around

around
\ \ [14] Around was formed in Middle English from the prefix a- ‘on’ and the noun round (perhaps influenced by the Old French phrase a la reondein the round, roundabout’). It was slow to usurp existing forms such as about – it does not occur in Shakespeare or the 1611 translation of the Bible – and it does not seem to have become strongly established before the end of the 17th century. The adverb and preposition round may be a shortening of around.
\ \ Cf.ROUND

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • around — around, round 1. In general, BrE prefers round and AmE prefers around, both as an adverb and as a preposition, except in certain more or less fixed expressions or restricted collocations. In BrE it is usual to say all the year round, Winter comes …   Modern English usage

  • around — [ə round′] adv. [ME < a , on + ROUND1: all senses derive from those of “circling, within a circle”] 1. round; esp., a) in a circle; along a circular course or circumference b) in or through a course or circuit, as from one place to another c)… …   English World dictionary

  • Around — A*round , prep. 1. On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about. [1913 Webster] A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. From one part to another of; at random… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Around — Album par AAA Sortie 19 septembre 2007 Durée 50:05 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Around — A*round , adv. [Pref. a + round.] 1. In a circle; circularly; on every side; round. [1913 Webster] 2. In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town. [1913 Webster] 3. Near; in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • around — (adv.) c.1300, in circumference, from phrase on round. Rare before 1600. In sense of here and there with no fixed direction it is 1776, American English (properly about). Of time, from 1888. To have been around gained worldly experience is from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • around — [adv1] situated on sides, circumference, or in general area about, all over, any which way, encompassing, everywhere, in the vicinity, in this area, neighboring, over, throughout; concept 581 around [adv2] close to a place about, almost,… …   New thesaurus

  • around — ► ADVERB 1) located or situated on every side. 2) so as to face in the opposite direction. 3) in or to many places throughout a locality. 4) here and there. 5) available or present. 6) approximately. ► PREPOSITION …   English terms dictionary

  • around — [[t]əra͟ʊnd[/t]] ♦ (Around is an adverb and a preposition. In British English, the word round is often used instead. Around is often used with verbs of movement, such as walk and drive , and also in phrasal verbs such as get around and hand… …   English dictionary

  • around — a|round W1S1 [əˈraund] adv, prep 1.) surrounding or on all sides of something or someone British Equivalent: round ▪ The whole family was sitting around the dinner table. ▪ The Romans built a defensive wall around the city. ▪ She wore a beautiful …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • around — a|round [ ə raund ] function word *** Around can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): We walked around the old town. as an adverb (without a following noun): She turned around and smiled at me. (after the verb to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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