Middle English Dictionary Entry

on prep.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms on prep. Also ōn, one, onne, hon & (frequently before vowel or initial h) ā̆n & ane, (early) æn, (errors) and, un.
Etymology OE; cp. A on, WS, K on, an.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Above and touching (sth.), on top of, on; placed on (some support, a bench, bed, the back, etc.), resting on, seated on; on a foundation of (sth.); lying on (a woman); wound ~ wound, one wound on top of another; (b) riding on (a horse, etc.); carried on (the wind), borne on; supported on (stirrups); ~ hors and ~ fet, ~ hors (and, or) ~ fot, ~ hors-bak and (~) fot [see also hors n. 2. (b), hors-bak (a)]; (c) onto (sb. or sth., a horse, etc.); (d) down onto (sb. or sth.); (e) of an abstraction -- of love, grace, a benefit, disease, an imposition, obligation, etc.: onto (sb.), to; down onto (sb.); also, on (sb. or sth.), affecting (sb. or sth.); of death: close upon (sb.); casten herte ~, leien love ~, to devote affection to (sb.); (f) of age, years: onto (sb.); also, on (sb.); hou fele yeres ben ~ the? how old are you?; elde is bistolen ~ me, old age has crept up on me.
Show 110 Quotations
2.
(a) Poised on (part of the body, the feet, knees, hands), standing on (the feet); ~ al four, ~ hondes and ~ fet, ~ knes and hondes, on all fours; ~ fot (fet); ~ kne(s; [see also fot 14. (n), (o); honde 1b. (f); kne 1b. (g), (h)]; (b) onto (the knees, the shoulder); ~ ende, onto (one end), into an upright position.
Show 27 Quotations
3.
(a) On (a surface, floor, wall, the ground, etc.); on (the sea); on (parchment, a tablet); (b) at (a part of the body), on; on (the shield, the helmet); also, on (sb., his soul) [quot.: a1450]; (c) onto (the land); onto (a part of the body); out ~, out onto (sea); (d) across (a surface), along, over; over (the waves).
Show 48 Quotations
4.
(a) Upon (sth. high, a hill, step, bridge, dais, etc.); at the top of (a hill, a tower, the head), on top of, atop; (b) onto (sth. high, or relatively high, a roof, the head), up onto; up (a staircase); lepen ~, to jump onto (sb.).
Show 35 Quotations
5.
(a) Around (sb. or sth.), on the outside of, surrounding; of clothes, armor: on (sb.); don ~ to gird (one's weapons) on (oneself), put (a garment) on (oneself); also, put (a cape) on (sb.); (b) above but not touching (sth.), above, over; (c) before (sb.) as protection, in front of (sb.); (d) more than (sth.), above, beyond; ~ al thing, above all else.
Show 24 Quotations
6.
(a) Organically attached to (part of the body); growing on (a body, a stock, tree, skin, etc.); growing from (a wall); (b) suspended from (sb. or sth.), hung on; fixed to (sth.); also, spitted on (sth.); pierced by (a knife); (c) contingent upon (sth.), depending on; hangen ~, lien ~, etc.
Show 38 Quotations
7.
(a) At (a place or position), in; also, into (a position), to; up to (sb.); ~ hed, in the first place; ~ mid, ~ the middel, in the middle of (sth., somewhere) [see also mid n. 1. (b)]; ~ mid-ward, in or into the midst of (sth.); ~ mid-wei, half way; ~ a thef, into the presence of a thief; ~ stede, in place of (sb.); (b) along (a path, road), on (a journey); on (a scent); (c) in or from (a certain direction); ~ side, to the side, aside; ~ no side, in no direction; ~ ech half (a side), into every part, in all directions; ~ everi half (honde), from all sides; (d) in phrases denoting position: ~ ech (either, everi, his, that other, right, this) half [see also half n. 4a. (a), 4b.]; ~ honde(s, close at hand; ~ sides honde, privately; ~ either (his, the right) honde [see also honde 7. (a)]; ~ either (hire) partie; ~ ech (either, everi, other, that other, our, thi, this) side; ~ bothe hondes (partes); ~ bothe (two) parties; ~ bothe (sere) sides; (e) in correl. constructions: ~ on half..~ other half; ~ the on (the right) honde..~ that other (the lift) honde; ~ that (upon the) on parte..~ that other (the other parte); ~ that on partie..~ that other (partie); ~ his (the on, the right) side..~ hire (the other, the lift) side; (f) in phrases sometimes denoting direction: ~ bak, back, backwards; ~ heigh, upwards, up above, high up [see also heigh 8b. (a), (b)]; ~ heighte, upwards, up high, high [see also heighte 1b. (a)]; ~ loft, upwards, up high [see also loft 3a. (a), (b), (d), 3c. (a), (b)]; ~ loue, below [see also loue n.(3) 1. (b)]; ~ round, in a circle, around; ~ slent (slont), obliquely; ~ wide, around, in several directions; putten ~ bak, to drive (sb.) back.
