† biˈhalve, -en, -es, adv. and prep. Obs.
[OE. be healfe ‘by (the) side,’ a phrase construed with a dative; treated in ME. as an adv. and prep. The ME. ending -en seems due to form-association with words like beforen, betwixen, etc., in which the -en was historical; -es imitated the advb. genitives. Cf. beside, bisiden, besides (perhaps the direct model for bihalven, bihalves).]
A. phr. By the side, beside.
| a 1000 Metr. Boeth. xxix. 43 (Gr.) Be healfe heofones þisses. ― Byrhtnoth 152 Him be healfe stód hyse unweaxen cniht. Ibid. 318 Be healfe m{iacu}num hláforde. |
B. adv. Beside, near, by.
| c 1205 Lay. 571 Þe bi-halues were. Ibid. 8170 Enne hendlicne mon Þe þer stod bi-haluen. c 1305 St. Katherine in E.E.P. (1862) 90 Heo stod bihalues and bihuld. |
C. prep. Beside, close to, by.
| c 1205 Lay. 8436 Enne gume..him bihalfues. Ibid. 9313 Bihælues þan fihte. |