forbye
Definition
- Preposition & Adverb (chiefly Scottish):
- In addition to; besides: "forbye" means "as well as" or "apart from" something.
- Except; other than: It can also indicate exclusion, meaning "not including" or "with the exception of."
Usage Examples
Preposition (besides):
- Forbye the usual chores, she also had to prepare dinner. (In addition to the usual chores, she also had to prepare dinner.)
- He brought gifts forbye his own belongings. (He brought gifts besides his own belongings.)
Preposition (except):
- No one came forbye John. (No one came except John.)
- All the tasks were completed forbye the paperwork. (All the tasks were completed except the paperwork.)
Adverb (in addition):
- She is clever, and forbye, very kind. (She is clever, and also very kind.)
- He is rich; forbye, he is generous. (He is rich; in addition, he is generous.)
Advanced Usage
"forbye that": used to mean "apart from that" or "besides that."
- Forbye that, we have no further concerns. (Apart from that, we have no further concerns.)
"none forbye": meaning "no one else except."
- None forbye the king could enter the chamber. (No one except the king could enter the chamber.)
Variants and Related Words
- Forby (alternative spelling): a variant spelling of "forbye," used interchangeably.
- He had many talents, forby his skill in music. (He had many talents, besides his skill in music.)
Synonyms
- Besides: in addition to; apart from.
- Aside from: except for; apart from.
- Barring: except for; if not for.
Related Idioms
"forbye the mark": meaning "beside the point" or "irrelevant."
- Your argument is forbye the mark. (Your argument is beside the point; it is not relevant.)
"forbye and beyond": a Scottish phrase meaning "over and above" or "in addition to everything else."
- Forbye and beyond his duties, he volunteered for extra work. (In addition to everything else he already did, he volunteered for extra work.)