First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1beside
preposition be·side \bi-ˈsīd, bē-\
: by the side of (someone or something) : next to (someone or something)
: in comparison with (something)
Full Definition of BESIDE
1
a : by the side of <walk beside me> b : in comparison with c : on a par with
2
: besides
3
: not relevant to <beside the point>
— beside oneself
: in a state of extreme excitement
See beside defined for English-language learners
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Origin of BESIDE
Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English be sīdan at or to the side, from be at (from bī) + sīdan, dative & accusative of sīde side — more at by
Related to BESIDE
- Synonyms
- as well as, besides, beyond, over and above
Rhymes with BESIDE
abide, allied, applied, aside, astride, backside, backslide, bankside, beachside, bedside, bestride, betide, blear-eyed, blindside, blow-dried, blue-eyed, broadside, bromide, bug-eyed, Burnside, clear-eyed, cockeyed, cold-eyed, collide, confide, courtside, cowhide, cross-eyed, curbside, dayside, decide, deride, divide, dockside, doe-eyed, downside, downslide, dry-eyed, ebb tide, elide, field guide, fireside, flip side, flood tide, fluoride, foreside, four-eyed, free ride, freeze-dried, Girl Guide, glass-eyed, graveside, green-eyed, hagride, hang glide, hard-eyed, hawkeyed, hayride, high tide, hillside, horsehide, inside, in stride, ironside, joyride, kingside, lakeside, landslide, low tide, lynx-eyed, misguide, moon-eyed, neap tide, nearside, nightside, noontide, offside, onside, outride, outside, pie-eyed, poolside, pop-eyed, preside, prompt side, provide, quayside, queenside, rawhide, red tide, reside, ringside, riptide, roadside, seaside, self-pride, sharp-eyed, shipside, shoreside, Shrovetide, sloe-eyed, snowslide, springtide, squint-eyed, stateside, statewide, storewide, Strathclyde, streamside, strong side, subside, tailslide, tongue-tied, topside, trackside, trailside, untried, upside, vat-dyed, walleyed, war bride, waveguide, wayside, wide-eyed, wild-eyed, worldwide, yuletide
2beside
adverb
BESIDE ONESELF Defined for Kids
beside
preposition be·side \bi-ˈsīd\
Definition of BESIDE for Kids
1
: at or by the side of <Come, sit beside me.>
2
: compared with <He looks small beside you.>
3
: 1besides
4
: not relating to <That remark is beside the point.>
Headscratcher for BESIDE
If you are beside yourself, you're not by your own side. When you're beside yourself, you're very upset.
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