English Reference
Noun

wayside

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈweɪˌsaɪd/ UK /wˈeɪsaɪd/ way·side UK spelling waysides

n.a place by the side of a road or path. It is often used to describe a quiet spot where you can stop and rest.

n.a location by the side of a road or path. Often used in the phrase 'by the wayside' to describe something being left behind or neglected.


SIMPLE

We stopped by the wayside to rest and eat.

CONTEXTUAL

The traveler found a small wayside chapel where he could pray before continuing his journey across the mountains.

COMPLEX

As the modern highway bypassed the village, the old wayside inns fell into disrepair, their once-bustling courtyards now overgrown with ivy and silence.


From Middle English waye syde, equivalent to way + side.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English waye syde
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated