thereaboutadv.
/ðɛːrəˈbaʊt/, /ˈðɛːrəbaʊt/, U.S. /ˈðɛrəˌbaʊt/, /ˌðɛrəˈbaʊt/ 1. † b. Around that object (a pillar, or the like).
a. About (originally outside) or near that place: = thereabouts adv. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > in the vicinity > of that place
thereabouta925
thereaboutsc1400
the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > [adverb] > there > thereabouts
thereabouta925
thereaboutsc1400
thereaway1551
thereaways1575
thereaway-abouts1839
there or (and) thereabouts1890
a925 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 917 (Parker MS.) Æt Hocneratune, and þær onbutan.
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints xxv. 595.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Mark (Corpus Cambr.) xiv. 69 Heo ongan cweðan to þam þe ðar abutan stodon.
1131 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1124 (Laud) Ealla þa casteles ða þær abuton wæron.
c1290 Beket 2126 in S. Eng. Leg. 167 And al round þare a-bouten it lay.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) Pref. 3 Ierusalem, and the haly placez þat er þare aboute.
1451 J. Gloys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 66 To all yowre frendes and tenauntes there a-bowtyn.
1517 R. Torkington Oldest Diarie Englysshe Trav. (1884) 56 The Cityes in the Countre ther a bowght.
1562 Reg. Privy Council Scotl. I. 220 To remane within the samin and foure mylis thairabout.
a1705 J. Ray Three Physico-theol. Disc. (1713) ii. v. 215 The Atteration of the Sea thereabout.
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. iii. 120 Quartered in the different villages thereabout.
1908 E. Fowler Between Trent & Ancholme 67 From somewhere thereabout our garden gravel came.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [adverb] > around that
thereabout1340
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 1136 He bad bulden of marbre A piler..& þat þei wrouhten a wrytte & writen þer aboute.
c. figurative. About that; near to that state or action: cf. thereabouts adv. 1c. Obsolete or rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > almost or nearly
nigheOE
well-nigheOE
forneanc1000
well-nearc1175
almostc1261
nighwhatc1300
nearhandc1350
nigh handa1375
nigh handsa1375
as good asc1390
into (right) littlea1413
unto litea1420
nigh byc1430
nearbyc1485
near handsa1500
as near as1517
mosta1538
next door1542
wellmost1548
all but1590
anewst1590
uneath1590
next to1611
nearlya1616
thereaboutsa1616
welly1615
thereabout1664
within (an) ames-ace ofa1670
anear1675
pretty much1682
three parts1711
newsta1728
only not1779
partly1781
in all but name1824
just about1836
nentes1854
near1855
nar1859
just1860
not-quite1870
nearabouta1878
effectively1884
nigh on1887
1664 J. Dryden Rival Ladies iv. iii. 46 Amid. I feel already My stout Heart melts. Hip. Oh! Are you thereabout?
2.
a. About or somewhere near that time or date.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > particular time > [adverb] > at a particular or certain time > approximately
thereabout1297
thereabouts1561
thenabouts1589
some1595
hereabout1675
somewhere1839
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 8984 Hit biuel þer aboute þat þe erl thebaud..destourbede þe peys.
1465 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 140 The xxij yere of Kyng Herry or therabought.
1564 Briefe Exam. *****ij b Referred to the Prophetes tymes, and thereabout.
b. About that number, quantity, size, space of time, etc. = thereabouts adv. 2 (Chiefly after or.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > [adverb]
somec888
aboutOE
thereabouts1413
thereabout1534
thereby1563
nearabout1567
thereupona1676
thereaway1815
nearabouts1834
somewheres1859
let us say1863
the world > time > [adverb] > about that amount or space of time
thereabout1727
1534 in Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS: Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 217 Amountyng to the some of 30l. or therabout.
1612 J. Davies Discouerie Causes Ireland 20 A company of Voluntaries, in number foure hundered, or thereabout.
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. ii. 52 At the distance of less than two hundred Years, or thereabout.
1908 E. Fowler Between Trent & Ancholme 369 She has walked 221,490 miles, or thereabout.
3. About, concerning, or with reference to that matter or business; thereanent. to go or be thereabout, to occupy or busy oneself therewith: cf. about prep.1 6, 7. Now archaic or rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > [adverb] > in relation or with reference to or concerning > concerning this or that
hereofc1050
herec1175
hereonc1175
heretoc1175
hereuponc1175
thereofa1200
hereanenta1225
hereabout?c1225
herein?c1225
herebyc1230
therebya1250
theretilla1300
thereabouta1375
thereto1377
hereforc1380
thereanenta1400
thereata1400
thereuntoa1400
thereanentsc1400
thereonc1400
thereupon1414
thereoffena1450
thereatour1457
herintil1489
hereunto1509
thereover1535
hithera1538
hereabouts1584
thereabouts1592
hitherunto1635
hitherto1637
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 972 But i were busi þer a-boute to blame i were.
c1386 G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale 129 What wol ye dyne? I wol go ther-aboute.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22885 Þe mar man swink him þar aboutin Fra sped þe ferre he sal ben outin.
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2698 Thar-obout wil i be bayn.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 56 Here resonable expensys þere abowte awȝte ferst to be takyn vp.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 51 All that wyll do theyr besynes there aboute.
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1289/2 How much payn so euer himselfe tooke thereabout.
1611 Bible (King James) Luke xxiv. 4 They were much perplexed thereabout . View more context for this quotation
1657 W. Rand tr. P. Gassendi Mirrour of Nobility iv. 77 Peireskius..congratulated with him thereabout.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.a925