An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A preposition used to indicate the agent after a passive verb. By means of.

Etymology (EN): M.E., O.E. bi “near, in, by, during, about;” cf. O.S. and O.Fr. bi, M.Du., Du. bij, Ger. bei;cf. Skt. abhi “toward, to,” Gk. amphi- “around, about;” Av. aibi, aiwi, O.Pers. aiby, Pers. af-.

Etymology (PE): Pat, from Mid.Pers. pat, pad “to, at, in, on” (Mod.Pers. bé); O.Pers. patiy, Av. paiti “to, at, for, with, by mean of,” cf. Skt. práti “toward, against, again, back, in return, opposite;” Pali pati-; Gk. proti, pros “face to face with, toward, in addition to, near;” PIE *proti.