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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section A and B, by Project Gutenberg

In boxing the compass, by indicates a pint nearer to, or towards, the next cardinal point; as, north by east, i.e., a point towards the east from the north; northeast by east, i.e., on point nearer the east than northeast is.

With is used instead of by before the instrument with which anything is done; as, to beat one with a stick; the board was fastened by the carpenter with nails. But there are many words which may be regarded as means or processes, or, figuratively, as instruments; and whether with or by shall be used with them is a matter of arbitrary, and often, of unsettled usage; as, to a reduce a town by famine; to consume stubble with fire; he gained his purpose by flattery; he entertained them with a story; he distressed us with or by a recital of his sufferings. see With.

By all means, most assuredly; without fail; certainly. -- By and by. (a) Close together (of place). [Obs.] "Two yonge knightes liggyng [lying] by and by." Chaucer. (b) Immediately; at once. [Obs.] "When . . . persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Matt. xiii. 21. (c) Presently; pretty soon; before long. In this phrase, by seems to be used in the sense of nearness in time, and to be repeated for the sake of emphasis, and thus to be equivalent to "soon, and soon," that is instantly; hence, -- less emphatically, -- pretty soon, presently. -- By one's self, with only one's self near; alone; solitary.- By the bye. See under Bye. -- By the head (Naut.), having the bows lower than the stern; -- said of a vessel when her head is lower in the water than her stern. If her stern is lower, she is by the stern. -- By the lee, the situation of a vessel, going free, when she has fallen off so much as to bring the wind round her stern, and to take her sails aback on the other side. -- By the run, to let go by the run, to let go altogether, instead of slacking off. -- By the way, by the bye; -- used to introduce an incidental or secondary remark or subject. -Day by day, One by one, Piece by piece, etc., each day, each one, each piece, etc., by itself singly or separately; each severally. -- To come by, to get possession of; to obtain. -- To do by, to treat, to behave toward. -- To set by, to value, to esteem. -- To stand by, to aid, to support.

Explanation ​

This excerpt from The Gutenberg Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (a digitized version of Noah Webster’s 1913 dictionary) is a dense, encyclopedic entry explaining the preposition "by" in its various grammatical, nautical, idiomatic, and figurative uses. Below is a detailed breakdown of the text, focusing on its linguistic precision, thematic concerns, literary devices (where applicable), and broader significance—primarily through close reading of the passage itself.

1. Context and Source ​

  • Source: This is from Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (1913), a foundational reference work in American English lexicography. Project Gutenberg digitized it, making it freely accessible. The dictionary was designed to be comprehensive, prescriptive (defining "correct" usage), and historically grounded, reflecting 19th- and early 20th-century linguistic norms.
  • Purpose: The entry for "by" is not just a definition but a usage guide, illustrating how the preposition functions in different contexts—spatial, instrumental, temporal, and idiomatic. It serves as a snapshot of how English speakers of the time employed the word, including archaic or specialized meanings (e.g., nautical terms).

2. Themes and Key Ideas ​

The excerpt explores "by" through several lenses:

A. Spatial and Directional Usage ​

  • Boxing the compass: The opening example ("north by east") demonstrates "by" as a modifier of direction, indicating a shift toward a neighboring cardinal point. This reflects the preposition’s role in navigation and orientation, where precision is critical.
    • Literary note: The phrase "boxing the compass" (naming all 32 points of the compass in order) is a metaphor for thoroughness or systematic coverage, which mirrors the dictionary’s own exhaustive approach.

B. Instrumental vs. Process-Oriented Usage ​

  • "By" vs. "with":
    • "With" is used for physical instruments ("beat one with a stick").
    • "By" is used for abstract means or processes ("reduce a town by famine", "gain his purpose by flattery").
    • The dictionary acknowledges ambiguity in cases where the "instrument" is figurative ("distressed us with/by a recital"). This highlights how language resists rigid rules, especially with abstract actions (e.g., flattery, storytelling).
    • Thematic implication: The entry subtly critiques prescriptivism by noting that usage is often "arbitrary" or "unsettled", a tension inherent in dictionary-making.

C. Temporal and Idiomatic Uses ​

  • "By and by":

    • The dictionary traces the evolution of the phrase from:
      1. Spatial ("close together" in Chaucer’s Middle English, "liggyng by and by").
      2. Immediate ("at once" in the King James Bible, Matthew 13:21).
      3. Future-proximate ("pretty soon" in modern usage).
    • The explanation suggests "by" here conveys proximity in time, with repetition ("by and by") adding emphasis (like "soon, and soon").
    • Literary device: The historical progression shows how idioms shift meaning over centuries, a theme central to lexicography.

