round aboutadv.prep.

Brit.

/ˌraʊnd əˈbaʊt/, U.S.

/ˌraʊnd əˈbaʊt/

Forms: see round adv. and prep. and about adv., prep.¹, adj., and int.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: round adv., about adv., about prep.¹

Etymology: As adverb < round adv. + about adv. As preposition < round adv. + about prep.¹Compare later about round adv.

A. adv.

a. All around; in every surrounding direction; on every side.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > [adverb] > everywhere > on all sides or all around

on (length and) widec1300

round aboutc1350

about rounda1393

rounda1393

far-abouta1400

c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 48 (MED) Ich [a]m þat lyȝt Of alle þer wordle rounde A-boute.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 358 (MED) Into a Dale He cam, wher was a litel plein, All round aboute wel besein With buisshes grene and Cedres.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 305 (MED) St[r]ength suld non haf had, to perte þam þorgh oute, So wer þei set sad with poyntes rounde aboute.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxxi. 117 Euery chambre was walled and closed rounde aboute.

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 386 (MED) Thus was the table set rownde aboute With goddys & goddesses.

1581 W. Blandy Castle of Pollicy f. 16^v The souldiar standes readely furnisht to fight in the fielde, where he may looke round aboute.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 58 Under the fortification of the Castle round about, are stables for horses.

1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 25 Frequently looking back and round about, as greedy to be reveng'd of the enemy.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Penny-Post, a Post-Office that conveys Letters and Packets under a Pound~weight, paying one Penny for each to all Parts of the City of London, and ten Miles round about.

1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Marchpane ⁋2 The Paste must be carefully stirr'd to the Bottom, and also round about.

1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 66 When day was up, an' a' clear round about.

1822 P. B. Shelley Let. 25 Jan. (1964) II. 381 Debts responsibilities, & expenses will emmesh [sic] you round about.

1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic i Yon hollow, crusted roundabout With copper where the clamp was.

1906 M. Hamilton Incubation iii. ii. 183 The altar of the Madonna is hung round about with numerous offerings.

1995 M. Amis Information (1996) 279 Round about, all renounced, lay forty rooms and four hundred years of pocketed knicknacks.

b. In the vicinity, nearby; in a place or various places nearby.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > in the vicinity

environa1393

nearabout?a1425

besideward1460

environeea1500

round about1526

round1593

around1762

inabout1813

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xv. 19 From Jerusalem and the costes rounde aboute, vnto Illiricum.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xxvi In this sommer, the Pestilenciall plage..infected the Citie of London and the countrei round about.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vi. 265 All round about are subiect vnto the King of Tunis.

1675 H. Croft Naked Truth 62 In these Cities they settled the chief Pastors of the Church, with power to ordain Presbyters and Pastors in other lesser Cities and Towns round about.

a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 17 On the other side..stood a great square Tower; and round about, the rubbish of many other Buildings.

1777 W. Gordon Let. 5 Mar. in G. Washington Papers (1998) Revolutionary War Ser. VIII. 517 I would undertake..to reduce Boston & to possess myself of all the hills round about with five thousand troops & a suitable number of shipping.

1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. x. 207 They work at different things—some in the mill, and many in the mines, in the villages round about.

1897 F. A. Gerard Some fair Hibernians 145 Here came all the best families living round about.

a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 892 All the regions round about watch for the time of the dragons.

1996 C. J. Stone Fierce Dancing iv. 62 The people living round about just thought the company was moving them.

2008 M. J. Costa tr. J. M. Eça de Queirós City & Mountains 259 The one hundred families who lived round about all blessed him.

2. With a rotating or revolving motion; in a circular course. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > [adverb]

round abouta1398

circularly1561

round1565

roundwise1674

gyrally1750

roundward1842

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 107^v Þe spere of heuen meuieþ rounde a boute.

c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 3244 (MED) I woll hym tech..for to pike a snayll out of his house..And turne round a-boute, as a Cat doith with a strawe.

1535 D. Lindsay Satyre 824 Me think the warld rinnis round about.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Virevoulter, to..turne or wheele round about.

1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xiv. 86 Any thing, that moves round about in a Circle..is not perceived to move; but seems to be a perfect entire Circle.

1740 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 3) Vortex, supposed systems of particles of air or celestial matter, which according to Cartesus move round about like a whirl-pool.

1800 A. Maclaren London out of Town 10 Some on 'em stand on upon one leg..and then turn round about like a whirligig.

1848 H. L. Meyer Coloured Illustr. Brit. Birds V. 68 When a shot is fired into a flock..the survivors on the sands rise in a body, and, after circling round about, frequently alight again among their slaughtered companions.

1907 Strand Mag. Sept. 336/1 The ball proceeded to spin round about.

3. In a circular or ring-shaped pattern around something. Chiefly with set. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [adverb]

umbeOE

umbetrinc1175

avirounc1300

roundc1300

aroundc1330

aboutsa1387

about rounda1393

compassa1400

round about?a1400

about-forthc1400

umbeturnc1400

acompassc1450

ambiently1659

aside1859

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 8668 Send for þe stones..þat þe Geantȝ brouht tille Ireland. Rounde about ere þei set.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xviii. B Stones with the names of the children of Israel to be set rounde aboute with golde.

