Middle English Dictionary Entry

abǒve(n prep.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms abǒve(n prep. Also abof(f)e.
Etymology

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
Directly over (but not touching or resting upon), vertically up from.
Show 10 Quotations
1b.
Higher up than (sth.) on the written page or on the face of an astrolabe.
Show 2 Quotations
1c.
(a) Resting upon, lying on or over, covering, upon; (b) ~ erthe, above ground, unburied; living, among the living, on earth; (c) fig. watching over, protecting.
Show 16 Quotations
2.
(a) At or to a higher level than; on higher ground than; (b) upstream from, further from an ocean than; (c) in personal names.
Show 31 Quotations
3.
Having greater height than, taller than, towering over.
Show 8 Quotations
4.
Higher on the body than, nearer the crown of the head.
Show 8 Quotations
5.
Upon the outer surface of, on the outside of; esp., over (one's clothing).
Show 9 Quotations
6.
Higher in a musical scale than.
Show 1 Quotation
7.
(a) Higher in rank than, in authority over, superior to; (b) higher at the table than, in a place of greater honor than, taking precedence over; (c) drawen ~, to lord it over (sb.); overcoming ~, a triumph over.
Show 23 Quotations
8.
(a) To a greater degree or extent than, more than, beyond, exceeding; ~ al, ~ al thing, ~ everi thing, above all; (b) better than, more desirable than, superior to; (c) louder than; (d) later than, after; (e) numerically greater than.
Show 27 Quotations
9.
(a) Beyond the reach of, unattainable by, not to be grasped or understood by; (b) not subject to, not limited by, out of the power of.
Show 8 Quotations
10.
In addition to, besides, over and above.
Show 4 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)151 : The hert berith os aboue the boor.
    • Note: ?New sense
    Note: Does aboue = rather than?
    Note: See above(n prep. 8.(a)
  • c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1080 : Þe ȝonge childe of feftene ȝere He ȝode amang þam, als ȝe may here, A fote abowne þam alle.
    • Note: ?New sense
    Note: ?taller than; ?superior to

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.