol. Museum, I. 59. Beside the planets usually seen, there are other stars.

1879.  Lewes, Study Psychol., 70. Other men beside ourselves.

  † b.  with obj. clause; = BESIDES B 2 b. Obs.

1651.  Life Father P. Sarpi (1676), 87. The Pope, beside that he is the head of Religion, is also a Prince.

  3.  Other than, else than; = BESIDES B 3 (by which this is now usually expressed).

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 43. If he haue ani þing bi syd þe Lord, þe Lord schal not be his part.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 238 b. In y^e whiche commaundement is prohybyte … all other maner of lechery, besyde the acte of matrimony.

1621.  Bp. Mountagu, Diatribae, 422. No man beside Festus, in that fragment, doth tell us [etc.].

1710.  Shaftesb., Charac., I. § 3 (1737), I. 65. None can understand the Speculation beside those who have the Practise.

1827.  Bp. Heber, Hymn, Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

  † 4.  Outside of, out of, away from. Obs.

  † a.  By the side of so as to pass without contact, by the outside of, past, by. To go beside (L. præterīre): to pass by, pass over, miss. To look beside: to overlook, fail to see, miss. Obs.

c. 1375.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 15. Þei tristen on riȝt of mannis lawe, and gone ofte beside þe soþe. Ibid. (1382), Prov. xix. 11. The glorie of hym is to go beside wicke thingys [1388 to passe ouere wickid thingis].

1627.  Bp. Hall, Epist., IV. iii. 341. Let vs but open our eyes, we cannot looke beside a lesson.

1629.  Gaule, Holy Madn., 95. Oh, doe him not the wrong to looke beside him, for if you see him not, hee comes by to no purpose.

  † b.  Of position: Outside of, out of, away from.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 1. To reduce me in to þe riȝt wey, if I haue gon biside þe wey in ani þing.

1555.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. II. App. xlvii. 143. Beside and without the compasse of the same Articles.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. I. 502. As of Vagabonds we say That they are ne’er beside their way.

  † c.  Of removal, deprivation: Out of, away from; esp. with put, set, pluck, etc. Obs.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par., Matt. ii. 25. Least he should be set beside the kingdome whiche he … held.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., 133. If they by couyne or gile be wiped beside their goodes.

1553–87.  Foxe, A. & M., II. 384. He put the new Pope Alexander beside the cushion and was made pope himself.

1570–87.  Holinshed, Scot. Chron. (1806), II. 60. One of them taking displeasure with his father … stepped to him and plucking her [a falcon] beside his fist wrong her neck.

1660.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 2/1. Neleus Son of Cordrus being put beside the Kingdom of Athens by his younger Brother Medon.

  5.  fig. senses from 4.

  a.  Out of a mental state or condition, as beside one’s patience, one’s gravity, one’s wits; now only in Beside oneself: out of one’s wits, out of one’s senses; cf. F. hors de soi, Ger. ausser sich.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xxvii. 98. Mad and beside herself.

1526.  Frith, Disput. Purgatory, 175. The man was almost beside himself, and then was he sent to Oxford.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 179. Enough to put him quite beside his patience.

1611.  Bible, Acts xxvi. 24. Festus saide with a lowd voyce, Paul, thou art beside [Tindale besides] thy selfe, much learning doeth make thee mad.

1716.  Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. vi. 20. This question almost put him beside his gravity.

1827.  Hood, Hero & Leander, cvii. Like an enchanted maid beside her wits.

1884.  Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 399. I felt quite beside myself for joy and gratitude.

  b.  Away from, wide of (a mark); apart from, not embraced within (a plan, purpose, question).

1533.  More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 1021/2. He speketh al beside the purpose.

1573.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1894), 51. I take it, M. Proctor was beside his book.

1691.  Ray, Creation, I. (1704), 64. Because it is beside my Scope.

1853.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xiii. 158. The distinction … is an altogether false one and beside the question.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. iii. 285. The point on which the battle was being fought lay beside the real issue.

1883.  Manch. Guard., 22 Oct., 5/3. Really this question is beside the mark.

  † c.  Beyond the range or compass of (L. præter); utterly apart from; hence sometimes approaching the sense ‘contrary to.’ Obs.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 14 b. No persone may receyue … the counseyles of the holy goost, excepte he haue besyde nature a spirituall eare.

1548.  Geste, Pr. Masse, 98. It is institute besyde Gods wrytten wordes and so contrarie to the same.

a. 1619.  Fotherby, Atheom., II. viii. § 2 (1622), 281. Vertues are begotten in vs, neither by nature, nor beside nature.

c. 1688.  South, Serm. (1715), 462. A Lye is properly an outward Signification of something contrary to, or, at least, beside the inward Sense of the Mind.

a. 1758.  J. Edwards, in N. Worcester, Atoning Sacr. (1830), 140. Old men seldom have any advantage from new discoveries, because these are beside a way of thinking which they have been long used to.

1773.  Johnson, Lett. (1788), I. lxxiii. 106. At Durham, beside all expectation, I met an old friend.

  † C.  Comb. Beside-forth, besides-forth adv., moreover, further; beside-sitter, one who sits beside, an assessor; besideward, ? outside, hard by, in the vicinity. Obs.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 22. Judas Macabeus, Ȝe and sexty þousande bisyde forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Luke i. 17. And yet was besidesforth an ungodly and a wicked person.

1340.  Ayenb., 40. Þe kueade bezidezitteres, þet yeueþ þe kueade redes to þe demeres.

1460.  Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 116. To men þat in þe cyte dwelle; And men þat dwellen be-sydwarde.