A*bout" (#), prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. abutan, 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.
⇒ 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
