beside

preposition

1. by or at the side of; near: Sit down beside me.
2. compared with: Beside him other writers seem amateurish.
3. apart from; not connected with: beside the point; beside the question.
4. besides(defs 4, 5).

adverb

5. along the side of something: The family rode in the carriage, and the dog ran along beside.
6. besides(def 2).

Idioms

7. beside oneself, almost out of one’s senses from a strong emotion, as from joy, delight, anger, fear, or grief: He was beside himself with rage when the train left without him.

preposition

1. next to; at, by, or to the side of
2. as compared with
3. away from; wide ofbeside the point
4. archaic besides
5. beside oneself (postpositive often foll by with) overwhelmed; overwroughtbeside oneself with grief

adverb

6. at, by, to, or along the side of something or someone

prep.

Old English be sidan “by the side of” (only as two words), from be- + sidan dative of side (n.). By 1200, formed as one word and used as both adverb and preposition. The alternative Middle English meaning “outside” led to the sense preserved in beside oneself “out of one’s wits” (late 15c.).