Show 133 Quotations
8.
(a) By or through physical contact with (sb. or sth.), against; in physical contact with (sth.), at; fallen (spurnen, trippen) ~, to stumble over (sth.); gnauen ~, gnaw at (sth.); souken ~, suck at (the breast); (b) in physical opposition to (sb., enemies, their territory, animals), against, at; spitten ~, to spit at (sb., someone's face); werpen stones ~, throw stones at (sb.); (c) in phrases describing physical force: on (sb. or sth.), onto; beten ~, to beat on (sb. or sth.) [see also beten v. (1) 2a. (a)]; dingen ~, beat on (sb.) [see also dingen v. 1c. (a)]; fallen (setten, striven) ~, attack (sb.), assail [see also fallen v. 45. (a)]; hitten ~, strike on (sth.) [see also hitten v. 1. (a)]; leien on ~, have vigorous intercourse with (a woman); lenen ~, of a rod: strike on (sb.); smiten (striken) ~, strike (sb. or sth.); (d) vengaunce (wrak) ~, vengeance on (sb.); awreken ~, to avenge (an injury) on (sb.); ben awreken ~, take vengeance on (sb. or sth.) [see also awreken 2. (a), (b)]; ben avenged (revenged) ~, take vengeance on (sb.); kithen ~, display (power, bitterness) at the expense of (sb.) [see also kithen v. 3. (b)]; quiten me ~, have me revenged on (sb.); vengen ~, avenge (oneself) on (sb.); wreken ~, take vengeance on (sb., oneself), avenge (oneself) on (sb. or sth.); (e) in opposition to (sb.), against; contrary to (a law); areisen blame ~, to make accusations against (sb.); gabben ~, lie about (sb.), speak against [see gabben v. 1. (a)]; proven ~, prove (sth.) against (sb.); putten ~, allege (wrong-doing) against (sb.); sinnen ~, sin against (sb., God); etc.; (f) in phrases expressing hostility: at (sb. or sth.), against; berken ~, to bark at (sb. or sth.) [see also berken v. 1. (b)]; compleinen ~, complain against (sb. or sth.); crien (out ~, make an outcry against (sb. or sth.) [see also crien v. 3. (b)]; grennen ~, snarl at (sb., a dog) [see also grennen v. 1. (a), (d)]; heuen ~, shout at (sb.); hoten ~, cry out against (sb., one's fate); laughen ~, laugh at (sb.); maken compleint ~, complain about (sb.); pleinen ~, complain against (sb. or sth.); shouten ~, shout at (dead adversaries); etc.
Show 106 Quotations
9.
(a) Inside the boundaries of (a definable area of the surface of the earth); in (a kingdom, county, town, field, glade, wood, etc.); oure speche ~ than that we akenned weren, our native language; (b) into (a country, kingdom, town); (c) in (the world, heaven, hell, etc.); on (earth); (d) into (heaven, hell, the world); onto (the earth).
Show 72 Quotations
10.
