About
About ({not transcribed}) , preposition
[Old English aboute, abouten, abuten; Anglo-Saxon ābutan, 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.
Bind them about thy neck.
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?
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.
Roving still about the world.
4.
Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.
To-morrow, about this time.
About my stature.
He went out about the third hour.
This use passes into the adverbial sense.
5.
In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
I must be about my Father's business.
6.
On the point or verge of; going; in act of. [Before a verbal noun or an infinitive:]
Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
7.
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.
To treat about thy ransom.
She must have her way about Sarah.
About , adverb
1.
On all sides; around.
'Tis time to look about.
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.
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.
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.
Collocations (4)
To bring about , to cause to take place; to accomplish.
To come about , to occur; to take place. See under Come.
To go about or To set about , to undertake; to arrange; to prepare. Shall we set about some revels?
Round about , in every direction around.