by and by

alternative by-and-by · alternative dated by and bye · alternative byemby · alternative obsolete pronunciation spelling byembye

1. not comparableAfter a short time.

   a. 1822, Percy Bysshe Shelley "On the Symposium, or Preface to the Banquet of Plato" "You are laughing at me, Socrates," said Agathon, "but you and I will decide this controversy about wisdom by and by, taking Bacchus for our judge. At present turn to your supper."

   3 more examples

   O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away!

   1591, William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona

   Two anons and a by and by is an hour and a half.

   1636, William Camden with John Philipot, Remaines concerning Britaine, their languages, names, surnames, 5th edition

   I'll never beat you, I never lie / And if you're evil, I'll forgive you by and by, 'cause / You, I would die for you, yeah / Darling, if you want me to

   1984 November 28, Prince, “I Would Die 4 U”, in Purple Rain, performed by Prince and the Revolution, track 7

   Synonyms: shortly

2. not comparableAfter an indefinite period.

   Sit down, have a rest, and by and by you'll be feeling better.

   2 more examples

   She said herself She would forgive him, by and by, not now — For her own sake then, if not for mine — not now —- But by and by.

   1882, Alfred Tennyson, The Promise of May

   Will the circle be unbroken by and by, by and by? Is a better home awaiting in the sky, in the sky?

   1907, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”, Ada R. Habershon (lyrics), Charles H. Gabriel (music)

   Synonyms: in due course

3. not comparableobsoleteImmediately; at once.

   When […] persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 13:21

   Synonyms: now

alternative by-and-by · alternative dated by and bye · alternative byemby · alternative obsolete pronunciation spelling byembye

1. uncountableHeaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."

   I'm sorry ma'am, but your cat's gone on to the sweet by and by.

   1 more example

   In the sweet by and by We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

   c. 1868, Joseph Webster, “The Sweet By-and-By”

   Synonyms: other side, spirit world, sweet hereafter: see also Thesaurus:afterlife