Lexic.us

Definition of Stand by

1. Verb. Not act or do anything. "He just stood by when the police beat up the demonstrators"

2. Verb. Be available or ready for a certain function or service. "They stand by a long time"

3. Verb. Be loyal to. ; "The friends stuck together through the war"

Definition of Stand by

1. Verb. (idiomatic intransitive) To wait in expectation of some event; to make ready. ¹

2. Verb. (idiomatic) To remain loyal or faithful to. ¹

3. Verb. To do nothing. To be inactive in a situation. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Stand By

stand-in stand-ins stand-off stand-offish stand-offishly stand-out stand-to stand-up stand-up comedy stand-up guy

stand-ups stand a chance stand and deliver stand aside stand back stand by (current term) stand conversion stand corrected stand density stand down

stand easy stand fast stand firm stand for stand from under stand guard stand in stand in for stand in someone's shoes stand off

Literary usage of Stand by

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (1846)
"... in their evidence, rather than any thing shall be wanting that will dispatch him, I will enlarge my testimony against him. So he was bid stand by.1 ..."

2. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events by Frank Moore, Edward Everett (1861)
"stand by the Flag !—its stars, like meteors gleaming Have lighted Arctic ... stand by the Flag !—on land and ocean billow, By it your fathers stood, ..."

3. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain (1883)
"Seven-and ' Eight feet! .... Eight feet! Mr. Bixby said warningly through his speaking tube to the engineer— ' stand by, now !' ' Aye-aye, sir ! ..."

4. A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are Deduced from ...by Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson (1805)
"'fo STAND by. To support; to defend ; not to desert. hug and caress them, ... Our good works will attend and stand by ia at the hour of death. Cabaj. 49. ..."

5. Commentaries on American Law by James Kent, Charles M. Barnes (1884)
"(a) This is the usual and suitable course when the infant does not mean to stand by his contract ; and his confirmation of the act or deed of his infancy ..."

6. Lawyers' Reports Annotated by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (1918)
"Where the heirs stand by for four years while the property purchased by an ... Where the heirs of an intestate stand by without objection while the ..."

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