forby

A farmer plants a forby crop of turnips beside his main field.

Definition

1. Preposition (chiefly Scottish):

   • In addition to; besides: "forby" indicates something extra or supplementary beyond what has been mentioned.
   • Except; other than: It can also denote exclusion, meaning "apart from" or "save for."

2. Adverb (chiefly Scottish):

   • Moreover; in addition: Used to introduce an extra point or item.

Usage Examples

• Preposition:

  • He brought bread, cheese, and a flask of ale forby. (He brought these items in addition to others.)
  • All the guests arrived forby one. (Everyone arrived except one person.)

• Adverb:

  • The task is difficult; forby, it is dangerous. (Moreover, it is dangerous.)

Advanced Usage

• "forby that": an archaic or dialectal phrase meaning "besides that" or "in addition to that."
  • Forby that, we must consider the cost. (In addition to that, we must consider the cost.)

Variants and Related Words

• Forbye (variant spelling): an alternative orthography of "forby," used in Scottish English.
  • He gave me a book forbye a map. (He gave me a book in addition to a map.)

Synonyms

• Besides: in addition to.
• Moreover (adverb): used to introduce an additional point.
• Except (preposition): excluding; apart from.

Related Idioms

• "Not forby": a Scottish expression meaning "not to mention" or "let alone."
  • He cannot afford a car, not forby a house. (He cannot afford a car, let alone a house.)

Phrasal Verbs

• "Forby" does not form phrasal verbs in standard English usage.