(a) Clasped in (the hand, the hands, an owl's foot); ~ honde, in the hand; also, in (someone's) possession, under (someone's) control; beren ~ honde, to carry in the hand; also, accuse (sb.) [see also beren v.(1) 13. (g), (h), (i)]; haven ~ honde, have (sth.) in the hand; have (sb. or sth.) in possession; also, have concern with (sth.); holden ~ honde, hold (sb. or sth.) in (one's) hand; leden ~ honde, lead (sb.) by the hand; plighten (sikeren) ~ honde, assure (sb. that sth. will be done); plighten treuth ~ honde, promise (sb. to do sth.); stonden ~ honde, be in (someone's) possession; (b) into (the hand or hands, the arms, bonds); ~ honde, into (someone's) hand; into (someone's) possession, control, or power; bringen (yeven) ~ honde, to deliver (sb. or sth.) into (someone's) power; haven ~ bendes, put (sb.) in irons; henten ~ honde, take hold of (sth.); itaken ~ honde, undertake (sth.); nimen ~ honde, take hold of (sth.); take (kingdoms, troops) under control; undertake (sth., to do sth.); taken ~ honde, take hold of (sth.); also, undertake (sth., to do sth.).
Show 42 Quotations
11.
(a) In (an enclosed space, the ark, the grave, a prison, etc.), inside, within; (b) immersed in (a liquid), within; surrounded by (an element, the sky); covered over by (the earth, snow, frost); in (the sunlight, the sky); (c) dressed in (clothes); wrapped in (sth.); smeared with (ashes, blood), superficially covered with; rennen ~ blod, to run with blood; (d) cut into the surface of (a body); pierced through (sth.); (e) into (an enclosed space, a bed, a castle, a snare, a container, etc.); into (someone's ear); (f) into (a liquid, the earth, the sky).
Show 73 Quotations
12.
(a) Of God's spirit, an abstraction, an essence, a quality, life, a virtue, evil, ability, etc.: in (sb.); also, into (sb.); of God: in (a human body); also, in (sb., the sacraments); ~ appareil, reflected in clothing, evinced by clothing; (b) of the soul, an emotion, a disease: in (sb., the body, or a part of the body); of sight: in (the eyes); (c) in (thought, an organ of thought or feeling, the head, heart, etc.); also, into (the thought, mind, etc.); (d) associated with (love), in.
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13.
In (a book, part of a book, a discourse, etc.); reden ~ bok, to read a book.
Show 21 Quotations
14.
In the midst of (persons or things), among; along with (a company); also, into the midst of (devils); ileien ~ hord, to lay (sth.) up among one's treasures.
Show 10 Quotations
15.
(a) In the direction of (sb.), towards, to; callen (craven, crien, preien, remen) ~, to beseech (sb.), appeal to [see also callen 1. (d), crien v. 5. (d), 6. (b)]; clepen ~, appeal to (sb.), exhort (one's men); kithen (sheuen) ~, display (mercy, grace, etc.) to (sb.) [see also kithen v. 3. (b)]; laughen ~, laugh in a friendly way at (sb.), smile at [see also laughen 3. (a)]; wepen ~, complain to (sb.); (b) biholden (loken) ~, to look at (sb. or sth.), gaze at [see also loken v.(2) 1b. (c), 1e. (b)]; gauren (gliffen, kiken) ~, look at (sth.), glance at; sen (staren) ~, see or stare at (sb.); casten eie (lok) ~, look at (sb. or sth.); haven eie ~, pay attention to (sth.); setten sight ~, look at (sth.), see; listen ~, listen to (sth.).
Show 51 Quotations
16.
(a) In separate parts: in (three persons); ~ twein, in two parts; (b) into (two or more parts or pieces).
Show 19 Quotations
17.
(a) Of (sb. or sth.); also, out of (a period of time); in geographical contexts: of; brigge (tour) ~, the bridge (Tower) of (London); castel ~, castle of (Rouen); also with personal names: Ricard ~ Bris., Richard of Bristol, etc.; (b) from (sb.), away from; as (so) spark ~ gled, like a spark from a coal; chalengen ~, to claim (sth.) from (sb.); drauen blod ~, draw blood from (sb.); geten almes ~, wring alms from (a skinflint); haven god ~, get some good out of (sth.); winnen ~, gain from (sb.), gain (territory) from (enemies).
Show 30 Quotations
18.
(a) At (a certain time), on (a certain day, date); at (a preaching); simultaneously with (an event); on the occasion of (a situation); ~ night, at night; ~ even, at evening; (b) on a certain unspecified day, time, etc.; ~ a dai (fri-dai, morwe, night, time, tide), ~ an (after-mete, even); ~ even and amorwe, amorwe and ~ even, morning and evening; (c) during (a period of time), during the course of (a period of time, an event); ~ a dai, during one day; ~ the dai, during the day; ~ daies (nightes), by day (night), during the day (night); ~ drem, during a dream; ~ (the) night, during the night; ~ siknesse, while sick; (d) for the whole of (a period of time), throughout; ~ echenesse, forever; a peni ~ a dai, a penny a day; (e) by the end of (a period of time), within; ~ sele, in good time; ~ a while, after a time, in a little while; (f) in adverb phrases of time: ~ afteward, near the end of (May); ~ alre erest, ~ angin (firste, frume, frumthe), at first; ~ ende (lengthe), at last; ~ er, formerly, before; ~ late, lately.
Show 108 Quotations
19.
(a) In (an action or activity), engaged in; during the course of (an activity); (b) with gerund: in (doing sth.), while; in the course of (doing, or being done).
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20.
(a) In (a state or condition); afflicted with (sickness); ~ (a) blase, ~ (a) loue, ~ fir (lei), ~ brenning fir, on fire, ablaze; ~ flote, afloat; ~ live, alive; wel (wo) was him ~ live, he was glad (sorry) to be alive; ~ six and seven, in jeopardy, at risk; ~ slep, asleep; ~ witnesse, in the sight (of sb.); yede ~ bote, did penance; setten ~ werk, to put (arms) to use; (b) with (a certain feeling or attitude); with (a certain purpose or intention); ~ dom, in judgment; ~ his fre wille, willingly; ~ werre, with warlike intent; (c) in (a form, shape, sequence); ~ (a) roue, in sequence or succession; riche ~ roue, noblemen in their ranks; reden ~ a roue, to recite (a poem or song) in order; (d) in (a certain manner); also, of (a certain kind); ~ al manere, by all means, certainly; ~ no(n manere, by no means; ~ o manere, in the same way; ~ on manere, of the same kind; ~ al (ani, mani, this) manere wise, in all (any, many, these) kinds of ways; ~ this manere of wise, in this kind of way; ~ al wise, altogether, in every way; ~ ani (eies kunnes) wise, in any (kind of) way; ~ on wise, in the same way; ~ other wise, in another way, in other ways; ~ som thing, in some way; (e) in (a group, a company); ~ hepe(s, piled up, in a group, in piles; ~ a lump, in one mass; (f) in (a certain language); (g) phrases: ~ cas (happes), perhaps [see also cas n. 3. (d)]; ~ fer, afar [cp. afer adv.]; ~ god, for a good purpose; ~ egge, on edge [see also egge n.(2) 5., & cp. Cassidy, Studies Brodeur (1963) 233-4]; ~ haste (hie, hiende, hiinge), in haste [see also haste n. 2. (a); hie n.(2) (b), (c); hiinge (a), (b)]; ~ hed, rashly, precipitately; also, in chief [quot.: ?c1200]; ~ heigh (heighte), ~ a heigh, loudly, out loud [see also heigh adj. 8b. (d), heighte n. 1b. (d)]; (h) ~ idel (unnit), to no end, uselessly [see also idel n. 1b. (a), (b)]; ~ loft, loudly, out loud [see also loft n. 3b. (e)]; ~ mis, amiss [see also amis adv.]; ~ on [see an-on adv. & conj.]; ~ res, in a rush, in spate; ~ rune, quickly; also, in passing; ~ (the) strai, at random, in a random scatter, astray; ~ warantise, for certain; ~ yevelike, equally; (i) into (a state, a condition, a position); into (one language from another); ~ blod, into a bloody state.
Show 188 Quotations
21a.
