by and by

adverb

No English definition recorded for this entry.

Wiktionary

adv

Etymology: From Middle English by and by (“side by side, close together, alongside, on and on, continually, again and again, repeatedly”), equivalent to by + and + by.

After a short time.
“O, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day Which now shows all the beauty of the sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away!”
“Two anons and a by and by is an hour and a half.”
After an indefinite period.
“Sit down, have a rest, and by and by you'll be feeling better.”
“She said herself She would forgive him, by and by, not now — For her own sake then, if not for mine — not now —- But by and by.”
Immediately; at once.
“When […] persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

noun

Etymology: From Middle English by and by (“side by side, close together, alongside, on and on, continually, again and again, repeatedly”), equivalent to by + and + by.

Heaven; the hereafter. Usually preceded with "the sweet."
“I'm sorry ma'am, but your cat's gone on to the sweet by and by.”
“In the sweet by and by We shall meet on that beautiful shore.”