1633 T. Johnson Gerard's Herball (new ed.) ii. cv. 432 Towards the top euery ioint or knot is set round about with small yellow starre-like floures, like a coronet or garland.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. ii. 22/1 A Iewel consisting of a Losenge table Diamond, set round about with small Rubys.

1703 Divine Soul 449 I came, to gain a gaudy Crown, set round about with several glittering Stones.

1849 H. Miller Foot-prints of Creator 282 That chariot of Deity, glowing in fire and amber, with its complex wheels..set round about with eyes.

1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 306 Simulated pearls of transparent radiance..adorn it round about with a fringing of copper.

1920 K. Tynan House xiv. 141 It was an antique ring set round about with whole pearls of considerable size.

a. In turn or succession among a group of people (in early use esp. one seated around a table). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [adverb] > to each in turn

round aboutc1460

round?1507

c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 280 (MED) Spycys & eke wyne Went round aboute, þe gascoyn & eke the ruyne.

1509 tr. A. de la Sale Fyftene Ioyes of Maryage (de Worde) (new ed.) viii. sig. I.iij The gossyppes to her come..andtt mery syynge vp Where besely gooth rounde about the cup.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 196 Let anis the cop ga round about.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxvi. xiii. 593 The same wassaile cup that first will be presented to me, shall go round about to you all.

1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 ii. iii. 77 The horne..went round about so often now full, now empty.

1782 tr. G. T. F. Raynal Philos. Hist. Europeans in Indies III. viii. 119 The company drink round about with the same tube.

1845 R. Browning Flight of Duchess iii, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 12/2 The people..pass'd The wondrous bantling round about.

1883 C. Birley Oh Dear! What can Matter Be? ii. 36 She drew off her tightly-fitting slipper and handed it round about amongst the people.

1908 Missionary Intelligencer Nov. 490 We have this year published ‘Our Position’..and have sent it round about to all the pastors and preachers of Denmark.

b. So as to visit various places or people; from place to place; to and fro. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke ix. f. xciiii^v Foorth thei went twoo & twoo together: and goyng round about to euery toune and village, thei preached everywhere.

1585 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Second Pt. First Bk. Myrrour of Knighthood f. 71 They went round about from one parte to another seeking these two knightes.

1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Rondt-om gaen, to goe Round about.

1739 P. Doddridge Family Expositor I. lxxiii. 452 Jesus..went round about to all the neighbouring Cities and Villages.

1788 J. Cooper tr. A. Berquin Children's Friend II. 171 I..went round about till I had rode the distance of half a mile.

1861 E. A. Park Mem. in Wks. Nathanael Emmons I. 40 Mr. Eells was a reputable scholar, but..moved round about in turbid waters.

1888 J. Parker People's Bible VIII. 158 Elisha..went round about from place to place.

1907 W. J. Clark Internat. Lang. iv. ii. 188/2 They went round about in the village showing models of their trees.

c. In a circuitous or indirect way; so as to go around the outside of something.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > means of travel > route or way > [phrase] > by indirect route

round about1681

round Robin Hood's barn1797

1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 51 Thy fancy round about works, Till in the end thou find occasion, Thinking she can make no evasion.

1684 C. Allestree tr. C. Nepos Eumenes in Lives Illustrious Men 183 The other, which was the more beaten Tract, went round about..and was much the longer passage.

1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 59 Water..passes along..whilst it has no resistance before it; but if it meets with any rub, it spreads all round about.

1742 C. Viner Gen. Abridgm. Law & Equity XVI. 37 Where I used to go directly, now I must go round about out of my right way.

1830 Mechanics' Mag. 13 359/2 Who..would go or send five miles round about, when a better road lies directly before him, more than two miles shorter?

1871 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David II. Ps. xxx. 2 He went at once to head-quarters, and not roundabout to fallible means.

1928 T. E. Lawrence Let. 15 Mar. (1938) 579 They will come to you, round about through the parcel mail.

1996 T. Goodkind Blood of Fold x. 94 Why didn't you simply say so, instead of going all round about?

5. So as to face a different or opposite way; so as to change or reverse direction. Chiefly with turn.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adverb] > (turned) round or about

aboutOE

round about1539

roundc1540

around1590

1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iv. v. sig. Miiii^v He tourned his horse rounde aboute, to loke, on whiche syde he myght gette out.

1582 W. Allen Briefe Hist. Glorious Martyrdom sig. D6 Which [psalms] finished turning him self round about to al the people, [he] said vnto them in this sort.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xix. 160/1 Thou..dost first put by his thrust; and just turne thy body round about.

1761 Ann. Reg. 1760 98/2 Mr. Jackson..struck him on the back..upon which the major turned round about, and with a switch struck Jackson.

1791 Times 15 Sept. 3/1 The prisoner turned round about at the distance of a yard from the prosecutor.

1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason ii. 17 But, turning round about unto the crone, He saw not her, but a most glorious one.

1898 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games II. 430 At ‘turn round about’, they reverse the direction, and dance round the other way.

1901 M. Carmichael Life Walshe vi. 82 And do but turn round about and behold the gentle city of Lucca.

1992 A. S. Byatt Angels & Insects 59 She turned slowly round about.

B. prep.

a. With a rotating, revolving, or orbital movement around (a centre or axis). Now rare.

