Chapter Abnodate to About of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Abound
(A*bound") v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abounding.] [OE. abounden, F. abonder, fr. L. abundare to overflow, abound; ab + unda wave. Cf. Undulate.]

1. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.

The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe.
Chambers.

Where sin abounded grace did much more abound.
Rom. v. 20.

2. To be copiously supplied; — followed by in or with.

To abound in, to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by. — To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers.

Men abounding in natural courage.
Macaulay.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings.
Prov. xxviii. 20.

It abounds with cabinets of curiosities.
Addison.

About
(A*bout") prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. abutan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See But, Out.]

1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you." Shak. "Bind them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.

2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on "Have you much money about you?" Bulwer.

3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses.
Macaulay.

Roving still about the world.
Milton.

4. Near; not far from; — determining approximately time, size, quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my stature." Shak.

He went out about the third hour.
Matt. xx. 3.

This use passes into the adverbial sense.

5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.

I must be about my Father's business.
Luke ii. 49.

6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive: On the point or verge of; going; in act of.

Paul was now aboutto open his mouth.
Acts xviii. 14.

7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To treat about thy ransom." Milton.

She must have her way about Sarah.
Trollope.

About
(A*bout"), adv.

1. On all sides; around.

'Tis time to look about.
Shak.