adv. [f. prec. with advb. -s.

1

  Of later appearance than prec., but now in southern Eng. more frequent in senses 1 and 2.]

2

  1.  About, or in the neighborhood of, that place; in the district, region, etc., round about there.

3

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xiv. 63. Þare aboutes er many gude hilles and faire.

4

1522.  Rutland Papers (Camden), 83. The noblemen belongyng to themperor that be lodged in the chanons howses of Paules and ther aboutes.

5

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xii. 14. Theeues … there abouts do lye secretly hidde too entrappe them that came therabouts.

6

1662.  J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 6. Flies, Gnats, and Wasps, which the Fens thereabouts produce in such quantity.

7

1797.  Mme. D’Arblay, Lett. to Burney, 13 Sept. It is the best house thereabouts … in a broad street.

8

1860.  Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, xvi. A homeless dog, that haunted thereabouts.

9

1909.  Times, 23 July, 10/1. In the streets thereabouts men and women gathered in crowds.

10

  † b.  After a preposition. Obs. rare.

11

1491.  Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xxxvi. 38 b/1. All the others … departed all fro there abowtes.

12

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 673. In the Countie of Yorke, and other places, nere therabouts.

13

1654.  Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Warrs Flanders, 427. The Town of Groll is not far from thereabouts.

14

  c.  fig. About that; near to that state or action: see ABOUT adv. 13. Obs. or rare.

15

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. x. 29. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T. I. ii. 378. Be intelligent to me, ’tis thereabouts.

16

1697.  Vanbrugh, Æsop, II. i. Euph. Unlace me, or I shall swoon. Dor. Unlace you! why, you are not there abouts, I hope?

17

1732.  Fielding, Debauchees, II. iv. Hoity-toity—Are you thereabouts, good father?

18

  2.  Transferred to time, quantity, quality, degree, etc. Mostly preceded by or.

19

  a.  About or near to a specified date or time.

20

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. viii. 17. Cyrus was borne in the hundreth yere or there aboutes after the death of Esaie.

21

1631.  Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 139. Which happened since the dissolution here in England, or much what thereabouts.

22

1769.  Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 177. The meeting is put off until … the twelfth of September, or thereabouts.

23

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 10. From the year 1660 or thereabouts.

24

  b.  About or not far different from a stated number, sum, quantity, space of time, degree, condition, etc.; very nearly so; approximately so. There or thereabouts: see THERE adv. 14.

25

1413.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xvii. 64. I wyl that man lyue in … tribulacion fyue thousand yere or neyhe ther aboutes.

26

1581.  in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 20. William Tharley aged thirtie yeares or theraboutes.

27

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, IV. iii. 171. Fiue or six thousand horse I sed … or thereabouts.

28

1704.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3987/4. A lighter Bay, 13 hands and half high, or thereabouts.

29

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. viii. 191. In three hours, or thereabouts.

30

1794.  Sullivan, View Nat., II. 17. Mont Blanc is 15,562 feet or thereabouts.

31

1818.  Keats, Lett., Wks. 1889, III. 127. Write to me and tell me that you are well, or thereabouts.

32

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 210. The pavement … was at the sea-level or thereabouts.

33

1898.  Pall Mall G., 20 Jan., 2/2. You may be sure the original statement was thereabouts, if not quite there.

34

  † 3.  About or concerning that; = prec. 3. Obs.

35

1586.  Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 71. I would haue you to conferre with my Cosen T. R. thereabouts.

36

1611.  W. Sclater, Key (1629), 306. Colour … cannot be said to be obiectum actu, till some act of sight be exercised thereabouts.

37

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 61. 298. Mens conjectures thereabouts are various.

38

1657.  W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life Peiresc, I. 178. He concludes a passage thereabouts in these words.

39