besides meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

besides

prep

UK /bɪˈsaɪdz/ · US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

Etymology From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside + -s (adverbial suffix).

In addition to.

Besides José, I'll invite Jay and Renée, the three of them.
During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]1661, John Fell, “The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond”, quoted in Ecclesiastical Biography by Christopher Wordsworth, fourth edition, volume IV, London: Francis & John Rivington (1853)

Other than; except for; instead of.

Informal Beside, next to.

1561, Geneva Bible, Acts 16:13, And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the citie, beſides a riuer, where they were wont to pray : and we ſate downe, and ſpake vnto the women, which were come together.
After this, was Edwin the Kings brother accuſed of ſome conſpiracie by him begun againſt the K. whervpõ he was baniſhed the land, and ſent out in an old rotten veſſell without rower or Marriner, onely accompanied with one Eſquire, ſo that beeing launched foorth from the ſhore, through very diſpaire Edwin lept into the Sea, and drowned himſelfe, but the Eſquire that was with him recouered his body, and broughte it to land at Withſand beſides Canterbury.1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 225:

1 more example

Beſides them both, vpon the ſoiled gras / The dead corſe of an armed knight was ſpred, […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 198:

adv

Etymology From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside + -s (adverbial suffix).

Conjunctive Also; in addition.

We've paid for your whole education and plenty more besides!
It is besides used as a food, either as a sallad^([sic]), raw, or boiled as greens.1776, Thomas Pennant, A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, 1772:

2 more examples

This was but one of Cluny’s hiding-places; he had caves, besides, and underground chambers in several parts of his country; and following the reports of his scouts, he moved from one to another as the soldiers drew near or moved away.1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:
In the end, Chelsea's organisation and discipline was rewarded but Di Matteo knows they will have to produce the same - and more besides - in the Nou Camp to confirm a meeting with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in Munich next month.2012 April 18, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona”, in BBC Sport:

Conjunctive Used to emphasize an additional point, especially an important or stronger reason; moreover; furthermore.

I don't feel like going out tonight. Besides, I have to work tomorrow morning anyway.

Otherwise; else.

Obsolete On one side.

You are so strongly in my purpose bred That all the world besides methinks are dead1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 112”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
Yet Teucer would another shaft, at Hectors life dispose; So faine, he such a marke would hit: but still besides it goes;c. 1611, George Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer, London: Nathaniell Butter, Book 8, p. 111: