From Middle English side, from Old English sīde (“side, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ (“side, flank, edge, shore”), derived from *sīdaz, probably from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- (“long, lasting”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Siede (“side”), West Frisian side (“side”), Dutch zijde, zij (“side”), German Low German Sied (“side”), German Seite (“side”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk side (“side”), Swedish sida (“side”). The LGBTQ slang sense was coined by sex therapist and author Joe Kort in 2010 and popularized in 2013. The sense was coined by analogy with top and bottom and based on the metaphor of a box which has a top, bottom, and sides.
A bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape.
A square has four sides.
2
A flat surface of a three-dimensional object; a face.
A cube has six sides.
3
One half (left or right, top or bottom, front or back, etc.) of something or someone.
Which side of the tray shall I put it on? The patient was bleeding on the right side.
We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.[…]As we reached the lodge we heard the whistle, and we backed up against one side of the platform as the train pulled up at the other.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
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The slightest effort made the patient cough. He would stand leaning on a stick and holding a hand to his side, and when the paroxysm had passed it left him shaking.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
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A region in a specified position with respect to something.
Meet me on the north side of the monument.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
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The portion of the human torso usually covered by the arms when they are not raised; the areas on the left and right between the belly or chest and the back.
Meronyms: flank, loin; latus, lumbus
I generally sleep on my side.
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Roll the patient onto the left side so that head, shoulders, and torso move at the same time without twisting.2006, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured (Jones & Bartlett Learning, p. 234
6
One surface of a sheet of paper (used instead of "page", which can mean one or both surfaces.)
John wrote 15 sides for his essay!
7
One possible aspect of a concept, person, or thing.
Newly promoted, they were top of the First Division and unbeaten when they took on a Manchester United side that had been revitalized by a new manager,[…].1988, Ken Jones with Pat Welton Crown, Soccer skills & tactics, page 9:
It was no less than Valencia deserved after dominating possession in the final 20 minutes although Chelsea defended resolutely and restricted the Spanish side to shooting from long range.2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:
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Initially, the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish unions refused to send national sides, preferring instead to send touring sides like the Barbarians, the Penguins, the Co-Optimists, the Wolfhounds, Crawshays Welsh, and the Public School Wanderers.2011, Nick Cain, Greg Growden, Rugby Union For Dummies, 3rd edition, UK, page 220:
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A group of morris dancers who perform together.
11
A group having a particular allegiance in a conflict or competition.
there are two sides to every question
Although there are two sides to every story, the fallacy that they are inevitably equally ethical is called bothsidesism.
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In the Second World War, the Italians were on the side of the Germans until Italy switched sides in 1943.
"Creating artificial rain over the Yellow Sea would help the Chinese side too," the spokesman said Kim told the meeting.2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
We have not always been of the[…]same side in politics.1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations: Lord Chesterfield and Lord Chatham:
sets the passions on the side of truth1733–1737, Alexander Pope, [Imitations of Horace], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley [et al.]:
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Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A recorded piece of music; a record, especially in jazz.
But Bechet chafed under even the loose discipline of the Ellington group, and left. Through these years he wandered, making only a few sides, at the moment when jazz records were beginning to flood onto the market.1995, James Lincoln Collier, Jazz: The American Theme Song, page 41:
A line of descent traced through a particular relative, usually a parent or spouse, as distinguished from that traced through another.
his mother's side of the family
To sit upon thy father David's throne, / By Mothers side thy father.1671, John Milton, “The Third Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
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Thankfully our son agreed and chose a name which, according to what I have been told is the name of the last in a long line of Rabbis on my wife's side.2016 February 27, Sean M. Teaford, Out on the Limbs: Searching for Answers in the Family Tree, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:
Clayton Kershaw struck out the side in the 6th inning.
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Dated, Slang An unjustified air of self-importance; a conceited attitude.
Indeed, Yeere was rapidly beginning to forget what he had been. One of his own rank and file put the matter brutally when he asked Yeere, in reference to nothing, “And who has been making you a Member of Council, lately? You carry the side of half a dozen of ’em.”1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 32:
Theobald posed as the most ardent lover imaginable, but, to use the vulgarism for the moment in fashion, it was all “side.”1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 11, in R. A. Streatfeild, editor, The Way of All Flesh:
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His manner never had been modest or retiring. Now it was unmistakably swanky; he was putting on side to an extent that made fellows who observed him smile and shrug their shoulders.1930, Frank Richards, “Tale-Bearer in Chief”, in The Magnet:
Some directors use full scripts (book); others use “sides,” which consist of one or two words of the cue and the subsequent full speech of the individual actor.2010, Viola Spolin, Carol Sills, Theater Games for Rehearsal: A Director's Handbook, page 12:
The short scenes in this book are particularly useful for audition workshops since audition sides are rarely longer than two pages.2017, Dave Kost, Book of Sides II:
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A person who prefers not to engage in anal sex during same-sex sexual activity.
My boyfriend and I are both sides; we prefer to do oral and other stuff.
