forby(e, prep. and adv.
(fəˈbaɪ)
Also 3–5 forbi, (5 for be), 5–6 foreby, (7 forbay, 9 forebye).
[f. for- adv. or prep. + by. Cf. Du. voorbij, Ger. vorbei; also (from Ger.) Sw. förbi, Da. forbi.]
A. prep.
1. Of position: Hard by, near. Obs. exc. Sc.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ii. 54 As when a Falcon hath with nimble flight Flowne at a flush of ducks, foreby the brooke. 1858 M. Porteous ‘Souter Johnny’ 11 The Smith..Had..his snug abode Forbye his smiddy. |
2. Of motion: Past; close by. Obs. exc. arch. In early use following the obj.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 20884 (Cott.) A ded he quickend wit his schade Quils þat he him for-bi glad. 13.. K. Alis. 5487 Alisaunder cometh upon his mule..And flyngeth gode skowr hem forby. c 1386 Chaucer Doctor's T. 125 Sche cam forby ther the juge stood. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5748 The spere..forbi the visage glode. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clvii. 191 They passed foreby the frenchmens busshment. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. i. 15 A goodly Lady did foreby them rush. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iii. 316 She went on toward the sea, For by the port. |
3. fig. † a. In preference to, before, beyond. Obs. † b. In transgression of. Obs.—1
| a. a 1300 Cursor M. 13314 (Cott.) To petre..For-bi all his oþer feris, Mast priuelege he gaf. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 26 A stone Þat Hauelok kast wele forbi euer ilkone. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxiii. 107 Sutell of witte..forby any oþer folk of þe werld. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 4930 To take ffleshe of thi wombe for be othere wymmen alle. |
| b. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3988 For-bi min red, quað ðu non del. |
† 4. Beside, in comparison with. Also, by way of distinction from. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27365 (Cott.) Hu soft [it es] her for to mend forbi þat pine wit-vten end. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vii. 25 Þat es þe cause þat þai er so gude chepe þare, forby in oþer places. Ibid. xxii. 101 Wymmen..þat er wedded beres crownes..þat þai may be knawen by forby þaim þat er vnweddid. |
5. Besides; not to mention. Only north. or arch.
| 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. xiii. xvi, Forby thir thre erllis and lord foresaid. 1637–50 Row Hist. Kirk (1842) 108 Twenty-four ministers..forby elders. 1676 W. Row Contn. Blair's Autobiog. x. (1848) 272 The special causes were forby the confession of sins to beg a blessing to the King. 1817 Lady L. Stuart in Scott Fam. Lett. (1894) I. 404 Forbye the young, I have met with an established Blue-stocking who had never heard of Sir William Temple. 1879 Browning Ned Bratts 18 The regular crowd forbye. 1894 Crockett Raiders 90 No doubt he had many a sin on his soul, forbye murder. |
¶ 6. = by 28.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. xi. 17 He tooke her forby the lilly hand, And her recomforted. |
B. adv.
1. Of motion: a. Aside.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 286 He turned not forbi for leue ne for loth. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3361 A little forbi he smot. a 1800 Brown Adam viii in Scott Minstr. Scot. Bord. (1802) II. 18 When he cam to his ladye's bour door, He stude a little forebye. |
b. Along, past. Now rare. Also, fig. † to go forby: to be passed over or slighted.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 110 Right ȝede þer forby, þe barons did no skille. 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 345 But I will let fele of thame pas forby. 1423 Jas. I. Kingis Q. xxx, To se the warld and folk that went forby. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxvi. 413 He salutyd them in passynge forby. 1862 W. W. Story Roba di R. (1864) 78 That time has been long forbye. |
2. Besides, in addition.
| 1590 J. Burel in Watson Collect. ii. (1709) 14 The other Burgissis forby Wer cled in thair pontificall. 1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 25 Forby, how sweet the numbers chime. a 1810 Tannahill Poet. Wks. (1846) 77 Forby he had a bashfu' spirit. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xii, There are the bairns forby..that must be learned their letters. |