about

The story

1. Proto-Germanic*ana-
2. Proto-West Germanic*ana-
3. Old Englishon-?
4. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
5. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
6. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
7. Proto-Indo-European*h₁pi
8. Proto-Germanic*bi
9. Proto-West Germanic*bī
10. Proto-West Germanic*bi-
11. Proto-Indo-European*úd
12. Proto-Germanic*ūt
13. Proto-West Germanic*ūtō
14. Proto-West Germanic*ūtan
15. Proto-West Germanic*biūtan
16. Old Englishbūtan
17. Old Englishonbūtan
18. Middle Englishaboute
19. English todayabout

Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”) (compare modern English but, bout), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”); equivalent to on + be + out or on + but. Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Not related to bout (“period of time”) Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from before 1150 In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.
• from ca. 1150–1350 Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
• from ca. 1150–1350 Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.
• from ca. 1150–1350 Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.
• from ca. 1350–1470 Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
• from ca. 1350–1470 On one’s person; nearby the person.
• from ca. 1350–1470 On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.
• from before 1150 On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.