ΚΠ

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 105^v Þat heuene is kyndeliche meuable wiþoute reste and þe meuynge þerof is rounde a boute þe myddel vppon a lyne þat hatte axis.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 673 (MED) Þe sterrys and constellacioun..þe axtre rounde aboute goon.

1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés Arte Nauigation ii. xvii. sig. Fii The lesse roundell and the horne, may be turned round about the Axis.

1644 Bp. J. Hall Free Prisoner ii, in Devout Soul 150 Some lesser Planets moving round about the Sun, and the Moonets about Saturne and Jupiter.

1694 R. Blome tr. A. Le Grand Entire Body Philos. iv. xxv. 132 They who suppose..the Earth to turn round about its own Axis, attribute time to the motion.

1717 S. Clarke tr. G. W. Leibniz in Papers between Leibnitz & Clarke 69 If God would cause a Body to move free in the Æther round about a certain fixed Centre.

1745 J. Marchant Expos. Bks. Old Test. i. 8 The Earth..turn'd round about its Axis.

1829 Repertory Patent Inventions 7 8 The bobbin is caused to turn round about its own axis.

1894 W. Briggs & G. H. Bryan Text-bk. Statics 69 Either of the forces..would set the body turning round about the fixed point.

1922 S. G. Wheeler Entropy as Tangible Conception ii. 17 Imagine..a flat circular disc suspended..by a thin cord or wire by means of which it can be spun round about a vertical axis.

b. So as to make a complete circuit of.

ΚΠ

1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. xx. sig. e1^v A flye wente rounde aboute a whele.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcvij^v The lord Scales roade round aboute him.

a1586 King Hart l. 681 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 276 Honour he raid the castell round about.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 4 Round about the Caldron go: In the poysond Entrailes throw.

1685 J. Norris in F. Digby & J. Norris tr. Xenophon Kyrou Paideia v. 9 Gobryas..sent word to him that he should Ride round about the Castle, and observe where it was most Accessible.

1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 166 Trees that are insulate or detached..so as you may walk round about them.

1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans III. v. 207 When a Bishop consecrates a new Altar, he must go round about it seven Times.

1833 Battle of Otterbourne in W. Scott Poet. Wks. I. 355 He march'd up to Newcastle, And rode it round about.

1872 F. J. Bramwell in Rep. Brit. Assoc. 401 Amsler's Planimeter..for measuring the area of any figure, however irregular, by the mere passage of a tracer round about its perimeter.

1919 Bull. Amer. Libr. Assoc. July 116/2 We may walk round about the walls of Jericho seven times.

1990 A. Stevens On Jung v. 107 When working with a dream symbol, one must..circumambulate it (literally, walk round about it).

a. In a ring or circle around; on each side of, surrounding.

ΚΠ

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 526 Priam for euery maister sent..To make knottis..To sette on Crestis..Vpon þe wal þe cite rounde aboute.

a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 2122 Your Cercle round aboute the hed Sholde..shewen..That ye have the world forsake.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. C. ii.^v /2 Theyr ennemyes were rounde about them.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xl. 5 There was a wall on the outsyde rounde aboute the house.

?1606 S. Rowlands Terrible Battell sig. B2 A Deaths hed seale vpon a great gold ring, And round about Memento Mori wrought.

1645 J. Milton Il Penseroso in Poems 39 And hears the Muses in a ring, Ay round about Joves Altar sing.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Horse Shoe Shoes with swelling Welts or Borders round about them.

1765 O. Goldsmith New Simile 48 His wand's a modern author's pen; The serpents round about it twin'd, Denote him of the reptile kind.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady of Shalott (rev. ed.) iv, in Poems (new ed.) I. 84 Round about the prow she wrote The Lady of Shalott.

1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue Introd. 6 Round about these in a broken curve are found the representatives of the Low Dutch family.

a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xiii. 339 An amberized spider with a number of young ones round about her.

1999 B. W. Huber Transforming Psyche ix. 176 They will..gather all the strands caught in the branches of the bushes round about the meadow.

b. In every direction from (a central point); towards all sides of.

ΚΠ

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 8 (MED) Thre days he was oute ffro his modyr..wepyng, she sowth hym rownde aboute jheruselem many a myle.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. vii. 24 The Egipcians dygged rounde aboute y^e ryuer, for water to drinke.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. ii. sig. O3^v Attonce he wards and strikes, he takes and paies,..Before, behind, and round about him laies.

1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 77 (note) An High Elme..in the midst of a Garden..harms all round about it.

1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation 6 The Beasts of Chase do reside..upon the Hills or high Mountains, where they may see round about them afar off.

1706 J. Wilson God's Warning to Scotl. 7 The Chasidim, are these who Scatter their Blessings round about them.

1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 65. ⁋2 He then looked round about him for some more commodious path.

1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 757/1 Every night he could see houses in the distance burning round about him.

1890 Amer. Jrnl. Obstetr. & Dis. Women & Children Oct. 1149 The hemorrhage spreads round about the uterus.

1915 J. H. Breasted Short Anc. Hist. xi. 64 Such a community,..owning the lands for a few miles round about the town, is the political unit, or state.

