beside

Meanings

1. 1
   prep

   Next to; at the side of.

   A small table beside the bed

2. 2
   prep

   Not relevant to.

   That is beside the point / beside the topic / beside the subject / beside the focus of this discussion.

3. 3
   adv

   Otherwise; else; in addition; besides.

   To all beside, as much an empty shade, An Eugene living, as a Caesar dead.

4. 4
   prep

   Besides; in addition to.

Etymology

From Middle English beside, besiden, bisyde (also besides > besides), from Old English be sīdan, bī sīdan (“by the side (of), on the side (of)”). Compare Saterland Frisian biesiede (“aside”), German Low German bisied (“aside”), German beiseite (“aside, to one side”). Compare also Dutch terzijde (“aside”). By surface analysis, be- + side.