Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of About?

\A*bout"\, prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. [=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See {But}, {Out}.] 1. Around; all round; on every side of. ``Look about you.'' --Shak. ``Bind them about thy neck.'' --Prov. iii. 3. 2. 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. 3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. --Macaulay. Roving still about the world. --Milton. 4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. ``To-morrow, about this time.'' --Exod. ix. 18. ``About my stature.'' --Shak. He went out about the third hour. --Matt. xx. 3. Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense. 5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on. I must be about my Father's business. --Luke ii. 49. 6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of. Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. --Acts xviii. 14. 7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. ``To treat about thy ransom.'' --Milton. She must have her way about Sarah. --Trollope.
\A*bout"\, adv. 1. On all sides; around. 'Tis time to look about. --Shak. 2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. 3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. Wandering about from house to house. --1 Tim. v. 13. 4. 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. 5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. {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.