Around

adv. and prep. [f. A- pref. 2 + ROUND; cf. across. Rare bef. 1600, not in Shakespeare, nor Bible, 1611; twice in Milton Poet. Wks.]

  A.  adv. (Often strengthened by all.)

  † 1.  In the round, in circumference; in a round, in a circle. Obs.

c. 1300.  K. Alis., 6603. They [i.e., the eggs] beon more feor aroun.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 368. Non was set at non ende, But alle a round, for alle were hende.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., June, 60. The fountaine, where they sat arounde. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., I. i. 18. [The dragon] … Wrapping up her wrethed sterne arownd.

  2.  On or along the circuit or surface (of a circular or globular body).

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 54. Whose head full hie [is] Adorn’d with fruitful olives all around.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 658. And hissing, rowls his glaring Eyes around.

1699.  Flower & Leaf, 229. All their heads around With chaplets green of cerrial-oak were crowned.

1794.  Sullivan, View Nat., I. 67. A shell, which stretches quite around, and envelopes the whole globe.

  3.  gen. On every side, in every direction.

c. 1320.  Sir Beves, 1373. [The sense is here doubtful] God, that made this world aronde, The saue, sire king Brademond.

1709.  Pope, Spring, 100. While op’ning blooms diffuse their sweets around.

1820.  Keats, St. Agnes, xl. For there were sleeping dragons all around.

1861.  Buckle, Civiliz., II. vi. 601. The signs of the time are all around.

  4.  In U.S.: = ROUND.

1883.  Harper’s Mag., Feb., 446/1. The apples and nuts are just enough to go around.

1883.  J. Kelly, ibid., Aug., 453/1. It is not the best all-around boat.

  5.  In U.S.: = ABOUT. a. Here and there with no fixed direction; all about, at random; as in ‘to travel around,’ ‘to fool around.’ b. Somewhere near; as in ‘to stand around.’

1860.  in Bartlett, Dict. Amer.

1883.  N. Y. World, in Glasg. Week. Her., 9 June, 8/3. It can be kicked, rolled around, or hammered.

  B.  prep.

  1.  On or along the circuit: a. of position.

1399.  Rich. Redeless, III. 264. Rewlers of rewmes around all þe erthe.

1629.  Milton, Nativity, iv. Nor war or battle’s sound Was heard the world around.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 41. Around the walls are heroes, lovers, kings.

  b.  of motion: So as to encircle, or make the circuit of.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, II. 931 (J.).

1855.  Kingsley, Westw. Ho! (1879), 501. They would follow Sir Amyas Leigh around the world.

1869.  Eng. Mech., 2 April, 27/2. Passing the tape … around each of the … pulleys.

  2.  So as to surround, encompass or envelop; surrounding, enveloping; about.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. I. 147. My mother put her arms around my neck.

1817.  Wolfe, Burial Sir J. Moore, iii. With his martial cloak around him.

  3.  On all sides of, in all directions from.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 900. They around the flag Of each his faction … Swarm populous.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 118, ¶ 1. The Prospects around me.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. § 11. 84. The air around and above us was … clear.

1882.  Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxi. 158. The woods that lie around a Flintshire castle.

  b.  fig.

1818.  Hallam, Mid. Ages (1841), I. 496. To pour the radiance of unclouded reason around the last struggles of dissolution.

1877.  Lytteil, Landmarks, III. vii. 134. Around the Stone of the bedesman’s cell quite a romance has been woven.

  4.  In U.S.: Hither and thither over, at random through, about; as in ‘to travel around the country.’