From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
About \A*bout"\, prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS.
[=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan
outward, from ut out. See {But}, {Out}.]
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1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you."
--Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." --Prov. iii. 3.
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2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or
proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).
"Have you much money about you?" --Bulwer.
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3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in
various directions; here and there in; to and fro in;
throughout.
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Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
--Macaulay.
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Roving still about the world. --Milton.
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4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time,
size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." --Exod. ix.
18. "About my stature." --Shak.
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He went out about the third hour. --Matt. xx. 3.
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Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.
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5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
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I must be about my Father's business. --Luke ii. 49.
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6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or
verge of; going; in act of.
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Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. --Acts xviii.
14.
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7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To
treat about thy ransom." --Milton.
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She must have her way about Sarah. --Trollope.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
About \A*bout"\, adv.
1. On all sides; around.
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'Tis time to look about. --Shak.
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2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the
outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
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3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
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Wandering about from house to house. --1 Tim. v.
13.
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4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in
quality, manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as
high; -- also of quantity, number, time. "There fell . . .
about three thousand men." --Exod. xxii. 28.
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5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite
direction; on the opposite tack; as, to face about; to
turn one's self about.
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{To bring about}, to cause to take place; to accomplish.
{To come about}, to occur; to take place. See under {Come}.
{To go about}, {To set about}, to undertake; to arrange; to
prepare. "Shall we set about some revels?" --Shak.
{Round about}, in every direction around.
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