English

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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besides

  1. In addition to.
    • 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):
      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 []
  2. Other than; except for; instead of.
    I don't want to go anywhere besides India.
    I want to go with someone besides my father.
  3. (now informal) Beside, next to.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adverb

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besides (not comparable)

  1. (conjunctive) Also; in addition.
    • 1776, Thomas Pennant, A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, 1772:
      It is besides used as a food, either as a sallad[sic], raw, or boiled as greens.
    • 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:
      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.
    • 2012 April 18, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona”, in BBC Sport:
      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.
  2. (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.
  3. Otherwise; else.
    I have been to Spain but nowhere besides.
  4. (obsolete) On one side.

Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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References

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  • besides”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.