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    What is the origin and meaning of the term 'By and By'?

    Question #118190. Asked by george48. (Oct 16 10 9:30 PM)


    Zbeckabee

    		Meaning: by and by

    adv
    presently or eventually

    n by-and-by
    US and Canadian a future time or occasion

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/by+and+by

    Oct 16 10, 9:51 PM
    dsimpy

    		Modern meanings:

    noun. an unspecified future time

    adverb. after a while; soon

    Originally an adverbial particle of place, in which sense it is retained in place names (Whitby, Grimsby, etc.). Elliptical use for "secondary course" (opposed to main) was in O.E. This also is the sense of the second by in the phrase by the by (1610s). Phrase by and by (early 14c.) originally meant "one by one," modern sense is from 1520s.

    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=by+and+by&searchmode=or


    Oct 17 10, 10:51 AM

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