Aside means to one side or out of the way, as in putting something aside on a table. It can also mean “not counting this part” or, in drama, words spoken quietly to the audience that other characters pretend not to hear.
From “on side,” with “a-” coming from “on” and “side” meaning “the edge or flank.” Over time the phrase blended into a single word.
An aside is like a secret doorway in conversation or theater: the speaker steps out of the main scene for a moment to share something extra. When you say “aside from that,” you’re tidying reality by pushing one messy piece off to the side.
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