By
320. Like _at_, by means _near_ or _close to_, but has several
other meanings more or less connected with this,--
(1) The general meaning of _place_.
Richard was standing _by_ the window.--ALDRICH.
Provided always the coach had not shed a wheel _by_ the
roadside.--_Id._
(2) _Time._
But _by_ this time the bell of Old Alloway began tolling.--B.
TAYLOR
The angel came _by_ night.--R.H. STODDARD.
(3) _Agency_ or _means_.
Menippus knew which were the kings _by_ their howling
louder.--M.D. CONWAY.
At St. Helena, the first port made _by_ the ship, he stopped.
--PARTON.
(4) _Measure of excess_, expressing the degree of difference.
At that time [the earth] was richer, _by_ many a million of
acres.--DE QUINCEY.
He was taller _by_ almost the breadth of my nail.--SWIFT.
(5) It is also used in _oaths and adjurations_.
_By_ my faith, that is a very plump hand for a man of
eighty-four!--PARTON.
They implore us _by_ the long trials of struggling humanity; _by_
the blessed memory of the departed; _by_ the wrecks of time; _by_
the ruins of nations.--EVERETT.
Exercise.--
Find sentences with three different meanings of _by_.
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