by and by
English
adv
Definitions
- After a short time.
- After an indefinite period.
- (obsolete) Immediately; at once.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English by and by (close together, continually, again and again, alongside, side by side, repeatedly, on and on) affix from English by (habitation) + English and (against, back)+ English by (habitation).
Origin
English
by
Gloss
habitation
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- and English
- armed and dangerous English
- betimes English
- by English
- bycause English
- bygone English
- bypoll English
- bystanding English
- closeby English
- forby English
- forthby English
- hang-by English
- hereby English
- loteby English
- nearby English
- outbye English
- passer-by English
- play-by-play English
- scrape by English
- scratch by English
- swingby English
- thereby English
- whereby English
- by Japanese
- アンド Japanese
- and Middle English
- by Middle English
- by and by Middle English
- bai Tok Pisin
- baiim Tok Pisin
- baimbai Tok Pisin
- na Tok Pisin
- baimbai Bislama
- bambae Bislama
- bae Pijin
- en Kriol
- en Aukan