1970 ‘M. Innes’ Death at Chase vii. 57 It was true that Giles Ashmore seemed as ready to stare round about him as to talk.

2004 G. Tobin Siege of Troy iv. 52 Odysseus..glared round about him and took aim.

c. In and around; in the vicinity of, nearby; in some part or various parts of.

ΚΠ

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. 31^v Thenglishemen swarmed like Bees rounde aboute the countrey, robbyng Marchantes, spoilyng husbandmen and brennyng townes.

1594 T. Blundeville Exercises v. vii. f. 257 The Indian figge tree groweth round about Goa..the fruites are small Figges, and red as blood.

1625 B. V. Run-awyaes Answer sig. C 4^v A poore man dying in the fields (as hundreds round about the Country haue done the like) none would come neere the body.

1668 H. More Divine Dialogues v. 444 There was a re-echoing noise round about the Heavens.

1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 168 The Road is by this means so continually torn, that it is one of the worst Turnpikes round about London.

1789 M. Moorhouse Defence 106 Will you send him fresh menaces..and blacken him afresh in all the societies round about the country?

1832 Times 7 July 2/5 The Papal troops remain in their positions round about the city.

1891 H. O'Reilly Life among Amer. Indians i. 13 He was despised by the squatters all round about the country.

1922 G. K. Chesterton Man who knew too Much viii. 253 Somebody round about here sent up some sort of signal.

1998 R. Fletcher Barbarian Conversion (1999) xi. 386 A band of Vikings..settled in the valley of the lower Seine round about the city of Rouen.

3. With verb of movement: so as to visit a number of places in or around; in some part or various parts of.

ΚΠ

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ix. f. lxxxv I haue gone round aboute the countre and prouynce.

1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xvi. sig. J.i I haue gone rownde aboute crystendome and ouertwharte crystendom.

1581 T. Lupton Persuasion from Papistrie 303 Thus ranne he rounde aboute the Towne.

1607 L. Lloyd Choyce of Iewels 29 Yong men which..would not be married in Sparta, they should goe naked in the winter time roundabout the market place, vpon the market day.

1648 J. Howell Bella Scot-Anglica 5 If I die before I enter Scotland, I charge you to go on couragiously, and carry my body round about the Country.

1738 J. Besse Abstr. Sufferings Quakers III. v. 227 They led him..round about the Country, as if they had a mind to expose him for a Spectacle.

1767 tr. M. J. Riccoboni Lett. Countess de Sancerre xvii. 201 M. de Martigues..made little excursions round about the country.

1833 W. Murray tr. Abulfeda Life Mohammed 136 Mohammed..sent parties round about the city to the people.

1873 Times 3 Sept. 8/2 He had seen him walking round about Titchborne-park.

1922 C. H. Sylvester Journeys through Bookland I. 464 Joseph traveled round about all the region.

1996 L. Jayyusi tr. Adventures Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan (1999) xiii. 251 Seven messengers..found him wandering round about the houses.

4. Around the outside of; by an indirect or circuitous route; in a partial circuit or detour around. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 186 He, who now to sense, now nonsense leaning, Means not, but blunders round about a meaning.

1785 Times 26 May 2/2 Flimsy sentences, frequently blundering round about a meaning.

1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 7 680 There is no occasion for going round about the bush to hint what the poet himself has so unblushingly..blazoned forth.

1882 R. D. Blackmore Christowell ii. 14 Tim went round about it,..and avoided the village.

1903 A. D. Miller Mod. Obstacle 42 Thought about it! Thought round about it, you mean. If you had ever had a glimmer of reason..you would not give up the only chance you will ever have at life.

a. With reference to an amount, quantity, etc.: about, approximately; not much above or below; nearly.

ΚΠ

1903 E. F. Benson Relentless City xi. 168 ‘What do you make a year?’ he asked. ‘Round about two hundred thousand dollars.’

1950 ‘G. Orwell’ Shooting Elephant 18 I had been unequal to translating Réaumur into Fahrenheit, but I know that my temperature was round about 103.

1976 S. M. Gault Dict. Shrubs in Colour 139/2 ‘Flaviramea’, Golden twig dogwood, a very effective shrub in winter, round about 1.2m. if pruned hard each spring.

2005 Guardian 16 Jan. ii. 8 I'd say that if the board guy didn't turn up, they'd be down by round about 50%.

b. With reference to time or a period of time: about; at approximately; some time near.