And 9 is said to be the Square, 27 the Cube of 3, which is call'd the Side of 9 and 27, &c.1723, Edward Wells, The Young Gentleman's Arithmetick, and Geometry, page 127:
From Middle English side, from Old English sīde (“side, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ (“side, flank, edge, shore”), derived from *sīdaz, probably from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- (“long, lasting”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Siede (“side”), West Frisian side (“side”), Dutch zijde, zij (“side”), German Low German Sied (“side”), German Seite (“side”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk side (“side”), Swedish sida (“side”). The LGBTQ slang sense was coined by sex therapist and author Joe Kort in 2010 and popularized in 2013. The sense was coined by analogy with top and bottom and based on the metaphor of a box which has a top, bottom, and sides.
1
Being on the left or right, or toward the left or right; lateral.
One mighty squadron with a side wind sped.1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
2
Indirect; oblique; incidental.
a side issue; a side view or remark
The law hath no side respect to their persons.[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
side
verb
Etymology
From Middle English side, from Old English sīde (“side, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ (“side, flank, edge, shore”), derived from *sīdaz, probably from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- (“long, lasting”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Siede (“side”), West Frisian side (“side”), Dutch zijde, zij (“side”), German Low German Sied (“side”), German Seite (“side”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk side (“side”), Swedish sida (“side”). The LGBTQ slang sense was coined by sex therapist and author Joe Kort in 2010 and popularized in 2013. The sense was coined by analogy with top and bottom and based on the metaphor of a box which has a top, bottom, and sides.
To ally oneself, be in an alliance, usually with "with" or rarely "in with"
Which will you side with, good or evil?
All rising to great place is by a winding star; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self, whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed.1597, Francis Bacon, “Of Great Place”, in Essays:
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All side in parties, and begin the attack.1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto V:
How does it feel... to... side in with those who voted against you in 1947?1958, Archer Fullingim, The Kountze [Texas] News, August 28, 1958:
2
To lean on one side.
3
Obsolete To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward.
His blind eye that syded Paridell.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 27:
1660-1667, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, The Life of Edward Earl of Clarendon He had ure read more , and carried more about him , in his excellent Memory , than any Man I ever knew , my Lord Falkland only excepted , who I think ided him
Cooking, Food, Lifestyle To provide with, as a side or accompaniment.
Entrees are sided with a generous portion of vegetables, and some include little surprises […]1995, Orange Coast Magazine, volume 11, number 8, page 166:
A chocolate cakelette, caramel percolating from its warm top, is sided with peanut butter chantilly cream.2009 March 14, Corey Mintz, “Stop and cheer chefs' dedication to quality”, in Toronto Star:
But when he perceaved that the sayd Pryest could not pourge himself of the foresayd crime he prively payed him his quarters wages before hande and suffered hym to departe without farther tryall of the sayd cryme: and now he jetteth in london wyth side gown and sarcenet typet as good a virgin priest as the best.c. 1556, Thomas Cranmer, “That the general counsels withoute the worde of god are not sufficiente to make articles of fayth”, in A Confutation of Unwritten Verities:
Hiz gooun had syde sleeuez dooun to midlegge, slit from the shooulder too the hand, & lined with white cotten.1575, Robert Laneham, “The auncient Minstrell described”, in F. J. Furnivall, editor, Robert Laneham’s Letter: Describing a Part of the Entertainment unto Queen Elizabeth at the Castle of Kenelworth in 1575, London: Chatto & Windus, published 1907, page 38:
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What doe we make dost thou aske? why we make faces for feare: such as if thy mortall eyes could behold, would make thee water the long seames of thy side slops […]c. 1590 (date written), G[eorge] P[eele], The Old Wiues Tale. […], London: […] Iohn Danter, for Raph Hancocke, and Iohn Hardie, […], published 1595, →OCLC, [lines 47-50]:
By my troth, ’s but a night-gown in respect of yours: cloth o’ gold, and cuts, and laced with silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves, and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel […]1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
Etymology From Middle English side, syde, syd, from Old English sīd (“wide, broad, spacious, ample, extensive, vast, far-reaching”), from Proto-West Germanic *sīd, from Proto-Germanic *sīdaz (“drooping, hanging, low, excessive, extra”), from Proto-Indo-European *sēy- (“to send, throw, drop, sow, deposit”). Cognate with obsolete Dutch zijd (“wide, vast”), Low German sied (“low”), Swedish sid (“long, hanging down”), Icelandic síður (“low hanging, long”).
1
To clear, tidy or sort.
Meanwhile I have plenty to employ me, in siding drawers and locked places, which I left in the disgracefullest confusion ;1883, Jane Welsh Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle, James Anthony Froude, Letters and Memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle - Volume 1, page 292:
Now side everything away. The medicines too —put them in the cupboard.1897, Sir Hall Caine, The Manxman - Volume 2, page 304:
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As it had done then, Clare's heart, in a constant state of stress these days, missed a beat now, and she turned hastily to the table where she was siding the dinner things, doing her best to hide her expression which surely would give her away.2001, Audrey Howard, The Seasons Will Pass: