Etymograph

English

besides

Besides comes from Middle English bisides, an extension of biside ‘beside’ with the adverbial -s.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500biside1
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bisides1
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1577besides1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English besides
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Historie of Englande: “After this, was Edwin the Kings brother accuſed of…”.

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bisideWiktionary, English besides
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500bisidesWiktionary, English besides
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1577besidesWiktionary, English besides. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Historie of Englande: “After this, was Edwin the Kings brother accuſed of…”

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Today it means

prep In addition to.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “besides”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Middle English biside / besides