ABOUT', preposition [Gr. butan, without, [see but, ] literally, around, on the outside.] 1. Around; on the exterior part or surface. Bind them about thy neck. Proverbs 3:3. Isa. Latin Hence, 2. Near to in place, with the sense of circularity. Get you up from about the tabernacle. Numbers 16:24. 3. Near to in time. He went out about the third hour. Matthew 21:3. 4. Near to, in action, or near to the performance of some act. Paul was about to open his mouth. They were about to flee out of the ship. Acts 28:14 - 28:30. 5. Near to the person; appended to the clothes. Every thing about him is in order. Is your snuff box about you? From nearness on all sides, the transition is easy to a concern with. Hence, 6. Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, respecting. I must be about my father's business. Luke 2:49. The painter is not to take so much pains about the drapery as about the face What is he about? 7. In compass or circumference; two yards about the trunk. ABOUT', adverb 1. Near to in number or quantity. There fell that day about three thousand men. Exodus 32:28. 2. Near to in quality or degree; as about as high, or as cold. 3. Here and there; around; in one place and another. Wandering about from house to house. 1 Timothy 5:13. 4. round, or the longest way, opposed to across, or the shortest way. A mile about and half a mile across. To bring about to bring to the end; to effect or accomplish a purpose. To come about to change or turn; to come to the desired point. In a like sense, seamen say go about when a ship changes her course and goes on the other tack. Ready about about ship, are orders for tacking. To go about signifies to enter upon; also to prepare; to seek the means. Why go ye about to kill me. John 7:14.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI