Middle English Dictionary Entry
abǒve(n adv. as adj.
Entry Info
Forms | abǒve(n adv. as adj. |
Etymology | Used after nouns and in pred. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Being directly over (but not touching or resting upon), above, overhead; God ~, heven ~, etc.: (b) being upon something, lying or resting above; (c) being at a higher level; (d) higher in the body, upper; (e) of a garment: worn over something else, outside, outer; (f) higher in a musical scale.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Assump.Virg.(1) (Cmb Gg.4.27)128 : Þe þridde day we schulle come, Aungles fram heuene aboue.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)636 : In ðe wa[l]kene a-buuen.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)281 : Þo preyd charls to god abone Þat he him sent grace sone.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2479 : Now wol I stynten of the goddes aboue.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.207 : They loued me so wel, by god aboue.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2073 : For god aboue..Swich open wrong shal in hast redresse.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1141 : Cupido..At preyere of his moder hye above, Hadde the liknesse of the child ytake.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)456 : Madame, the God above Foryelde yow.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)49/193 : I thank my god in hevyn above.
- a1500 As I went þrow (Adv 19.3.1)26 : To god a-bouun be joy & blysse!
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4082 : He slug Zabri for godes luuen -- Hise hore bineðe and him abuuen, ðurg and ðurg boðen he stong.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)15 : Þe ten corounes aboue betokneþ þe ouercominge.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4912 : A blewe bleaut o-bofe brad him al ouire.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2204 : What haukes sitten on the perche aboue.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2217 : 'Abyde,' quoþ on, on þe bonke abouen ouer his hede.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)209/33 : If enpostyms be in partijs aboue, þan þou schalt ȝeue catarticum.
e
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)236 : Ac þes kertel ssel habbe þane huyte gerdel aboue..Þe gerdel aboue betocneþ chastete.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)3366 : Scho hir arayed in better wede, A mantel aboue clad in rede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)153 : A strayt cote..stek on his sides, A mere mantile abof, mensked withinne.
f
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)245/3 : Fa be proprechaunt in Ffaut aboue.