beside English · revision 7039

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1200}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɪˈsaɪd/ ''(UK)''; /bɪˈsaɪd/, /biˈsaɪd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bisiden, biside, from Old English [[m|ang|be sīdan|t=by the side]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|ang|be|t=by]] (see [[by]]) and sīdan, the dative of [[m|ang|sīde|t=side]] (see [[side]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) In Old English the phrase was always written separately.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ By the side of, near: about 1200, as one word, used as both adverb and preposition;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the 13th century in MWU.^(MWU 2024) Barnhart has the Old English phrase from about 725.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adverb, in addition, is from 1297, but is now generally replaced by [[besides]].^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) An alternative Middle English meaning, outside, survives in ''beside oneself'', out of one's wits (late 15th century).^(Etymonline) ''Beside the point'', irrelevant, follows from the sense ''away from''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) In Irish and Yorkshire dialect, beside also meant in comparison with.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – by the side of.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1297 – in addition (adverb).^(OED 1989)

+ * late 15th century – beside oneself.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # At the side of; [[next to]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Compared with: ''beside her, he looks tall''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Apart from; except for.^(AHD)

+ # ''(beside oneself)'' Overwhelmed by strong emotion.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(beside the point)'' Not relevant.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[besides]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[side]]

+ * [[by]]

+ * [[alongside]]

+ * [[inside]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}