by and by \|bīən(d)|bī, (ˈ)bīn(d)|bī, (ˈ)bīm|bī, |bīəm|bī, ˌbəmˈbī\adverb Etymology:by (II) 1.obsolete: at once : immediately < the end is not by and by — Lk 21:9 (Authorized Version) > 2.: in a little while : before long : soon < by and by he discovered that the black night had changed to gray — Zane Grey >