side 
MD. sijde, D. :ijdc = MLG. side, LG. side, siede 
= OHO. Hit/i, sitta, MUG. site, G. xeite = Icel. 
Killnt = S\v. *id = Dun. xide (not recorded in 
Goth.), side; perhaps orig. that which hangs 
down or is extended, < AS. aid, long, wide, spa- 
cious, = Icel. sitlir, long, hanging down: see 
side-, (,'f. bexi/le, liesidex.]' I. n. 1. One of the two 
terminal surface's, margins, or lines of an object 
or a space situated laterally to its front or rear 
aspect ; a part lying on the right or the left hand 
of an observer, with reference to a definite 
point of view : as, the sides of a building (in 
contradistinction to its front and rear or back, 
or to its ends) ; the sides of a map or of a bed 
(distinguished from the top and bottom, or from 
the head and foot, respectively). 
Men fynden there also the Appulle Tree of Adam, that 
han a byte at on of the sydes. Mandccille, Travels, p. 49. 
A sylvan scene with various greens was drawn, 
Shades on the sides, and in the midst a lawn. 
tfryden, Pal. and Arc., ii. 620. 
2. Specifically, with reference to an animal 
body : (a) Either half of the body, right or left, 
which lies on either hand of the vertical me- 
dian longitudinal plane; the entirety of any 
lateral part or region: as, the right side; the 
left side, (ft) The whole or a part of the body 
in front of or behind a vertical transverse 
plane: as, the front side; the hinder side; the 
dorsal side, (c) A part of the body lying lat- 
erally with reference to any given or assumed 
axis, and opposed to another similar or corre- 
sponding part: as, the front or back side of 
the arm. (d) A surface or extent of any body, 
or part of any body, that is external or inter- 
nal, considered with reference to its opposite: 
as, the inner or outer side. See inside, outside, 
(e) Especially, that part of the trunk of an ani- 
mal which lies or extends between the shoulder 
and the hip, and particularly the surface of 
such part ; the lateral region or superficies of 
the chest and belly. 
Seche thre strokes he me gate. 
Yet they cleffe by my seydys. 
Robin Hood and the Potter (Child's Ballads, V. 19). 
Pinch them, arms, legs, backs, shoulders, sides, and shins. 
Shak., M. W. of W., v. 5. 58. 
Nor let your Sides too strong Concussions shake [with 
laughter], 
Lest you the Softness of the Sex forsake. 
Congreee, tr. of Ovid's Art of Love, iii. 
(/) One of the two most extensive surfaces of 
anything, being neither top or bottom, nor end, 
nor edge or border. [Since every organism, like any 
other solid, has three dimensions, to the extent of which 
in opposite directions side may be applied, it follows that 
there are three pairs of sides, the word having thus three 
definitions ; a fourth sense is that which relates to the ex- 
terior and the (often hollow) interior ; a fifth is a definite 
restriction of right and left sides; and a sixth is a loose 
derived application of the word, without reference to any 
definite axes or planes.] 
3. One of the continuous surfaces of an object 
limited by terminal lines; one of two or more 
bounding or investing surfaces ; a superficial 
limit or confine, either external or internal: as, 
the six sides of a cube (but in geometry the 
word is not thus used for face, but as synony- 
mous with edge) ; the side of a hill or moun- 
tain (hillside, mountain-side); the upper and 
under sides of a plank; the right and wrong 
sides of a fabric or garment (see phrase below) ; 
the sides of a cavern or a tunnel. The word side 
may be used either of all the bounding surfaces of an ob- 
ject, as with certain prisms, crystals, and geometrical fig- 
ures, or as exclusive of parts that may be called top, bot- 
tom, edge, or end, as with a cubical box, a plank, etc. 
Men seith that dune-is [hill's] stthen on 
Was mad temple salamon. 
Genesis and Exodus (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1295. 
The tables were written on both their sides; on the one 
side and on the other were they written. Ex. xxxii. 15. 
I saw them under a green mantling vine, 
That crawls along the side of yon small hill. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 295. 
4. One of the extended marginal parts or courses 
of a surface or a plane figure ; one of any num- 
ber of distinct terminal confines or lateral divi- 
sions of a surface contiguous to or conterminous 
with another surface : as, the opposite sides of 
a road or a river ; the east and west sides of the 
ocean ; all sides of a field. The outer parts of an ob- 
long or an irregular surface may all be called sides, or dis- 
tinguished as the long and short sides, or as sides and ends, 
according to occasion. Side in this sense is more compre- 
hensive than margin, edge, border, or verge (commonly 
used in defining it), since it may be used so as to include 
a larger extent of contiguous surface than any of these 
words. Thus, the sides of a room may be all the parts of 
its floor-space not comprised in a central part reserved or 
differentiated in some special way. The sides of a table 
are those marginal parts upon which food is served. The 
east and west sides of a continent may constitute jointly 
the whole of it, or may consist of larger or smaller mar- 
5613 
(final strips or divisions, according as they are considered 
as s. 'painted by a mesial line or by some intervening re- 
gion. The amount of latitude with which the word may 
be used in particular cases does not admit of definitive 
discrimination ; but there is usually no difficulty in de- 
ti'i-miniiiK the intention of a writer or speaker in his em- 
ployment of it. 
A great market-place 
Upon two other sides fills all the space. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 4. 
5. Position or place with reference to an in- 
termediate line or area; a space or stretch di- 
vided from another by the limit or course of 
something: preceded by on and followed by of, 
either expressed or (sometimes) understood: 
as, a region on both sides of a river ; we shall 
not meet again this side the grave. 
For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, 
or forward ; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this 
side Jordan eastward. Num. xxxii. 19. 
There are a great many beautiful palaces standing along 
the sea-shore on both sides of Genoa. 
Addison, Remarks on Italy (Works, ed. Bohn, I. 382). 
They had by this time passed their prime, and got on 
the wrong side of thirty. Steele, Spectator, No. 282. 
6. A part of space or a range of thought ex- 
tending away from a central point ; any part of 
a surrounding region or outlook; lateral view 
or direction; point of compass: as, there are 
obstacles on every side; to view a proposition 
from all sides. 
The crimson blood 
Circles her body in on every side. 
Shak., Lucrece, 1. 1739. 
Fair children, borne of black-faced ayahs, or escorted by 
their bearers, prattled on all sides. 
W. II. Russell, Diary in India, I. 213. 
7. An aspect or part of anything viewed as 
distinct from or contrasted with another or 
others ; a separate phase ; an opposed surface 
or view (as seen in the compounds inside and 
outside) : as, the side of the moon seen from the 
earth; a character of many sides; to study all 
sides of a question ; that side of the subject has 
been fully heard. 
So turns she every man the wrong side out. 
Shak., Much Ado, iii. 1. 68. 
You shall find them wise on the one side, and fools on 
the other. Burton, Anat. of Mel., To the Reader, p. 73. 
My friend Sir Roger heard them both, upon a round 
trot, and, after having paused for some time, told them, 
with the air of a man who would not give his judgment 
rashly, that much might be said on both sides. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 122. 
As might be expected from his emotional nature, his 
pathetic side is especially strong. 
A. Dobson, Selections from Steele, Int., p. xlvl. 
8. Part or position with reference to any line 
of division or separation; particular standing 
on a subject; point of view: as, to take the 
winning side in politics, or one's side of a dis- 
pute ; there are faults on both sides. 
Tho bi-gan that batayle on bothe sides harde, 
Feller saw neuer frek from Adam to this time. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3814. 
The Lord is on my side : I will not fear. Ps. cxviii. 6. 
We stood with pleasure to behold the surprize and ten- 
derness and solemnity of this interview, which was exceed- 
ingly affectionate on both sides. Dampier, Voyages, 1. 86. 
TheBaharnagash.on his ritfe.made the return with a very 
fine horse and mule. Bruce, Source of the Nile, II. 145. 
In 1289 he [Dante] was present at the battle of Campal- 
dino, fighting on the side of the Guelphs, who there utterly 
routed the Ghibellines. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 9. 
9. A party or body separated from another in 
opinion, interest, or action; an opposing sec- 
tion or division ; a set of antagonists : as, to 
choose sides for a game or contest of any kind ; 
different sides in religion or politics. 
Piety left the field, 
Grieved for that side, that in so bad a cause 
They knew not what a crime their valour was. 
B. Jonson, Catiline, v. 8. 
More, more, some fifty on a side, that each 
May breathe himself. Tennyson, Princess, v. 
10. A divisional line of descent; course of de- 
scent through a single ancestor: chiefly with 
reference to parentage: as, relatives on the 
paternal or the maternal side; to be well born 
on the mother's side. 
Brother by the mother's side, give me your hand. 
Shak., K. John, i. 1. 163. 
I fancy her sweetness only due 
To the sweeter blood by the other side. 
Tennyson, Maud, xiii. 3. 
lit. Respect; regard. 
Or ells we er noghte dlsposede by clennes of lyffynge in 
other sydis for to ressayue his grace. 
Hampole, Prose Treatises (E. E. T. S.), p. 41. 
12. In technical uses: (a) One of the halves 
of a slaughtered animal, divided through the 
spine : as, a side of beef or mutton. (6) Specif- 
ically, the thin part of the side of a hog's car- 
side 
cass; the flank of a hog: as, to live on xide or 
Hide-meat. [Colloq., western U. S.] 
.v/./c -meat, in the South and West, is the thin flank of a 
porker, salted and smoked after the fashion of hams, and 
in those parts of the Southwest it was . . . the staple ar- 
ticle of food. St. Nicholas, XVIII. 39. 
