abounding (abounding)

[Verbal n. of abound.] The state of being abundant; abundance; increase. South, Sermons, II. 220. abounding (a-boun'ding), p. a. Overflowing; plentiful; abundant: as, abounding wealth. about (a-bout'), adv. and prep. [ IMG:content-0071.png:[blocks in formation] He that goeth about as a tale-bearer. Wandering about from house to house. We followed the guide about among the tombs for a while. C. D. Warner , Roundabout Journey, xii. 4. Near in time, number, quantity, quality, or degree; nearly; approximately; almost. He went out about the third hour. Light travels about 186,000 miles a second. Mat. xx. 3. J. N. Lockyer , Elem. Astron. The first two are about the nicest girls in all London. Hawley Smart , Social Sinners, I. 182. [In contracts made on the New York Stock Exchange, the term about means "not more than three days" when applied to time, and "not more than 10 per cent." when used with reference to a number of shares.] 5. In readine ; intending; going: after the verb to be. The house which I am about to build. As the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship. 2 Chron. ii. 9. Acts xxvii. 30. The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: Dictionary IMG:content-0073.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0074.png:[blocks in formation] If we look into the eyes of the youngest person, we sometimes discover that here is one who knows already what you would go about with much pains to teach him. Emerson, Old Age. (b) Naut., to take a different direction, as a ve el in tacking.-Much about, very nearly: as, his health is much about the same as yesterday. - Put about, annoyed; disturbed; provoked: as, he was much put about by the news.- Ready about! About ship! orders to a crew to prepare for tacking. - Right about! Left about! ( mil it.), commands to face or turn round half a circle, by the right or left, as the case may be, so as to face in the opposite direction. -Turn about, week about, etc., in rotation or succe ion; alternately; on each alternate occasion, week, etc. A woman or two, and three or four undertaker's men, had charge of the remains, which they watched turn about. Thackeray. II. prep. 1. On the outside or outer surface of; surrounding; around; all around. Bind them about thy neck. Prov. iii. 3. IMG:content-0075.png:[blocks in formation] I must be about my Father's busine . Luke ii. 49. To go or set about, to become occupied with; engage in; undertake; begin as, go about your busine ; he set about the performance of his task.