about
n preposition & adverb
1 [as preposition] on the subject of; concerning.
2 used to indicate movement within a particular area or location in a particular place.
3 [as adverb] approximately.
PHRASES
be about to be on the point of.
know what one is about informal be sensible and self-possessed.
ORIGIN
Old English onbutan, from on ‘in, on’ + butan ‘outside of’ (see but2).