Middle English Dictionary Entry
bi and bi phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | bi and bi phr. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Side by side, close together, alongside; (b) on and on, continually, constantly, incessantly, always; again and again, from time to time, repeatedly; (c) one by one, one after another, one and all, everyone; in sequence, in orderly fashion; also, in detail, completely, precisely.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1011 : Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4142 : His doghter hadde a bed al by hirselue, Right in the same chambre by and by.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1718 : Hys tethe eke white as evory, Wel set in ordre by and by.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)293 : The sauge & the Isope I-frethid..And othir beddis by & by.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)145 : The semes echoon..Was set with emeraudes, oon and oon, By and by.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4826 : Gij..souȝt þat maiden bi & bi: Op and doun he ȝede hir secheinde.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15194 : Folowes forþ þat ilk man al-way bi & bi.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1378 : Foure daies þei fauȝt by and by.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)42b/b : Auicen..prayseþ womanis mylk by and by [F une fois apres l'autre] vnto þe þridde day.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)1158 : The Quene him loued secretlie And dalie contynued by and by.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)4100 : Grete strokes he dalt ther by and by.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)836 : I caste to writte wythine a litell scrowe, Lyke as I have done byforene by and bye.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1078 : As this processe hathe proved by and bye.
- c1460 Of alle mennys (Dub 432)88 : Þe buk and þe dogges playde by and by.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)574 : The sorowe that y haue suffred by and by..and woo That y for the haue endured eueremoo.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1036 : Þou fastyde xlty yer by & by, thre days in þe weke.
- c1450(1446) Nightingale (Clg A.2)7/173 : Call to thy mynde these thinges by & by.
- a1500 And a woman (RwlPoet 34)69 : I wold theym preyse by & by.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)11/11 : Ȝyf þe man..do drynke þer-of, euryche day by a by, a mesour at morwe cold and at eue hot.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)238/217 : But he that honoureth God truly, him will he heare by and by, and graunt his askinge graciously.
c
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)85/174 : Poule and Gregori, þus þei rikenen bi an bi; In helle is al þis vileni.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5503 : I schal the proprete devise Of every vice by and by.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7280 : Forto seie his charge..Unto the lordes by and by.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1796 : Oþere to helpe was noon so sly Alle þei drenched bi & by.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.73 : Whan William..had taken homage of barons bi & bi.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.111 : Dauid of hir kam, Of Dauid kyng Henry, of Henry com William..þis is þe Genelogie..Of kynges bi & bi.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.301 : Þe Chartre was red on hi in Westmynstere..Ilk poynt bi & bi.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2076 : Whan þei were in ordre by & by, Eueryche of hem sette in his due see, Liche as þei werne of age & of degre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4024 : He wolde delyuere him..Fro poynt to point his axyng by & by, And þer-in made noon excepcioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.520 : I haue no Ioie..His auentures by & by to telle.
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)360 : Than comen þe apostles alle..Vp ros oure swete ladi And kist þe apostles bi and bi.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4581 : These were his wordis, by and by.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)111 : She..qwytt him by and by his quarter sowde; she payde him feythfully And his waages.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)35 : By and by: Sigillatim [Win: Singillatim].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)193 : Forto renne þoruȝ alle now rehercid circumstauncis by and by.
- a1450 Maidstone PPs.(Dgb 18)831 : His blood he schedde wilfulli, To make oure former fadir free, And alle oure raunsomes bi and by He quitte himsilf.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)304 : First sat the god of Love..And sithen al the remenaunt by and by, As they were of estaat.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2154 : Þer Cetys sone [we] sall do schend and stroye þer borows by and by.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)899 : Then lace his dublett euery hoole so by & bye.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5998 : Whanne yow them se, late them go by and by Till thei be passid; thanne may ye them askry.
- a1500 Rule Serve Ld.(Add 37969)11/29 : Þe esquyres and þe marshall and sewer goo by and by next þe lordis basyn.
- 1558(a1456) Shirley TContents(2) (Add 29729)6 : Ther is titled compendyously all ye storyes hole by and by, eche after other.