side

Etymology 1

From Middle English side, from Old English sīde (“side, flank”), from Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ (“side, flank, edge, shore”), from Proto-Indo-European *sēy- (“to send, throw, drop, sow, deposit”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Siede (“side”), West Frisian side (“side”), Dutch zijde, zij (“side”), German Low German Sied (“side”), German Seite (“side”), Danish and Norwegian side (“side”), Swedish sida (“side”).

noun

1. A bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape.
   A square has four sides.
2. A flat surface of a three-dimensional object; a face.
   A cube has six sides.
3. One half (left or right, top or bottom, front or back, etc.) of something or someone.
   Which side of the tray shall I put it on?  The patient was bleeding on the right side.
4. A region in a specified position with respect to something.
   Meet me on the north side of the monument.
5. The portion of the human torso usually covered by the arms when they are not raised; the areas on the left and right between the belly or chest and the back.
   I generally sleep on my side.
   Roll the patient onto the left side so that head, shoulders, and torso move at the same time without twisting. 2006, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured (Jones & Bartlett Learning, p. 234
6. One surface of a sheet of paper (used instead of "page", which can mean one or both surfaces.)
   John wrote 15 sides for his essay!
7. One possible aspect of a concept, person, or thing.
   Look on the bright side.
8. One set of competitors in a game.
   Which side has kick-off?
9. (UK, Australia, Ireland) A sports team.
   Newly promoted, they were top of the First Division and unbeaten when they took on a Manchester United side that had been revitalized by a new manager,[…]. 1988, Ken Jones, Pat Welton Crown, Soccer skills & tactics, page 9
   It was no less than Valencia deserved after dominating possession in the final 20 minutes although Chelsea defended resolutely and restricted the Spanish side to shooting from long range. September 28, 2011, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport
   Initially, the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish unions refused to send national sides, preferring instead to send touring sides like the Barbarians, the Penguins, the Co-Optimists, the Wolfhounds, Crawshays Welsh, and the Public School Wanderers. 2011, Nick Cain, Greg Growden, Rugby Union For Dummies, 3rd edition, UK, page 220
10. A group of morris dancers who perform together.
11. A group having a particular allegiance in a conflict or competition.
    In the Second World War, the Italians were on the side of the Germans until Italy switched sides in 1943.
    "Creating artificial rain over the Yellow Sea would help the Chinese side too," the spokesman said Kim told the meeting. Audio (US) (file) 2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
    We have not always been of the[…]same side in politics. 1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations: Lord Chesterfield and Lord Chatham
12. (music) A recorded piece of music; a record, especially in jazz.
    But Bechet chafed under even the loose discipline of the Ellington group, and left. Through these years he wandered, making only a few sides, at the moment when jazz records were beginning to flood onto the market. 1995, James Lincoln Collier, Jazz: The American Theme Song, page 41
13. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) Sidespin; english
    He had to put a bit of side on to hit the pink ball.
14. (Britain, Australia, Ireland, dated) A television channel, usually as opposed to the one currently being watched (from when there were only two channels).
    I just want to see what's on the other side — James said there was a good film on tonight.
15. (US, colloquial) A dish that accompanies the main course; a side dish.
    Do you want a side of cole-slaw with that?
16. A line of descent traced through a particular parent, as distinguished from that traced through another.
    his mother's side of the family
17. (baseball) The batters faced in an inning by a particular pitcher.
    Clayton Kershaw struck out the side in the 6th inning.
18. (slang, dated, uncountable) An unjustified air of self-importance.
    His manner never had been modest or retiring. Now it was unmistakably swanky; he was putting on side to an extent that made fellows who observed him smile and shrug their shoulders. 1930, Frank Richards, “Tale-Bearer in Chief”, in The Magnet
19. (drama) A written monologue or part of a scene to be read by an actor at an audition.
    Some directors use full scripts (book); others use “sides,” which consist of one or two words of the cue and the subsequent full speech of the individual actor. 2010, Viola Spolin, Carol Sills, Theater Games for Rehearsal: A Director's Handbook, page 12
    The short scenes in this book are particularly useful for audition workshops since audition sides are rarely longer than two pages. 2017, Dave Kost, Book of Sides II
20. (LGBT, slang) A man who prefers not to engage in anal sex during same-sex sexual activity.
    My boyfriend and I are both sides; we prefer to do oral and other stuff.
21. (mathematics, obsolete) A root.
    And 9 is said to be the Square, 27 the Cube of 3, which is call'd the Side of 9 and 27, &c. 1723, Edward Wells, The Young Gentleman's Arithmetick, and Geometry, page 127

