Preposition

(English prepositions)

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.

* c.1604-1605 , (William Shakespeare), ''

So look about you; know you any here?

* 1769 , '', iii, 3

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Near; not far from; regarding approximately time, size, quantity.

* c.1590-1591 , (William Shakespeare),

Therefore I know she is about my height.

* 1769 , '', xx, 3,

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace

* 1769 , '', ix, 18

Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

* , chapter=4

, title=[http://openlibrary.org/works/OL5535161W Mr. Pratt's Patients] , passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.}}

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)

, title=[http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21581981-what-pollution-some-opportunity-others-welcome-plastisphere Welcome to the plastisphere] , passage=[The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, 

On the point or verge of.

* 1769 , '', xviii, 14

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

* 1866 , A treatise on the law of suits by attachment in the United States , by Charles Daniel Drake, [http://books.google.de/books?id=Igs-AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA80&lpg=PA80&dq=%22was+about+leaving%22&source=bl&ots=aQXMZaxYAu&sig=T2wNto6m-YO2kSAwyWV-SivvnUw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YblHUKaUJc2LswbzkIHQDw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22was%20about%20leaving%22&f=false page 80]

[It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently."

(Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.)

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.}}

On one's person; nearby the person.

* 1837 , , Ernest Maltravers: Volume 1

At this assurance the traveller rose, and approached Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, when she said gently, "Have you much money about you?"

"Oh the mercenary baggage!" said the traveller to himself; and then replied aloud "Why, pretty one? Do you sell your kisses so high, then?"

Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

* 1671 , (John Milton),

That heard the Adversary, who, roving still / About the world, at that assembly famed ...

* 1849 , (Thomas Babington Macaulay), The history of England from the accession of James the Second

He had been known, during several years, as a small poet; and some of the most savage lampoons which were handed about the coffeehouses were imputed to him.

Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.

* 1769 , '', ii, 49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

* 2013 March 14, (Parks and Recreation)'', season 5, episode 16, ''Bailout :

RON: And I'll have the number 8.

WAITER: That's a party platter, it serves 12 people.

RON: I know what I'm about , son.

Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.

* 1671 (John Milton), ''(Samson Agonistes)

I already have made way / To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat / About thy ransom.

* 1860 , (Anthony Trollope), (Framley Parsonage)

"I'll tell you what, Fanny: she must have her way about Sarah Thompson. You can see her to-morrow and tell her so."

* , chapter=4

, title=[http://openlibrary.org/works/OL5535161W Mr. Pratt's Patients] , passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.}}

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)

, title=[http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21579879-buy-out-firm-really-does-focus-operational-improvements-engineers Engineers of a different kind] , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about , they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.}}

(label) In or near, as in mental faculties or (label) in possession of; in control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.

In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

*{{quote-book, year=1892, author=(James Yoxall)

, chapter=5, title=[http://openlibrary.org/works/OL10504990W The Lonely Pyramid] , passage=The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom.