• Above

    Pronunciation

    • RP , IPA: /əˈbÊŒv/
    • US IPA: /əˈbÊŒv/
    • Rhymes: -ÊŒv

    Origin

    From Middle English above ("above"), aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan from a ("on") + bufan ("over"), (akin to Icelandic ofan ("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.

    Full definition of above

    Preposition

    1. (physical) Higher.
      1. Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, as clothing. First attested prior to 1150.
      1. He always put his coat on above his sweater.
      2. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; — opposed to below or beneath. First attested prior to 1150.
        • unknown date Translation of Genesis 2:20,Fowl that may fly above the earth.
        • 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 5, Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,..., and the light of the reflector fell full upon her.
        • 2013, William E. Conner, An Acoustic Arms Race, Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.
      3. (representational) Farther north than. First attested prior to 1150.
        Idaho is above Utah.
      4. Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)
      5. (social) Superior.
        1. 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 to 1350.)
          Even the chief of police is not above suspicion.
          He was aways above reproach.
          • unknown date Marlowe,Thy worth ... is actions above my gifts.
          • unknown date translation of Acts 36:13,I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.
        2. Higher in rank, status, or position. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)
        3. In preference to.
        4. Too proud to stoop; averse to; disinclined; too honorable to give.
          The owner was above taking more than a token salary.
        5. In addition to; besides. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)
        6. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. First attested around (1350 to 1470.)
          • 1959, Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax Chapter 1, Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.
        7. (theater) Upstage.
        8. Beyond; on the other side.

    Usage notes

    (surpassing in number or quantity) Passing into the adverbial sense.

    Derived terms

    Adverb

    above

    1. Directly overhead; vertically on top of. First attested prior to 1150.
      • 2013-05-11, The climate of Tibet: Pole-land, Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything.
    2. Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go. First attested prior to 1150.
      • unknown date DrydenThat was said above.
    3. Into or from heaven; in the sky. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)He's in a better place now, floating free as the clouds above.''
    4. In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)
    5. Higher in rank, power, or position. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)He appealed to the court above.
    6. (archaic) In addition. First attested around (1150 to 1350.)
    7. More in number. First attested around (1350 to 1470.)
    8. Above zero; above freezing. First attested in the mid 20th century.It was a cold day at only 5 above.
    9. (biology) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.The sparrow I saw was rufous above and off-white below.

    Derived terms

    • "Above" is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above-described, above-mentioned, above-named, above-said, above-specified, above-written, above-given.

    Adjective

    above

    1. Of heaven; heavenly. First attested around (1150 to 1350).
    2. 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

    Noun

    above

    (uncountable)
    1. Heaven. First attested around (1150 to 1350).
    2. Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
    3. Higher authority.

    Usage notes

    Above is often used further elliptically as a noun by omitting the noun, where it is should be clear what is omitted.

    See the above.

    Related terms

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