Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Side?

\Side\, n. [AS. s[=i]de; akin to D. zijde, G. seite, OHG. s[=i]ta, Icel. s[=i]?a, Dan. side, Sw. sida; cf. AS. s[=i]d large, spacious, Icel. s[=i]?r long, hanging.] 1. The margin, edge, verge, or border of a surface; especially (when the thing spoken of is somewhat oblong in shape), one of the longer edges as distinguished from the shorter edges, called ends; a bounding line of a geometrical figure; as, the side of a field, of a square or triangle, of a river, of a road, etc. 3. Any outer portion of a thing considered apart from, and yet in relation to, the rest; as, the upper side of a sphere; also, any part or position viewed as opposite to or contrasted with another; as, this or that side. Looking round on every side beheld A pathless desert. --Milton. 4. (a) One of the halves of the body, of an animals or man, on either side of the mesial plane; or that which pertains to such a half; as, a side of beef; a side of sole leather. (b) The right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body; as, a pain in the side. One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side. --John xix. 34. 5. A slope or declivity, as of a hill, considered as opposed to another slope over the ridge. Along the side of yon small hill. --Milton. 6. The position of a person or party regarded as opposed to another person or party, whether as a rival or a foe; a body of advocates or partisans; a party; hence, the interest or cause which one maintains against another; a doctrine or view opposed to another. God on our side, doubt not of victory. --Shak. We have not always been of the . . . same side in politics. --Landor. Sets the passions on the side of truth. --Pope. 7. A line of descent traced through one parent as distinguished from that traced through another. To sit upon thy father David's throne, By mother's side thy father. --Milton. 8. Fig.: Aspect or part regarded as contrasted with some other; as, the bright side of poverty. {By the side of}, close at hand; near to. {Exterior side}. (Fort.) See {Exterior}, and Illust. of {Ravelin}. {Interior side} (Fort.), the line drawn from the center of one bastion to that of the next, or the line curtain produced to the two oblique radii in front. --H. L. Scott. {Side by side}, close together and abreast; in company or along with. {To choose sides}, to select those who shall compete, as in a game, on either side. {To take sides}, to attach one's self to, or give assistance to, one of two opposing sides or parties.
\Side\, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a side, or the sides; being on the side, or toward the side; lateral. One mighty squadron with a side wind sped. --Dryden. 2. Hence, indirect; oblique; collateral; incidental; as, a side issue; a side view or remark. The law hath no side respect to their persons. --Hooker. 3. [AS. s[=i]d. Cf {Side}, n.] Long; large; extensive. [Obs. or Scot.] --Shak. His gown had side sleeves down to mid leg. --Laneham. {Side action}, in breech-loading firearms, a mechanism for operating the breech block, which is moved by a lever that turns sidewise. {Side arms}, weapons worn at the side, as sword, bayonet, pistols, etc. {Side ax}, an ax of which the handle is bent to one side. {Side-bar rule} (Eng. Law.), a rule authorized by the courts to be granted by their officers as a matter of course, without formal application being made to them in open court; -- so called because anciently moved for by the attorneys at side bar, that is, informally. --Burril. {Side box}, a box or inclosed seat on the side of a theater. To insure a side-box station at half price. --Cowper. {Side chain}, one of two safety chains connecting a tender with a locomotive, at the sides. {Side cut}, a canal or road branching out from the main one. [U.S.] {Side dish}, one of the dishes subordinate to the main course. {Side glance}, a glance or brief look to one side. {Side hook} (Carp.), a notched piece of wood for clamping a board to something, as a bench. {Side lever}, a working beam of a side-lever engine. {Side-lever engine}, a marine steam engine having a working beam of each side of the cylinder, near the bottom of the engine, communicating motion to a crank that is above them. {Side pipe} (Steam Engine), a steam or exhaust pipe connecting the upper and lower steam chests of the cylinder of a beam engine. {Side plane}, a plane in which the cutting edge of the iron is at the side of the stock. {Side posts} (Carp.), posts in a truss, usually placed in pairs, each post set at the same distance from the middle of the truss, for supporting the principal rafters, hanging the tiebeam, etc. {Side rod}. (a) One of the rods which connect the piston-rod crosshead with the side levers, in a side-lever engine. (b) See {Parallel rod}, under {Parallel}. {Side screw} (Firearms), one of the screws by which the lock is secured to the side of a firearm stock. {Side table}, a table placed either against the wall or aside from the principal table. {Side tool} (Mach.), a cutting tool, used in a lathe or planer, having the cutting edge at the side instead of at the point. {Side wind}, a wind from one side; hence, an indirect attack, or indirect means. --Wright.
\Side\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sided}; p. pr.& vb. n. {Siding}.] 1. To lean on one side. [Obs.] --Bacon. 2. To embrace the opinions of one party, or engage in its interest, in opposition to another party; to take sides; as, to side with the ministerial party. All side in parties, and begin the attack. --Pope.
\Side\, v. t. 1. To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward. [Obs.] His blind eye that sided Paridell. --Spenser. 2. To suit; to pair; to match. [Obs.] --Clarendon. 3. (Shipbuilding) To work (a timber or rib) to a certain thickness by trimming the sides. 4. To furnish with a siding; as, to side a house.