Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
About
A-bout′
,p
rep.
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.
☞ 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
about
to 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
. Shakespeare
2.
In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside;
as, a mile
. about
, and a third of a mile across3.
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.;
“There fell . . . about three thousand men.” as,
; – also of quantity, number, time. about
as cold; about
as highExod. 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
About
ABOUT'
, prep. [Gr. butan, without, [see but,] literally, around, on the outside.]1.
Around; on the exterior part or surface.Bind them about thy neck. Prov. iii. 3. Isa. l. Hence,
2.
Near to in place, with the sense of circularity.Get you up from about the tabernacle. Num. xvi.
3.
Near to in time.He went out about the third hour. Mat. xxi. 3.
4.
Near to, in action, or near to the performance of some act.Paul was about to open his mouth.
They were about to flee out of the ship. Acts, 28:14 - 28:30.
5.
Near to the person; appended to the clothes. Every thing about him is in order. Is your snuff box about you? From nearness on all sides, the transition is easy to a concern with. Hence,6.
Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, respecting.I must be about my father's business. Luke, ii. 49. The painter is not to take so much pains about the drapery as about the face
What is he about?
7.
In compass or circumference; two yards about the trunk.ABOUT'
,adv.
1.
Near to in number or quantity.There fell that day about three thousand men. Ex. xxxii.
2.
Near to in quality or degree; as about as high, or as cold.3.
Here and there; around; in one place and another.Wandering about from house to house. 1Tim. v.
4.
round, or the longest way, opposed to across, or the shortest way. A mile about, and half a mile across.To bring about, to bring to the end; to effect or accomplish a purpose.
To come about, to change or turn; to come to the desired point. In a like sense, seamen say go about, when a ship changes her course and goes on the other tack.
Ready about, about ship, are orders for tacking.
To go about, signifies to enter upon; also to prepare; to seek the means.
Why go ye about to kill me. John, 7.