ΚΠ

1913 E. C. Bentley Woman in Black x. 179 At some time round about eleven o'clock a man..entered the library.

1939 A. Carse Mus. Wind Instruments xx. 296 The German Althorn or Altkornett..appeared in Berlin round about 1830.

1986 C. McGlinchey et al. Last of Name ix. 77 Round about that same time, Fr Porter of Ballintleve was curate in Malin.

2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 15 It was round about lunchtime when Barnaby arrived at the Garth Hotel.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	round about
释义	round aboutadv.prep. Brit. /ˌraʊnd əˈbaʊt/, U.S. /ˌraʊnd əˈbaʊt/ Forms: see round adv. and prep. and about adv., prep.¹, adj., and int. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: round adv., about adv., about prep.¹ Etymology: As adverb < round adv. + about adv. As preposition < round adv. + about prep.¹Compare later about round adv. A. adv. 1. a. All around; in every surrounding direction; on every side. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > here, there, etc. > [adverb] > everywhere > on all sides or all around on (length and) widec1300 round aboutc1350 about rounda1393 rounda1393 far-abouta1400 c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 48 (MED) Ich [a]m þat lyȝt Of alle þer wordle rounde A-boute. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 358 (MED) Into a Dale He cam, wher was a litel plein, All round aboute wel besein With buisshes grene and Cedres. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 305 (MED) St[r]ength suld non haf had, to perte þam þorgh oute, So wer þei set sad with poyntes rounde aboute. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxxi. 117 Euery chambre was walled and closed rounde aboute. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 386 (MED) Thus was the table set rownde aboute With goddys & goddesses. 1581 W. Blandy Castle of Pollicy f. 16^v The souldiar standes readely furnisht to fight in the fielde, where he may looke round aboute. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 58 Under the fortification of the Castle round about, are stables for horses. 1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 25 Frequently looking back and round about, as greedy to be reveng'd of the enemy. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Penny-Post, a Post-Office that conveys Letters and Packets under a Pound~weight, paying one Penny for each to all Parts of the City of London, and ten Miles round about. 1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Marchpane ⁋2 The Paste must be carefully stirr'd to the Bottom, and also round about. 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 66 When day was up, an' a' clear round about. 1822 P. B. Shelley Let. 25 Jan. (1964) II. 381 Debts responsibilities, & expenses will emmesh [sic] you round about. 1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic i Yon hollow, crusted roundabout With copper where the clamp was. 1906 M. Hamilton Incubation iii. ii. 183 The altar of the Madonna is hung round about with numerous offerings. 1995 M. Amis Information (1996) 279 Round about, all renounced, lay forty rooms and four hundred years of pocketed knicknacks. b. In the vicinity, nearby; in a place or various places nearby. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > in the vicinity environa1393 nearabout?a1425 besideward1460 environeea1500 round about1526 round1593 around1762 inabout1813 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xv. 19 From Jerusalem and the costes rounde aboute, vnto Illiricum. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xxvi In this sommer, the Pestilenciall plage..infected the Citie of London and the countrei round about. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vi. 265 All round about are subiect vnto the King of Tunis. 1675 H. Croft Naked Truth 62 In these Cities they settled the chief Pastors of the Church, with power to ordain Presbyters and Pastors in other lesser Cities and Towns round about. a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 17 On the other side..stood a great square Tower; and round about, the rubbish of many other Buildings. 1777 W. Gordon Let. 5 Mar. in G. Washington Papers (1998) Revolutionary War Ser. VIII. 517 I would undertake..to reduce Boston & to possess myself of all the hills round about with five thousand troops & a suitable number of shipping. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. x. 207 They work at different things—some in the mill, and many in the mines, in the villages round about. 1897 F. A. Gerard Some fair Hibernians 145 Here came all the best families living round about. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 892 All the regions round about watch for the time of the dragons. 1996 C. J. Stone Fierce Dancing iv. 62 The people living round about just thought the company was moving them. 2008 M. J. Costa tr. J. M. Eça de Queirós City & Mountains 259 The one hundred families who lived round about all blessed him. 2. With a rotating or revolving motion; in a circular course. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > [adverb] round abouta1398 circularly1561 round1565 roundwise1674 gyrally1750 roundward1842 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 107^v Þe spere of heuen meuieþ rounde a boute. c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 3244 (MED) I woll hym tech..for to pike a snayll out of his house..And turne round a-boute, as a Cat doith with a strawe. 1535 D. Lindsay Satyre 824 Me think the warld rinnis round about. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Virevoulter, to..turne or wheele round about. 1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xiv. 86 Any thing, that moves round about in a Circle..is not perceived to move; but seems to be a perfect entire Circle. 1740 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 3) Vortex, supposed systems of particles of air or celestial matter, which according to Cartesus move round about like a whirl-pool. 1800 A. Maclaren London out of Town 10 Some on 'em stand on upon one leg..and then turn round about like a whirligig. 1848 H. L. Meyer Coloured Illustr. Brit. Birds V. 68 When a shot is fired into a flock..the survivors on the sands rise in a body, and, after circling round about, frequently alight again among their slaughtered companions. 