English Lexicon

By

/baɪ/
prepositionCEFR A1 (Beginner)Top #100 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As preposition
  1. 1

    Indicates the means or agent performing an action.

    "The book was written by a famous author."
  2. 2

    Indicates proximity or closeness.

    "She lives by the river."

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Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'by' originates from Old English 'bi', which is related to the Proto-Germanic '*bi', meaning 'near' or 'beside'. Over time, its usage evolved to indicate means, agency, or proximity in various contexts.

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