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bi-, buy, by, or bye? Do not confuse the spelling of bi-, buy, by, or bye, which sound similar. Bi- is a prefix meaning "two" or "both" (as in biannual, bilateral), whereas the prefix by- means "secondary" or "past" (as in byproduct, bygone). Note that the noun by-election can also be spelled bye-election. Buy is chiefly used as a verb, meaning "acquire by payment" (as in buy a house), and occasionally as a noun: These boots were a good buy. By is an adverb or preposition meaning "beside," "past," "through," etc. (as in stand by the window, as the years flew by). Bye is used as a noun, denoting an automatic advance in a competition, or as a short form of goodbye.
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