beside
beside
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "beside" is /bɪˈsaɪd/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
bɪ:
/b/ - a voiced bilabial stop
/ɪ/ - a short, high front unrounded vowel (as in "bit")
ˈsaɪd:
/ˈ/ - indicates primary stress on this syllable
/s/ - a voiceless alveolar fricative
/aɪ/ - a diphthong, starting with a low central vowel and moving to a high front unrounded vowel (as in "eye")
/d/ - a voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
"Beside" primarily functions as a preposition. It doesn't have typical noun or verb inflections like singular/plural or tense forms. However, there are related words and variations in usage:
beside (preposition): This is the main form, meaning "next to" or "at the side of." It doesn't change form.
besides (preposition/adverb): This word is related and has two functions. As a preposition, it means "in addition to" or "apart from." As an adverb, it means "moreover" or "furthermore." While related in meaning, it's a distinct word, not an inflection of "beside."
There aren't other word form variations of "beside" in standard English. It doesn't have a plural form, and it's not used as a verb or adjective.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
"Beside" primarily functions as a preposition, and less commonly as an adverb. It does not function as a noun, verb, or adjective in standard English.
Preposition:
Definition 1: Physically at the side of; next to.
Example: She sat beside him on the bench.
Synonyms: next to, alongside, adjacent to, by, near, close to, at the side of
Antonyms: away from, distant from, far from, apart from, separate from
Definition 2: In comparison with; compared to. (Less common usage)
Example: This achievement seems small beside her previous accomplishments.
Synonyms: compared to, in contrast to, against
Antonyms: unrelated to, independent of
Adverb (Archaic or Dialectal):
Definition: Near; nearby. (This usage is very rare and mostly found in older texts or specific dialects.)
Example: The stream flows beside. (Meaning: The stream flows nearby.)
Synonyms: nearby, close by, around, about
Antonyms: far away, distant, remote
It's important to reiterate that "beside" is not typically used as an adverb in modern standard English. The prepositional use is by far the most common and accepted.
Examples of Use
Literature:
"She sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm." (This is a common type of example found in countless novels and short stories. It's difficult to cite one specific source as it's a general literary construction.)
News/Online Publications:
"The new shopping center will be located beside the highway." (News articles often use "beside" to describe location. Again, this is a common construction, and specific citations are difficult without searching for news articles with very specific location descriptions.)
"Beside the practical benefits, the project also offers significant symbolic value." (This example shows "beside" used in the "in comparison with" sense, common in opinion pieces and analyses. It's a common way to introduce a secondary, often less tangible, point.)
Entertainment:
"In the movie, the hero stands beside his loyal companion." (Film scripts and reviews often use "beside" to describe the physical relationships between characters.)
"The lyrics mentioned walking beside the river." (Song lyrics frequently employ "beside" for its simple and evocative imagery.)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you please move the chair beside the table?" (This is a typical everyday request using "beside" to indicate placement.)
"My house is beside the park." (This is a common way to give directions or describe where something is located.)
"Beside the point, I think we should consider the ethical implications." (In conversation, "beside the point" is a common idiom to dismiss something as irrelevant.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Beside
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." — Psalm 23:2 (Bible)
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words, while standing beside you." — C.S. Lewis
"Love is not finding someone to live with; it’s finding someone you can’t live without, who walks beside you." — Rafael Ortiz
"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature. Beside, it is not theirs." — Jane Austen
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves, and someone beside us proves it daily." — Victor Hugo
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others beside you." — Robert Louis Stevenson
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes when one discovers someone else has faith in you and is willing to stand beside you." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Success is not measured by what you accomplish alone, but by what you inspire others to do beside you." — Anonymous proverb
"I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light; and better yet, with them beside me." — Helen Keller
"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity, with truth beside him." — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Etymology
"Beside" comes from Old English, specifically the word "bī sidan." Let's look at that in parts:
bī: This part means "by" or "near." Think of it like "by" in "stand by me."
sidan: This part means "side." Pretty straightforward!
So, put them together, "bī sidan" literally meant "by the side." This is the core meaning that has persisted through the centuries.
The first known uses of "beside" (or its Old English ancestor) were in Old English texts, dating back centuries. Unfortunately, pinpointing the very first instance is nearly impossible, as these texts are often undated or their dating is debated. However, we know that by the time of the later Old English period (roughly 700-1100 AD), "bī sidan" was already in use with the meaning we understand today: "next to" or "at the side of."
Over time, "bī sidan" evolved into "beside." The meaning remained consistent, focusing on physical proximity. It's a testament to how some words can retain their core meaning for a very long time. There haven't been any major shifts in its meaning or usage throughout its history. It's always essentially meant "next to."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Beside
"Beside" isn't a word that lends itself to a large number of common idioms. Its primary function as a preposition of location makes it more descriptive than figurative. It's used in phrases and idioms, but it doesn't usually form the core of them. Think about it: it describes where something is, not what it is.
Here are a few common phrases and a couple of less common ones, along with explanations of why "beside" isn't as idiom-rich as some words:
Common Phrases:
beside the point: This is probably the most common phrase using "beside." It means "irrelevant" or "not pertinent to the matter at hand." It's an idiom because it doesn't literally refer to physical location anymore.
beside oneself (with emotion): This phrase means to be overwhelmed by a feeling, usually negative like anger or worry. It implies being "outside" of your normal self, as if you're not "beside" yourself.
side by side: While not strictly using "beside" on its own, this common phrase reinforces the concept of being together, closely located.
Less Common/More Literal Phrases:
beside the sea/river/road: These are literal descriptions of location and not idioms. They simply mean "next to" the specified place.
beside the bed/table/door: Again, these are literal descriptions and not idioms.
Why "Beside" Isn't Idiom-Rich:
As mentioned above, "beside" primarily indicates location. Idioms, on the other hand, often express abstract ideas, emotions, or actions in a figurative way. Prepositions of location (like "beside," "near," "at," "by") are generally used within idioms to describe the setting or context, but they rarely form the core of the idiom itself. They provide the "where," not the "what" or "how."
Phrases with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
To illustrate this, consider how we might express similar ideas using synonyms for "beside" but in a more idiomatic way:
Instead of "beside the point," we could say "that's not relevant" or "that's immaterial."
Instead of "beside oneself with worry," we might say "worried sick" or "out of one's mind with worry."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of beside from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
