By(pref.)
- With, as means, way, process, etc.; through means of; with aid of; through; through the act or agency of; as, a city is destroyed by fire; profit is made by commerce; to take by force.
By(adv.)
- Near; in the neighborhood; present; as, there was no person by at the time.
By(adv.)
- Passing near; going past; past; beyond; as, the procession has gone by; a bird flew by.
By(a.)
- Out of the common path; aside; -- used in composition, giving the meaning of something aside, secondary, or incidental, or collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice; as, by-line, by-place, by-play, by-street. It was formerly more freely used in composition than it is now; as, by-business, by-concernment, by-design, by-interest, etc.