above

== English == === Alternative forms === aboue (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana. The preposition, adjective and the noun derive from the adverb. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /əˈbʌv/, enPR: ə-bŭvʹ Rhymes: -ʌv === Preposition === above Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing. [first attested before 1150.] In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface. [first attested before 1150] Antonyms: below, beneath Farther north than. [first attested before 1150] Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise. [first attested around 1150–1350] (figuratively) Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts. [first attested around 1150–1350] Higher in rank, status, or position. [first attested around 1150–1350] (Scotland) In addition to; besides. [first attested around 1150–1350] Surpassing in number or quantity; more than. [first attested around 1350–1470] In preference to. Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards; Beyond; on the other side. (theater) Upstage of. ==== Usage notes ==== (surpassing in number or quantity): passing into the adverbial sense. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === above (not comparable) Directly overhead; vertically on top of. [first attested before 1150.] Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go. [first attested before 1150.] Into or from heaven; in the sky. [first attested around 1150–1350] In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream. [first attested around 1150–1350] Higher in rank, power, or position. [first attested around 1150–1350] (archaic) In addition. [first attested around 1150–1350] More in number. [first attested around 1350–1470] Above zero; above freezing. [first attested in the mid 20th century.] (biology) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === above (not comparable) Of heaven; heavenly. [first attested around (1150 to 1350).] (by ellipsis) Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page. [first attested in the mid 18th century.] ==== Usage notes ==== Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word said, mentioned, quoted, or the like: the above(-said) observations the above(-cited) reference the above(-quoted) articles ==== Translations ==== === Noun === above (uncountable) Heaven. [first attested around 1150–1350] Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page. Higher authority. (archaic) betterment, raised status or condition. ==== Usage notes ==== The preposition above is often used further elliptically as a noun by omitting the associated noun, where it is should be clear what is omitted: e.g. See the above. ==== Related terms ==== abovesaid aboves'd ==== Translations ==== === See also === Category:English phrasal verbs formed with "above" === References === Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "The vertical axis", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8 Laurence Urdang (editor), The Random House College Dictionary (Random House, 1984 [1975], →ISBN), page 4 Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], →ISBN), page 4 William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “above”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “above”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “above, prep.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC. == Middle English == === Preposition === above alternative form of aboven