1907 Strand Mag. Sept. 336/1 The ball proceeded to spin round about. 3. In a circular or ring-shaped pattern around something. Chiefly with set. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [adverb] umbeOE umbetrinc1175 avirounc1300 roundc1300 aroundc1330 aboutsa1387 about rounda1393 compassa1400 round about?a1400 about-forthc1400 umbeturnc1400 acompassc1450 ambiently1659 aside1859 ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 8668 Send for þe stones..þat þe Geantȝ brouht tille Ireland. Rounde about ere þei set. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xviii. B Stones with the names of the children of Israel to be set rounde aboute with golde. 1633 T. Johnson Gerard's Herball (new ed.) ii. cv. 432 Towards the top euery ioint or knot is set round about with small yellow starre-like floures, like a coronet or garland. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. ii. 22/1 A Iewel consisting of a Losenge table Diamond, set round about with small Rubys. 1703 Divine Soul 449 I came, to gain a gaudy Crown, set round about with several glittering Stones. 1849 H. Miller Foot-prints of Creator 282 That chariot of Deity, glowing in fire and amber, with its complex wheels..set round about with eyes. 1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 306 Simulated pearls of transparent radiance..adorn it round about with a fringing of copper. 1920 K. Tynan House xiv. 141 It was an antique ring set round about with whole pearls of considerable size. 4. a. In turn or succession among a group of people (in early use esp. one seated around a table). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [adverb] > to each in turn round aboutc1460 round?1507 c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 280 (MED) Spycys & eke wyne Went round aboute, þe gascoyn & eke the ruyne. 1509 tr. A. de la Sale Fyftene Ioyes of Maryage (de Worde) (new ed.) viii. sig. I.iij The gossyppes to her come..andtt mery syynge vp Where besely gooth rounde about the cup. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 196 Let anis the cop ga round about. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxvi. xiii. 593 The same wassaile cup that first will be presented to me, shall go round about to you all. 1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don-Quixote: Pt. 1 ii. iii. 77 The horne..went round about so often now full, now empty. 1782 tr. G. T. F. Raynal Philos. Hist. Europeans in Indies III. viii. 119 The company drink round about with the same tube. 1845 R. Browning Flight of Duchess iii, in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics 12/2 The people..pass'd The wondrous bantling round about. 1883 C. Birley Oh Dear! What can Matter Be? ii. 36 She drew off her tightly-fitting slipper and handed it round about amongst the people. 1908 Missionary Intelligencer Nov. 490 We have this year published ‘Our Position’..and have sent it round about to all the pastors and preachers of Denmark. b. So as to visit various places or people; from place to place; to and fro. Now rare. ΚΠ 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke ix. f. xciiii^v Foorth thei went twoo & twoo together: and goyng round about to euery toune and village, thei preached everywhere. 1585 R. P. tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Second Pt. First Bk. Myrrour of Knighthood f. 71 They went round about from one parte to another seeking these two knightes. 1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Rondt-om gaen, to goe Round about. 1739 P. Doddridge Family Expositor I. lxxiii. 452 Jesus..went round about to all the neighbouring Cities and Villages. 1788 J. Cooper tr. A. Berquin Children's Friend II. 171 I..went round about till I had rode the distance of half a mile. 1861 E. A. Park Mem. in Wks. Nathanael Emmons I. 40 Mr. Eells was a reputable scholar, but..moved round about in turbid waters. 1888 J. Parker People's Bible VIII. 158 Elisha..went round about from place to place. 1907 W. J. Clark Internat. Lang. iv. ii. 188/2 They went round about in the village showing models of their trees. c. In a circuitous or indirect way; so as to go around the outside of something. ΘΚΠ society > travel > means of travel > route or way > [phrase] > by indirect route round about1681 round Robin Hood's barn1797 1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem ii. 51 Thy fancy round about works, Till in the end thou find occasion, Thinking she can make no evasion. 1684 C. Allestree tr. C. Nepos Eumenes in Lives Illustrious Men 183 The other, which was the more beaten Tract, went round about..and was much the longer passage. 1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 59 Water..passes along..whilst it has no resistance before it; but if it meets with any rub, it spreads all round about. 1742 C. Viner Gen. Abridgm. Law & Equity XVI. 37 Where I used to go directly, now I must go round about out of my right way. 1830 Mechanics' Mag. 13 359/2 Who..would go or send five miles round about, when a better road lies directly before him, more than two miles shorter? 1871 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David II. Ps. xxx. 2 He went at once to head-quarters, and not roundabout to fallible means. 1928 T. E. Lawrence Let. 15 Mar. (1938) 579 They will come to you, round about through the parcel mail. 1996 T. Goodkind Blood of Fold x. 94 Why didn't you simply say so, instead of going all round about? 5. So as to face a different or opposite way; so as to change or reverse direction. Chiefly with turn. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adverb] > (turned) round or about aboutOE round about1539 roundc1540 around1590 1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre iv. v. sig. Miiii^v He tourned his horse rounde aboute, to loke, on whiche syde he myght gette out. 1582 W. Allen Briefe Hist. Glorious Martyrdom sig. D6 Which [psalms] finished turning him self round about to al the people, [he] said vnto them in this sort. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xix. 160/1 Thou..dost first put by his thrust; and just turne thy body round about. 1761 Ann. Reg. 1760 98/2 Mr. Jackson..struck him on the back..upon which the major turned round about, and with a switch struck Jackson. 