wayside

[wey-sahyd]

noun

1. the side of the way; ways; land immediately adjacent to a road, highway, path, etc.; roadside.

adjective

1. being, situated, or found at or along the wayside.

   a wayside inn.

wayside

/ ˈweɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. 1. the side or edge of a road

   2. (modifier) situated by the wayside

      a wayside inn

2. to cease or fail to continue doing something

   of the nine starters, three fell by the wayside

3. to be put aside on account of something more urgent

Word History and Origins

Origin of wayside¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; way ¹, side ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see fall by the wayside.

Example Sentences

We learned to pick our battles for the greater good and let other things go by the wayside.

Read more on Literature

Certain plot points are overexplained; others are left to fall by the wayside.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Over the years, many multipolar efforts have fallen by the wayside, including the Non-Aligned Movement, the New International Economic Order, the Group of 77 and the World Social Forum.

Read more on Salon

Race and ethnicity fell by the wayside, he wrote, while creedal elements remained strong.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Will a mission have to fall by the wayside as well?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal