The side of a road or path, the land bordering either side of the way.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1713. They are enbuschede one blonkkes, with baners displayede, In ȝone bechene wode appone the waye sydes.
1526. Tindale, Luke viii. 5. As he sowed some fell by the waye syde.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 221. By the waye syde, hym chaunced to se A pore manne that craued of hym for charitie.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 19. Among the Corn by the way-sides as we went.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 498. This species is very frequent with us especially on heaths and by way-sides.
a. 1784. Johnson, in Mrs. Piozzi, Anecd. (1786), 5. A stone he saw standing by the way-side, set up … in honour of a man who had leaped a certain leap thereabouts.
1850. Anne Pratt, Comm. Things of Sea-side, iii. 171. The wild-flowers, which grace every wayside.
1878. Swinburne, Poems & B., Ser. II. Before Sunset, 6. Lighted shade and shadowy light In the wayside and the way.
1893. Max Pemberton, Iron Pirate, i. A crucifix that stood on the wayside by the hill-foot yonder.
1894. J. Davidson, Ballads & Songs, 121. All the waysides now are flowerless.
b. attrib. passing into adj. Of or pertaining to the wayside; situated on, lying near, occurring, growing or living by the wayside.
1807. J. Ruickbie (title), The Way-side Cottager; consisting of Pieces in Prose and Verse.
1845. J. Saunders, Cab. Pict. Engl. Life, Chaucer, 17. The little wayside chapels, erected for the accommodation of travellers.
1861. Miss Jane M. Campbell, Hymm, ‘We plough the fields.’ He paints the wayside flower.
1878. B. Taylor, Deukalion, III. vi. 132. Free as the wayside brook to whoso thirsts.
1883. S. C. Hall, Retrospect, II. 388. The coach stopped to change horses at a way-side inn.
1906. Petrie, Relig. Anc. Egypt, xiii. 85. Such were the places for wayside devotions and passing prayers.
