Word: thereabouts Part of Speech: adv Etymology: The adverb is derived from Middle English there-aboutes, þare aboutes (“of a place or an object: around there, in its vicinity; of time: about then, around that time”) [and other forms], from ther (“in that place, in those places, there; on that; thither, to that place; from there, thence; at that time; thereupon; in that situation, under those circumstances; in that case, with regard to that”) (from Old English þǣr (“there”)) + aboutes (“in all directions, around”, adverb), aboutes (“in all directions from, on all sides of; near; concerned with”, preposition) (from aboute, abouten (“so as to surround; so as to cover; on the border or edge; as measured around the outside; to as to travel around something; so as to revolve about an axis or centre; aside; in all directions; in the vicinity; in connection with something; in several places; everywhere, throughout; to all or everyone; almost, approximately; concerning; in succession; so as to be or happen”, adverb), aboute, abouten (“surrounding; covering; over; upon; on the border of; in all directions; in the vicinity of, near to; in several places; everywhere, throughout; almost, approximately; concerning; engaged in; on behalf of”, preposition) (from Old English abūtan, onbūtan (“about; round about; on; on the outside”)) + -s (suffix forming adverbs)); see further at thereabout. The English word is analysable as thereabout + -s (suffix forming adverbs). The noun may result from a confusion of thereabouts with whereabouts. The word is attested later than thereabout. Pronunciation: /ðɛəɹəˈbaʊts/, /ˈðɛəɹəbaʊts/, /ˈðɛɹəˌbaʊts/, /ˌðɛɹəˈbaʊts/ 1. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: not-comparable Example: [W]e reſolv'd to put into a ſmall River, which however had a Depth enough of Water for us, and to ſee if we could, either over Land, or by the Ship's Pinnace, come to know what Ships were in any Port thereabouts. Example: Quite a few minutes would be spun out, for instance, at the smallish town of Chirk, but to me the dalliance was generally worthwhile, except in wet weather, because of the increasing beauty of the wooded hill scenery thereabouts. 2. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: not-comparable Example: We ſtay'd by it a quarter of an Hour or thereabouts, 'till the Powder in the Eyes, and Mouth, and Ears of the Idol blew up; and we could perceive had ſplit and deform'd the Shape; […] 3. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: not-comparable 4. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: not-comparable Example: Fiue or ſix thouſand horſe I ſed, I will ſay true, or thereabouts ſet downe, for Ile ſpeake truth. 5. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: not-comparable, obsolete 6. Synonym of thereabout: Labels: figuratively, not-comparable, obsolete Example: Cam. [i.e., Canidus.] Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath, And ſinkes moſt lamentably. Had our Generall Bin what he knew himſelfe, it had gone well: Oh his [i.e., he] ha's giuen example for our flight, Moſt groſſely by his owne. Eno[barbus]. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede. Example: Cam[illo]. I dare not know (my Lord.) Pol[ixenes]. How, dare not? doe not? doe you know, and dare not? Be intelligent to me, 'tis thereabouts: For to your ſelfe, what you doe know, you muſt, And cannot ſay, you dare not.