Forby

/ˈfɔrbaɪ/ adverb

Definition

A Scottish and Northern English dialect word meaning besides, moreover, or in addition to something else.

Etymology

From Old English 'for' (by/at) + 'bi' (by). The 'for' here is a preposition meaning 'by' or 'beside,' not the intensive prefix, creating a word that means 'by the way' or 'additionally.'

Kelly Says

Scottish dialects preserved this old word that English largely abandoned—'forby' shows how regional dialects are like linguistic time capsules keeping alive words that disappeared from standard English centuries ago.

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