1791 Times 15 Sept. 3/1 The prisoner turned round about at the distance of a yard from the prosecutor. 1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason ii. 17 But, turning round about unto the crone, He saw not her, but a most glorious one. 1898 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games II. 430 At ‘turn round about’, they reverse the direction, and dance round the other way. 1901 M. Carmichael Life Walshe vi. 82 And do but turn round about and behold the gentle city of Lucca. 1992 A. S. Byatt Angels & Insects 59 She turned slowly round about. B. prep. 1. a. With a rotating, revolving, or orbital movement around (a centre or axis). Now rare. ΚΠ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 105^v Þat heuene is kyndeliche meuable wiþoute reste and þe meuynge þerof is rounde a boute þe myddel vppon a lyne þat hatte axis. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 673 (MED) Þe sterrys and constellacioun..þe axtre rounde aboute goon. 1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés Arte Nauigation ii. xvii. sig. Fii The lesse roundell and the horne, may be turned round about the Axis. 1644 Bp. J. Hall Free Prisoner ii, in Devout Soul 150 Some lesser Planets moving round about the Sun, and the Moonets about Saturne and Jupiter. 1694 R. Blome tr. A. Le Grand Entire Body Philos. iv. xxv. 132 They who suppose..the Earth to turn round about its own Axis, attribute time to the motion. 1717 S. Clarke tr. G. W. Leibniz in Papers between Leibnitz & Clarke 69 If God would cause a Body to move free in the Æther round about a certain fixed Centre. 1745 J. Marchant Expos. Bks. Old Test. i. 8 The Earth..turn'd round about its Axis. 1829 Repertory Patent Inventions 7 8 The bobbin is caused to turn round about its own axis. 1894 W. Briggs & G. H. Bryan Text-bk. Statics 69 Either of the forces..would set the body turning round about the fixed point. 1922 S. G. Wheeler Entropy as Tangible Conception ii. 17 Imagine..a flat circular disc suspended..by a thin cord or wire by means of which it can be spun round about a vertical axis. b. So as to make a complete circuit of. ΚΠ 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. xx. sig. e1^v A flye wente rounde aboute a whele. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcvij^v The lord Scales roade round aboute him. a1586 King Hart l. 681 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 276 Honour he raid the castell round about. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 4 Round about the Caldron go: In the poysond Entrailes throw. View more context for this quotation 1685 J. Norris in F. Digby & J. Norris tr. Xenophon Kyrou Paideia v. 9 Gobryas..sent word to him that he should Ride round about the Castle, and observe where it was most Accessible. 1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 166 Trees that are insulate or detached..so as you may walk round about them. 1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans III. v. 207 When a Bishop consecrates a new Altar, he must go round about it seven Times. 1833 Battle of Otterbourne in W. Scott Poet. Wks. I. 355 He march'd up to Newcastle, And rode it round about. 1872 F. J. Bramwell in Rep. Brit. Assoc. 401 Amsler's Planimeter..for measuring the area of any figure, however irregular, by the mere passage of a tracer round about its perimeter. 1919 Bull. Amer. Libr. Assoc. July 116/2 We may walk round about the walls of Jericho seven times. 1990 A. Stevens On Jung v. 107 When working with a dream symbol, one must..circumambulate it (literally, walk round about it). 2. a. In a ring or circle around; on each side of, surrounding. ΚΠ c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 526 Priam for euery maister sent..To make knottis..To sette on Crestis..Vpon þe wal þe cite rounde aboute. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 2122 Your Cercle round aboute the hed Sholde..shewen..That ye have the world forsake. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. C. ii.^v /2 Theyr ennemyes were rounde about them. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xl. 5 There was a wall on the outsyde rounde aboute the house. ?1606 S. Rowlands Terrible Battell sig. B2 A Deaths hed seale vpon a great gold ring, And round about Memento Mori wrought. 1645 J. Milton Il Penseroso in Poems 39 And hears the Muses in a ring, Ay round about Joves Altar sing. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Horse Shoe Shoes with swelling Welts or Borders round about them. 1765 O. Goldsmith New Simile 48 His wand's a modern author's pen; The serpents round about it twin'd, Denote him of the reptile kind. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady of Shalott (rev. ed.) iv, in Poems (new ed.) I. 84 Round about the prow she wrote The Lady of Shalott. 1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue Introd. 6 Round about these in a broken curve are found the representatives of the Low Dutch family. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xiii. 339 An amberized spider with a number of young ones round about her. 1999 B. W. Huber Transforming Psyche ix. 176 They will..gather all the strands caught in the branches of the bushes round about the meadow. b. In every direction from (a central point); towards all sides of. ΚΠ ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 8 (MED) Thre days he was oute ffro his modyr..wepyng, she sowth hym rownde aboute jheruselem many a myle. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. vii. 24 The Egipcians dygged rounde aboute y^e ryuer, for water to drinke. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. ii. sig. O3^v Attonce he wards and strikes, he takes and paies,..Before, behind, and round about him laies. 1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 77 (note) An High Elme..in the midst of a Garden..harms all round about it. 1686 R. Blome Gentlemans Recreation 6 The Beasts of Chase do reside..upon the Hills or high Mountains, where they may see round about them afar off. 1706 J. Wilson God's Warning to Scotl. 7 The Chasidim, are these who Scatter their Blessings round about them. 1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 65. ⁋2 He then looked round about him for some more commodious path. 1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 757/1 Every night he could see houses in the distance burning round about him. 1890 Amer. Jrnl. Obstetr. & Dis. Women & Children Oct. 1149 The hemorrhage spreads round about the uterus. 