besides

English

Etymology

From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside +‎ -s (adverbial suffix).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /bɪˈsaɪdz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /bɪˈsaɪdz/, /bəˈsaɪdz/, /biˈsaɪdz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪdz

Preposition

besides

1. In addition to.
   • 1661, John Fell, “The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond”, quoted in Ecclesiastical Biography by Christopher Wordsworth, fourth edition, volume IV, London: Francis & John Rivington (1853):

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant

2. Other than; except for; instead of.

   I don't want to go anywhere besides India.

3. (now informal) Beside, next to.
   • 1561, Geneva Bible, Acts 16:13,^{The Geneva Bible#page/n1075}

     And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the citie, beſides a riuer, where they were wont to pray : and we ſate downe, and ſpake vnto the women, which were come together.

   • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande , volume I, London: for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 225:

     After this, was Edwin the Kings brother accuſed of ſome conſpiracie by him begun againſt the K. whervpõ he was baniſhed the land, and ſent out in an old rotten veſſell without rower or Marriner, onely accompanied with one Eſquire, ſo that beeing launched foorth from the ſhore, through very diſpaire Edwin lept into the Sea, and drowned himſelfe, but the Eſquire that was with him recouered his body, and broughte it to land at Withſand beſides Canterbury.

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. , London: [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 198:

     Beſides them both, vpon the ſoiled gras / The dead corſe of an armed knight was ſpred, […]

Synonyms

• (in addition): beyond, on top of; see also Thesaurus:in addition to
• (other than): barring, save for; see also Thesaurus:except

Translations

Adverb

besides (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive) Also; in addition.
   • 1776, Thomas Pennant, A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, 1772:

     It is besides used as a food, either as a sallad, raw, or boiled as greens.

   • 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: , London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:

     This was but one of Cluny’s hiding-places; he had caves, besides, and underground chambers in several parts of his country; and following the reports of his scouts, he moved from one to another as the soldiers drew near or moved away.

   • 2012 April 18, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona”, in BBC Sport:

     In the end, Chelsea's organisation and discipline was rewarded but Di Matteo knows they will have to produce the same - and more besides - in the Nou Camp to confirm a meeting with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in Munich next month.

2. (conjunctive) Used to emphasize an additional point, especially an important or stronger reason; moreover; furthermore.

   I don't feel like going out tonight. Besides, I have to work tomorrow morning anyway.

3. Otherwise; else.

   I have been to Spain but nowhere besides.

4. (obsolete) On one side.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 112”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. , London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     You are so strongly in my purpose bred
     That all the world besides methinks are dead

   • c. 1611, George Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer‎, London: Nathaniell Butter, Book 8, p. 111:

     Yet Teucer would another shaft, at Hectors life dispose;
     So faine, he such a marke would hit: but still besides it goes;

Translations

See also

• on top of that
• beside