Middle English Dictionary Entry
aloft(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | aloft(e adv. Also oloft(e. |
| Etymology | From phr. on loft(e; olofte from ON, cp. OI ā lopt(i. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. loft.
1.
(a) Up in the sky or air; high above, at or to a height; high ~; (b) on top, atop; above, upstairs; also, on (a surface); lenden ~, go up (to sb.); (c) upward; liften, heven ~, lift up, raise; striden ~, mount.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11823 : Jesu Crist Swa þolede þe deofell To brinngenn himm heȝhe upp o lofft.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1053 : Þe dewe..Vapoured vp in-to the heire alofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.950 : Next the valeye is the hil o-lofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.259 : As though he sholde falle depe From heighe olofte.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)86 : The egle a-loffte, the snayl goth lowe doun.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3104 : Lyk as the bodyes [i.e. the planets] hih a-loffte Lyst ordeyne.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)118 : Aloft was the sterre.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11961 : Þær wass greȝȝþedd sæte o lofft.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.817 : Hih alofte Upon a Tour.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3020 : Upon a fethrebed alofte He lith.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.169 : Þe saile was hie o loft.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1183 : Þe borȝ watz so bygge baytayled alofte.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.44 : Aloft and a-grounde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)569 : Miche watz þe gyld gere þat glent þer alofte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1818 : A riche rynk..Wyth a starande ston stondande alofte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1245 : The kynge in his chambre alofte lay in his bed.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)219 : Þe child lay in a bed o loft.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)426/729 : The pleyn that was aloffte Was plenteuous off floures.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1088 : So that the flaume vpbende, The cellis forto..chaufe olofte.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.795 : Take an erthon potte..& cley hit wel oloft.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)331 : Þe paueloun was..kerneld a-lofte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)858 : He lendis o-loft to þe lede [i.e. the king].
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)996 : Cast þem [herbs]..in to a vesselle & sett youre soverayn alloft.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)109 : Thei..brought hym vp to a wyndowe a-lofte.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)119 : We buldeþ..A Chirche and A Chapaile with chambers a-lofte.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.359 : Clement..cauȝte hym bi þe myddel For to lifte hym alofte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2060 : Þenn steppez he into stirop & strydez alofte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2288 : Heuez hit [the axe] alofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5921 : Ne wolde..þe flawme vp ascende alofte.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)41 : I..myn eiȝen cast On euere side, now lowe & eft aloft.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4751 : Layn ladders alenght & oloft wonnen.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Spencer 19)1.34.33b : That oo bacyn henge al doun to grounde and that other was reysed a lofte.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)532 : I se swerdes lifte a-loufte.
2.
In or to heaven, on high.
Associated quotations
- c1390 To loue (Vrn)216 : Þi loue..þat bringeþ vs alle o-loft.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2086 : He sittes wit drightin hei o loft [Frf: on-loft; Göt: in heuen].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.90 : Who-so is trewe..is a god bi þe gospel, agrounde and aloft [A: on lofte].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.145 : Leue þow neuere, þat ȝone liȝte hem alofte brynge Ne haue hem out of helle.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.543 : Þan was lufly Katereyn lyft vp o-loft.
- a1500 Chaucer PF (Cmb Gg.4.27)683 : Saynt volantyne that ert ful hye of lofte [StJ-O: on lofft].
3.
Upright, erect; holden, raisen, stonden ~, hold, raise, stand up.
Associated quotations
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)773 : Þai riden..Wiþ spere oloft & goinfaynoun, Malkan king to mete.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.274 : Þe erles of Scotlond had reysed baner oloft.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)208 : The werbles..Wherby the walles reised weren a-lofte [vr. on loft].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.80 : A sadder vyne a bigger stake olofte [L gloss.: sursum] Mot holde: a lighter vyne is with a lesse Stakyng vpholde.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)578 : Was non left vpon lyue þat a lofte standeþ, Saue o-lepy olyfaunt at þe grete ȝate.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)169 : Þe boyes were so wery for-fught Þat þay myȝt not fyȝt mare oloft, But creped þen about.
4.
With voice raised; aloud, loudly.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.169 : Musique..techeth..A man to make melodie Be vois..Thurgh notes of acordement, The whiche men pronounce alofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2785 : Ful demurly, lowe and nat a-lofte..with sobre wordis softe.
5.
Of high rank; in or to a stronger or more favorable position, on top; grouen up ~, grow up; holden up herte ~, buoy up the spirit.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11849 : Te laþe gast Aȝȝ eggeþþ hise þeowwess To draȝhenn hemm aȝȝ upp o lofft..To ȝeornenn affterr laferrddom.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2272 : Fieblesce is set alofte, And strengthe was put under fote.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.152 : Til thei be growen up alofte Into the youthe of lusti age.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2216 : He that stant to day alofte..Tomorwe he falleth.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)74.7 : Þis mekes he ful ofte, And þis vpheues he olofte [L exaltat].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.222 : Of briddes and of bestes..to knowe Why somme be alowe and somme alofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2019 : Of Maris arne þe chances double: Now vp, now doun, now lowe, now olofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8146 : Prothesilaus..Þoruȝ whos manhod Grekis wern a-lofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.922 : Som han feyned..And thus they wolde han brought hemself alofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.348 : Forwhi good hope halt up hire herte o-lofte.
6.
(a) ben ~, be in the air, be present, be around, be going on; holden ~, carry on (sth.); (b) maken, raisen ~, start (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 How GWife(1) (Em 106)52 : Ȝif þou be on eni stede þar god drinke is alofte..Mesureli tak þerof.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2563 : Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1125 : Þe olde lorde of þat leude Cowþe wel halde layk alofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.670 : Careth nought what weder is a-lofte.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1080 : Vpon eche side our sorow is a-lofte.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)92/45 : Whan mery weder is a-lofte.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1248 : He made his play aloft, His gammes he gan kiþe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.245 : Whi þat werre was reised olofte.