(c) One half of a tanned hide or skin divided 
on a medial longitudinal line through the neck 
and butt. Compare diagram of tanned skin un- 
der leather, (d) pi. The white fur from the sides 
of the skin of a rabbit. Ure. (e) Of cloth, the 
right or dressed side. E. H. Knight. (/) In 
billiards, a bias or spinning motion given to a 
ball by striking it sidewise : in American bil- 
liards called English. 13. In her., a bearing 
consisting of a part of the field cut off palewise, 
either on the dexter or sinister part: it should 
not exceed one sixth of the field, and is usually 
smaller than that. 14. One surface of one fold 
of a paper; a page. 
Adieu ! here is company ; I think I may be excused leav- 
ing off at the sixth side. Walpole, To Mann, 1744, July 22. 
15. In (/com., a line bounding a superficial 
figure, whether the latter be considered by it- 
self or be the face of a solid. Sense 3, above, 
common in ordinary language, is strictly exclud- 
ed from mathematics, for the sake of definite- 
ness. 16. In arith. and alg., the root or base 
of a power. 17. In alg., position in an equa- 
tion either preceding or following the sign of 
equality. 18. A pretentious or supercilious 
manner; swagger. [Recent slang.] 
You may know the White Hussars by their "side," which 
is greater than that of all the Cavalry Regiments on the 
roster. R. Kipling, Rout of the White Hussars. 
The putting on of side, by the way, is a peculiarly mod- 
ern form of swagger : it is the assumption of certain qual- 
ities and powers which are considered as deserving of re- 
spect. W. Besanl, Fifty Years Ago, p. 112. 
Blind side See Mindi. Born on the wrong side of 
the blanket. See blanket. Cantoris side. See canto- 
ris. County-side, the side or part of the county con- 
cerned ; the people of a particular part of a county. [Eng. ] 
A mighty growth ! The county side 
Lamented when the Giant died, 
For England loves her trees. 
F. Locker, The Old Oak-Tree at Hatfleld Broadoak. 
Debit, decani, distaff, exterior side. See the qualify- 
ing words. Epistle side of the altar equity side of 
the court, gospel side of the altar. See epistle, equity, 
gospel. Hanging side. Same as hanging wall (which see, 
under wall). Heavy side. See heavyi. Instance side 
of the court. See instance. Interior side, in fort. , the 
line drawn from the center of one bastion to that of the 
next or the line of the curtain produced to the two ob- 
lique radii in front. Jack on both sides*. See jackl. 
New Side, a name given to a party in the Presbyterian 
Church of the United States, which opposed the Old Side, 
and attached great importance to practical piety. The 
breach between the factions was healed in 1758. North 
side of an altar. See north. Of all sldest, with one 
consent; all together. 
And so of all sides they went to recommend themselves 
to the elder brother of Death. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, i. 
Old Side, a name given to a party in the Presbyterian 
Church of the United States, in the middle of the eigh- 
teenth century, which insisted strongly on scholarship in 
the ministry. Compare New Side. On the shady side. 
See shady. On this side, on the side leading hitherward 
from a locality ; on the hither side : in Middle English 
sometimes written as a single word (athissid, a-thysside): 
as, athisside Rome (that is, anywhere). 
Full goodly leuid hys lit here entire ; 
And as that man non here more wurthy 
Was not a-thys-side the Romayns truly. 
Rom. ofPartenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 2469. 
Right or wrong Side, the side of anything designed to be 
turned outwara or inward respectively; especially, the 
side of cloth, carpeting, leather, or the like designed to be 
exposed to view or the contrary, on account of some differ- 
ence in surface. Some materials are said to have no right 
or wrong side, from having both surfaces alike, or both 
equally fitted for exposure. Shinny on your own side. 
See shinny. Side bearings. See bearing. Side by 
side, placed with sides neartogether ; parallel in position 
or condition ; in juxtaposition. 
Ther-of toke the kynge Leodogan goode hede, that by 
hem satte side by st/de at the heede of the table. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 226. 
Two sons of Priam in one chariot ride, 
Glitt'ring in arms, and combat side by side. 
Pope, Iliad, v. 205. 
Side bysidevittt the intellectual Brahman caste, and the 
chivalrous Rajput, are found the wild Bhll and the naked 
Gond. J. Fergusson, Hist. Indian Arch., p. 3. 
Side Of bacon, that part of a hog which lies outside of 
the ribs and is cured as bacon. Side of work, in coal- 
mining. See man-of-war, 2. Silver side. See silrer. 
Spear side of the house, spindle side of the house. 
See spear, spindle. The seamy side. See seamy. To 
Choose sides, to select parties for competition in exer- 
cises of any kind.- To one side, in a lateral situation; 
hence, out of reach ; out of sight or out of consideration. 
It must of course be understood that I place his private 
character entirely to one side. Contemporary Rev., LI. 64. 
To pull down a sldet. See pull. To set up a sldet. 
See c(l. TO take a Side, to embrace the opinions or 
attach One's self to the interest of a party in opposition to 
another. 