1915 J. H. Breasted Short Anc. Hist. xi. 64 Such a community,..owning the lands for a few miles round about the town, is the political unit, or state. 1970 ‘M. Innes’ Death at Chase vii. 57 It was true that Giles Ashmore seemed as ready to stare round about him as to talk. 2004 G. Tobin Siege of Troy iv. 52 Odysseus..glared round about him and took aim. c. In and around; in the vicinity of, nearby; in some part or various parts of. ΚΠ 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. 31^v Thenglishemen swarmed like Bees rounde aboute the countrey, robbyng Marchantes, spoilyng husbandmen and brennyng townes. 1594 T. Blundeville Exercises v. vii. f. 257 The Indian figge tree groweth round about Goa..the fruites are small Figges, and red as blood. 1625 B. V. Run-awyaes Answer sig. C 4^v A poore man dying in the fields (as hundreds round about the Country haue done the like) none would come neere the body. 1668 H. More Divine Dialogues v. 444 There was a re-echoing noise round about the Heavens. 1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) II. 168 The Road is by this means so continually torn, that it is one of the worst Turnpikes round about London. 1789 M. Moorhouse Defence 106 Will you send him fresh menaces..and blacken him afresh in all the societies round about the country? 1832 Times 7 July 2/5 The Papal troops remain in their positions round about the city. 1891 H. O'Reilly Life among Amer. Indians i. 13 He was despised by the squatters all round about the country. 1922 G. K. Chesterton Man who knew too Much viii. 253 Somebody round about here sent up some sort of signal. 1998 R. Fletcher Barbarian Conversion (1999) xi. 386 A band of Vikings..settled in the valley of the lower Seine round about the city of Rouen. 3. With verb of movement: so as to visit a number of places in or around; in some part or various parts of. ΚΠ 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ix. f. lxxxv I haue gone round aboute the countre and prouynce. 1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xvi. sig. J.i I haue gone rownde aboute crystendome and ouertwharte crystendom. 1581 T. Lupton Persuasion from Papistrie 303 Thus ranne he rounde aboute the Towne. 1607 L. Lloyd Choyce of Iewels 29 Yong men which..would not be married in Sparta, they should goe naked in the winter time roundabout the market place, vpon the market day. 1648 J. Howell Bella Scot-Anglica 5 If I die before I enter Scotland, I charge you to go on couragiously, and carry my body round about the Country. 1738 J. Besse Abstr. Sufferings Quakers III. v. 227 They led him..round about the Country, as if they had a mind to expose him for a Spectacle. 1767 tr. M. J. Riccoboni Lett. Countess de Sancerre xvii. 201 M. de Martigues..made little excursions round about the country. 1833 W. Murray tr. Abulfeda Life Mohammed 136 Mohammed..sent parties round about the city to the people. 1873 Times 3 Sept. 8/2 He had seen him walking round about Titchborne-park. 1922 C. H. Sylvester Journeys through Bookland I. 464 Joseph traveled round about all the region. 1996 L. Jayyusi tr. Adventures Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan (1999) xiii. 251 Seven messengers..found him wandering round about the houses. 4. Around the outside of; by an indirect or circuitous route; in a partial circuit or detour around. Now rare. ΚΠ 1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 186 He, who now to sense, now nonsense leaning, Means not, but blunders round about a meaning. 1785 Times 26 May 2/2 Flimsy sentences, frequently blundering round about a meaning. 1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 7 680 There is no occasion for going round about the bush to hint what the poet himself has so unblushingly..blazoned forth. 1882 R. D. Blackmore Christowell ii. 14 Tim went round about it,..and avoided the village. 1903 A. D. Miller Mod. Obstacle 42 Thought about it! Thought round about it, you mean. If you had ever had a glimmer of reason..you would not give up the only chance you will ever have at life. 5. a. With reference to an amount, quantity, etc.: about, approximately; not much above or below; nearly. ΚΠ 1903 E. F. Benson Relentless City xi. 168 ‘What do you make a year?’ he asked. ‘Round about two hundred thousand dollars.’ 1950 ‘G. Orwell’ Shooting Elephant 18 I had been unequal to translating Réaumur into Fahrenheit, but I know that my temperature was round about 103. 1976 S. M. Gault Dict. Shrubs in Colour 139/2 ‘Flaviramea’, Golden twig dogwood, a very effective shrub in winter, round about 1.2m. if pruned hard each spring. 2005 Guardian 16 Jan. ii. 8 I'd say that if the board guy didn't turn up, they'd be down by round about 50%. b. With reference to time or a period of time: about; at approximately; some time near. ΚΠ 1913 E. C. Bentley Woman in Black x. 179 At some time round about eleven o'clock a man..entered the library. 1939 A. Carse Mus. Wind Instruments xx. 296 The German Althorn or Altkornett..appeared in Berlin round about 1830. 1986 C. McGlinchey et al. Last of Name ix. 77 Round about that same time, Fr Porter of Ballintleve was curate in Malin. 2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 15 It was round about lunchtime when Barnaby arrived at the Garth Hotel. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adv.prep.c1350
随便看	to sell a person a packet to sell a person a pup to sell a person down the river to sell a person south to sell a pig in a poke to sell a pup to sell and buy to sell another's act dear to sell another's an offence dear to sell any one a bargain to proclaim peace to proclaim something from the house-top to proclaim something from the house-tops to proclaim something from the housetop to proclaim something from the housetops to proclaim something on the house-top to proclaim something on the house-tops to proclaim something on the housetop to proclaim something on the housetops to proclaim something upon the house-top to proclaim something upon the house-tops to proclaim something upon the housetop to proclaim something upon the housetops to proclaim upon the house-top to proclaim upon the house-tops