Etymology : Middle English, preposition and adverb, from Old English begeondan, from be- + geondan beyond, from geond yond; more at YOND
Pronunciation : bE-änd
Function : adverb
Date : before 12th century
1. world to come, afterlife, world of the dead. adpast, further than. prep. further, more distant. beyond\be*yond"\ , prep. [oe. biyonde, bi&yogh;eonde, as. begeondan, prep. and adv.; pref. be- + geond yond, yonder. see:
yon, yonder.].
2. on the further side of; in the same direction as, and further on or away than. beyond that flaming hill. fletcher.
3. at a place or time not yet reached; before. a thing beyond us, even before our death.
4. past, out of the reach or sphere of; further than; greater than; as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.
5. in a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of any kind. "beyond expectation." beyond any of the great men of my country. sidney.beyond sea. (law) see:
under sea.
6. On the further side of; in the same direction as, and further on or away than.
7. At a place or time not yet reached; before.
8. Past, out of the reach or sphere of; further than; greater than; as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.
9. In a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of any kind.
10. Further away; at a distance; yonder. in addition; "agreed to provide essentials but nothing beyond" farther along in space or time or degree; "through the valley and beyond"; "to the eighth grade but not beyond"; "will be influential in the 1990s and beyond" on the farther side from the observer; "a pond with a hayfield beyond".
11. 1. If something is beyond a place or barrier, it is on the other side of it. They heard footsteps in the main room, beyond a door Beyond is also an adverb. The house had a fabulous view out to the Strait of Georgia and the Rockies beyond.
12. If something happens beyond a particular time or date, it continues after that time or date has passed. Few jockeys continue race-riding beyond the age of 40 = past Beyond is also an adverb. The financing of home ownership will continue through the 1990s and beyond.
13. If something extends beyond a particular thing, it affects or includes other things. His interests extended beyond the fine arts to international politics and philosophy.
14. You use beyond to introduce an exception to what you are saying. I knew nothing beyond a few random facts.
15. If something goes beyond a particular point or stage, it progresses or increases so that it passes that point or stage. Their five-year relationship was strained beyond breaking point It seems to me he's beyond caring about what anybody does.
16. If something is, for example, beyond understanding or beyond belief, it is so extreme in some way that it cannot be understood or believed. What Jock had done was beyond my comprehension Sweden is lovely in summer -- cold beyond belief in winter.
17. If you say that something is beyond someone, you mean that they cannot deal with it. The situation was beyond her control.
18. beyond the pale: see:
pale beyond someone's means: see means beyond your wildest dreams: see dream beyond a joke: see joke. the beyond whatever comes after this life.