about

/ə-ˈbau̇t/

Middle English abuten, aboute, going back to Old English abūtan, abūton, from a- + būtan "outside, without"

adverb

  1. reasonably close to

  2. almost

  3. on the verge of —usually used with be and a following infinitive —used with a negative to express intention or determination

about a year ago

about starved

preposition

  1. in a circle around : on every side of : around

  2. in the immediate neighborhood of : near

  3. on or near the person of

People gathered about him.

adjective

  1. moving from place to place; specifically : being out of bed

  2. around