adj

1. Being on the left or right, or toward the left or right; lateral.
2. Indirect; oblique; incidental.
   a side issue; a side view or remark

verb

1. (intransitive) To ally oneself, be in an alliance, usually with "with" or rarely "in with"
   Which will you side with, good or evil?
   All rising to great place is by a winding star; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self, whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed. 1597, Francis Bacon, “Of Great Place”, in Essays
   How does it feel... to... side in with those who voted against you in 1947? 1958, Archer Fullingim, The Kountze [Texas] News, August 28, 1958
2. To lean on one side.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To suit; to pair; to match.
   1660-1667, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, The Life of Edward Earl of Clarendon He had ſure read more , and carried more about him , in his excellent Memory , than any Man I ever knew , my Lord Falkland only excepted , who I think ſided him
5. (transitive, shipbuilding) To work (a timber or rib) to a certain thickness by trimming the sides.
6. (transitive) To furnish with a siding.
   to side a house
7. (transitive, cooking) To provide with, as a side or accompaniment.
   Entrees are sided with a generous portion of vegetables, and some include little surprises […] 1995, Orange Coast Magazine, volume 11, number 8, page 166
   A chocolate cakelette, caramel percolating from its warm top, is sided with peanut butter chantilly cream. March 14, 2009, Corey Mintz, “Stop and cheer chefs' dedication to quality”, in Toronto Star

Etymology 2

From Middle English side, syde, syd, from Old English sīd (“wide, broad, spacious, ample, extensive, vast, far-reaching”), from Proto-West Germanic *sīd, from Proto-Germanic *sīdaz (“drooping, hanging, low, excessive, extra”), from Proto-Indo-European *sēy- (“to send, throw, drop, sow, deposit”). Cognate with obsolete Dutch zijd (“wide, vast”), Low German sied (“low”), Swedish sid (“long, hanging down”), Icelandic síður (“low hanging, long”).

adj

1. (UK archaic, dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Wide; large; long, pendulous, hanging low, trailing; far-reaching.
   But when he perceaved that the sayd Pryest could not pourge himself of the foresayd crime he prively payed him his quarters wages before hande and suffered hym to departe without farther tryall of the sayd cryme: and now he jetteth in london wyth side gown and sarcenet typet as good a virgin priest as the best. c. 1556, Thomas Cranmer, “That the general counsels withoute the worde of god are not sufficiente to make articles of fayth”, in A Confutation of Unwritten Verities
   Hiz gooun had syde sleeuez dooun to midlegge, slit from the shooulder too the hand, & lined with white cotten. 1575, Robert Laneham, “The auncient Minstrell described”, in F. J. Furnivall, editor, Robert Laneham’s Letter: Describing a Part of the Entertainment unto Queen Elizabeth at the Castle of Kenelworth in 1575, London: Chatto & Windus, published 1907, page 38
2. (Scotland) Far; distant.

adv

1. (UK dialectal) Widely; wide; far.

verb

1. To clear, tidy or sort.
   Meanwhile I have plenty to employ me, in siding drawers and locked places, which I left in the disgracefullest confusion ; 1883, Jane Welsh Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle, James Anthony Froude, Letters and Memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle - Volume 1, page 292
   Now side everything away. The medicines too —put them in the cupboard. 1897, Sir Hall Caine, The Manxman - Volume 2, page 304
   As it had done then, Clare's heart, in a constant state of stress these days, missed a beat now, and she turned hastily to the table where she was siding the dinner things, doing her best to hide her expression which surely would give her away. 2001, Audrey Howard, The Seasons Will Pass