> as lemmas

c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. D^v A gamster after he had bin oftentimes bitten among y^e chetors, & after much losse, grew very suspicious in his play, that he could not suffer ani of the sitters by to be priuy to his game.

1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. f. 167 Princes that haue theyr sitters by, to whom they commit theyr office to rule and gouerne in their stede.

1792 C. Short Dramas for Use of Young Ladies 25 Her conversation was addressed to a young party of sitters-by at Mrs. Oliver's rout, but some of the elder ladies at the card tables over heard it.

1804 C. Smith Conversations II. 79 It is very dull tho', Mamma, to the sitters-by.

1861 T. P. Thompson Audi Alteram Partem III. clx. 173 He must be excused by the honourable members who complained of something in his pocket injurious to the sitters-by.

1906 I. Adams Persia by Persian 338 It is therefore best that the sitters-by read it [sc. the Kalimah], in anticipation of the hope that the sick man, by hearing the sound of it, may bring it to his recollection.

1997 J. A. Hodge Unsafe Hands i. 2 What had possessed her to ask Patience, of all people, the acknowledged unknown quantity of her year, the silent sitter-by at other people's fires and other people's parties.