abou

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Abounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abounding. ] [ OE. abounden, F. abonder, fr. L. abundare to overflow, abound; ab + unda wave. Cf. Undulate. ] 1. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe. Chambers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with. [ 1913 Webster ]

To abound in, to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by. --
To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men abounding in natural courage. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

A faithful man shall abound with blessings. Prov. xxviii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

It abounds with cabinets of curiosities. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 same as abundant abounding confidence
Syn. -- galore(postnominal) [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prep. [ OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. ābutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. “Look about you.” Shak. “Bind them about thy neck.” Prov. iii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Roving still about the world. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity. “To-morrow, about this time.” Exod. ix. 18. “About my stature.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This use passes into the adverbial sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on. [ 1913 Webster ]

I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. “To treat about thy ransom.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. On all sides; around. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Tis time to look about. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]