about

around, doesn't it? "[A.] It was, your Honor, it was meant to mean about the rear wall, between the speakers.

In contiguity or proximity to; not far from; in connection with; nigh; near; in concern with; engaged in; dealing with; occupied upon (155 III. 228); nearly; in close correspondence to; in the immediate neighborhood of (118 111. App. 190). The word gives a margin for a moderate excess in or diminution of the quantity mentioned and negatives the idea that exact precision is intended. 198 111. 325. ABOUTISSEMENT (Fr.) An abuttal or abutment. See Guyot, Rep. Univ. "Aboutissans."

Almost or approximately; near in time, quantity, number, quality or degree. The import of the qualifying word "about" is simply, that the actual quantity is a near approximation to that mentioned, and its effect is to provide against accidental variations; Norrington v. Wright, 115 U. S. 188, 8 Sup. Ct. 12, 29 L. Ed. 500. When there is a material and valuable variation, a court of equity upon a petition for specific performance will give the word its proper effect; Stevens v. McKnight, 40 Ohio St. 341. In a charter party "about to sail" imports just ready to sail; [1893] 2 Q. B. 271. ABOUTISSEMENT (Fr.). An abuttal or abutment. See Guyot, Report. Univ. Aboutissims.

Near, nearly, in the neighborhood of; around, as in "about the neck."

Nearly; approximating to; in the neighborhood of; not much more or less than. An expression constantly used where a time or sum cannot be precisely stated, im-