  • Other temporal/idiomatic phrases:

    • "Day by day", "one by one": "By" here denotes sequential, individual consideration, emphasizing discrete units (days, objects).
    • "By the way": Introduces a parenthetical remark, showing how "by" can signal digressions in discourse.

D. Nautical and Specialized Terms ​

  • The dictionary includes technical jargon (e.g., "by the head", "by the lee"), reflecting Webster’s goal of comprehensiveness. These terms:
    • Demonstrate how "by" functions in domain-specific contexts (sailing).
    • Use metaphorical extensions of spatial relationships (e.g., a ship’s bow being lower than its stern).
    • Significance: This underscores how dictionaries preserve specialized knowledge, acting as cultural archives.

E. Action-Oriented Phrases ​

  • "To come by", "to do by", "to stand by":
    • These phrasal verbs show "by" as a marker of agency or relationship.
      • "Come by" = acquisition (often with effort).
      • "Do by" = treatment (moral or practical).
      • "Stand by" = support (loyalty or physical aid).
    • Thematic link: These phrases tie "by" to human interaction, suggesting proximity in action or obligation.

3. Literary Devices and Stylistic Features ​

While this is a dictionary entry, it employs several rhetorical and structural devices:

A. Parallelism and Repetition ​

  • The entry uses parallel examples to contrast usages:
    • *"to beat one with a stick" vs. "to reduce a town by famine".
    • "Day by day", "one by one".
    • This juxtaposition clarifies nuances through pattern recognition.

B. Historical Layering ​

  • The evolution of "by and by" from Chaucer to the Bible to modern usage creates a narrative of linguistic change, showing how etymology informs meaning.

C. Technical Precision vs. Ambiguity ​

  • The dictionary hedges with phrases like "arbitrary, and often, of unsettled usage", acknowledging that language defies absolute rules. This meta-commentary on lexicography itself is a subtle literary maneuver.

D. Nautical Metaphors ​

  • Terms like "by the lee" or "by the head" are literal in sailing but could be read metaphorically (e.g., "by the lee" as a state of vulnerability when winds shift unexpectedly).

4. Significance ​

A. Lexicography as Cultural Artifact ​

  • The entry reflects early 20th-century English, preserving archaic usages (e.g., "by and by" as "immediately") and technical terms now obscure. It’s a time capsule of linguistic norms.

B. The Fluidity of Language ​

  • The dictionary’s admission that some usages are "unsettled" challenges the idea of fixed grammatical rules, aligning with modern descriptive linguistics.

C. "By" as a Microcosm of Prepositions ​

  • The excerpt demonstrates how a single word can:
    • Indicate direction ("north by east").
    • Denote means ("by flattery").
    • Signal time ("by and by").
    • Convey relationships ("stand by"). This multivalence is characteristic of prepositions, which are grammatical workhorses.

D. Practical Utility ​

  • For writers, this entry is a masterclass in precision. Choosing between "with" and "by" can alter meaning subtly (e.g., "distressed by a recital" implies the recital itself was distressing, while "with a recital" might imply the manner of distress).

5. Close Reading of Select Passages ​

A. "North by East" ​

  • "a point nearer to, or towards, the next cardinal point"
    • "By" here is a mathematical modifier, fine-tuning direction. The compound prepositional phrase ("by east") acts as an adverbial qualifier, showing how language calibrates space.

B. "By all means" ​

  • Defined as "most assuredly; without fail".
    • The literal meaning ("using all possible methods") has fossilized into an idiom of emphasis. This shows how figurative language solidifies over time.

C. "By the bye" / "By the way" ​

  • The dictionary cross-references these, showing how synonyms evolve. "By the bye" (older) and "by the way" (modern) both introduce digressions, but the former feels more archaic, hinting at the ephemerality of idioms.

6. Broader Connections ​

  • Philosophical: The entry touches on how language mediates reality. For example, "to do by" implies that how we treat others is defined by proximity (physical or moral).
  • Historical: The shift in "by and by" mirrors changes in temporal perception—from medieval immediacy to modern delay.
  • Literary: Writers like Melville (in Moby-Dick) or Conrad (in Lord Jim) use nautical terms like "by the lee" to evoke tension or fate, showing how technical language enters literature.

Conclusion: Why This Matters ​

This dictionary entry is more than a dry definition—it’s a map of how a single word weaves through space, time, action, and culture. By analyzing "by", Webster’s dictionary reveals:

  1. The precision and ambiguity of language.
  2. The historical layers embedded in everyday words.
  3. The practical and poetic roles prepositions play in shaping meaning.

For readers and writers, this excerpt is a reminder that even the smallest words carry vast worlds of usage, and that dictionaries are not just reference tools but narratives of human communication.