Definition of come by

The phrase "come by" originated in Middle English, around the 1400s. At that time, the word "by" had different meanings, and one of them was "close to," or "in the vicinity of."So, when people said "come by," they meant "come near to a certain place or person." The word "come" is a verb that means "to approach or arrive at a place." When we say "come by," we're using both words together to mean "please stop by or visit us" or "please come to a specified place." Over time, the meaning of "by" has evolved, and now it's often used as a preposition to indicate direction or motion. However, the use of "come by" as a phrasal verb still remains, and it's a common expression in modern English. In summary, "come by" is a phrasal verb that originated in Middle English, where "by" meant "close to." The phrase became widely used to mean "please visit us" or "please come to a specific place." The word "by" has since developed new meanings, but the phrase "come by" has preserved its original meaning as a popular expression in English today.