4 ms·
Aren't these all the same definitions, merely indicating an approximation? "I'm about to arrive" -> "I'm close to arrival but not here right now". "This book
by jimmux 7y ago
Aren't these all the same definitions, merely indicating an approximation?
"I'm about to arrive" -> "I'm close to arrival but not here right now".
"This book is about..." -> "This book is roughly this short approximation, because I can't fit the entire synopsis in a sentence,..."
"About his person" -> "Close to him, possibly so close as to be carrying it"
"He is about" -> "He is somewhere around here, but not in this exact spot"
"He is out and about" -> "He is out somewhere in this area"
"Gone walkabout" -> "Traveling with no specific destination"
"Roundabout" -> "Traffic control method that encourages vehicles to take a more circuitous passage, rather than directly crossing an intersection"
The context of the word changes the interpretation, but the essential function of "about" is the same in each case.