(a) With respect to (sb. or sth.), in regard to, as to, in the matter of; also, compared to; ~ eie, to the eye; haven parte ~, to participate in (sth.); (b) about (sb. or sth.), concerning; also, concerned with (sb. or sth.), intent on, concentrated on; war ~, aware of (sb.); connen ~, to know about (sth.); lien ~, lie about (sb.), calumniate (sb.); remembren ~, remember (sb. or sth.); seien ~, speak about (sb.); tellen ~, tell about (sb. or sth.); thinken (bithinken) ~, think about (sb. or sth.), think of; etc.; (c) with respect to (a dimension); ~ brede, in breadth; also, far and wide, abroad [see also brede n.(2) 1a. (a), 5b. (b), (c)]; ~ heigh (heighte, loft), in height [see also heighte n. 1a. (a)]; ~ lengthe, lengthwise; also, in length [see also lengthe n. 2b. (c), (e), (g)]; ~ long, along; also, (stretched out) at length; ~ long and brod, in length and breadth; (d) in domination over (sb. or sth.), over; in authority or power over (people, a kingdom); having jurisdiction over (certain crimes); abbot (bishop, duk, king, lord) ~, abbot (bishop, etc.) of (a place); abbotriche (bishopdom, bishopriche, erldom) ~, abbacy (bishopric, earldom) of (a place); etc.; (e) towards (sb.), in relation to (sb.); willen ~, to long for (sth.).
Show 113 Quotations
21b.
In selected phrases: (a) bileven (ileven, leven, trouen) ~, to believe in (God, Christ, etc.); bileven ~, believe in (a false god, a false prophet); leven ~, believe in (a law or religion, an idol); bisetten bileve ~, have faith in (worldly goods); (b) blissen ~, to rejoice in (God); gladen ~, take pleasure in (sth.), rejoice over; wepen ~, weep over (sb.); (c) fien ~, to cry fie on (sth.); fi ~, fie on (sb. or sth.); out ~, out upon (thee, you); (d) lesen ~, to waste (labor, love, etc.) on (sb.); ben loren ~, be lost or wasted on (sb.); (e) reuen ~, haven merci ~, to take pity on (sb. or sth.), have mercy on; (f) sweren ~, to swear by (sth.), swear on; (g) treisten ~, to trust in (sth.); trusten ~, place reliance on (sb. or sth.); haven trust ~, trust in (sth.); hopen ~, have hope in (sb. or sth.); fasten hope ~, place trust in (the Devil); (h) wondren ~, to wonder at (sb. or sth.); ben merveilled ~, be amazed at (sth.).
Show 64 Quotations
22.
(a) On behalf of (sb. or sth.), for the benefit of, for; ~ half (bihalve), on behalf of (sb.) [see also half n. 7a. (b), 7b. (a), (b); bihalve 2. (a)]; maken ~, to work on (a poem); singen ~, sing (a song); spenden (spenen, dispenden) ~, expend (sth.) for (sb. or sth.); werken ~, work at (sth.); etc.; (b) ~ name, in the name (of sb.); (c) awaiten ~, to wait for (sth.), expect; waiten ~, look out for (the weather); lien in awaite ~, look out for (sth.).
Show 43 Quotations
23.
(a) Because of (sb. or sth.), on account of; along (long) ~, owing to (sb. or sth.), due to; tarien ~, to delay over (sb.), waste time on; (b) by means of (sb. or sth.), through, with; ~ dere stevene, in a grievous voice; (c) isen ~, to perceive by (a star that sth. will happen); isene (sene) ~, apparent through (sb. or sth.), visible in; lernen ~ the bok, acquire learning; lernen (leren, techen) ~ bok, educate (sb.); lered ~ bokes, educated; pleien ~, play on (a musical instrument); ~ loud, aloud [see also loud adj. 1. (d)].
Show 53 Quotations
24.
(a) In accordance with (sb., the will of sb., a law), subject to, under; under (someone's control); ~ crist fulwed, baptized in Christ; ~ wille, at (someone's) will; (b) admitting or imposing responsibility: liable to (a penalty), at (risk of a loss or of life); on (a condition); at (someone's expense or cost); ~ his oune hed, on his own responsibility; ~ mi fleshe, at the price of physical discomfort; ~ mi peril, I guarantee it; ~ peine of, on pain of (a penalty); (c) on the authority of (someone's word).
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25.
(a) Of a child: in (a woman); boren ~, born by (a woman); (b) with (a woman), together with.
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26.
In the form of (sth.), by way of, as; being (sth.); ~ itokeninge, as a symbol.
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27.
In conjunctive phrases: ~ aventure, lest (sth. happen), in case; ~ entent that, with the intent that (sth. happen); ~ that, since (sth. is the case) [quot.: c1450]; ~ that [cp. a-þat], until.
Show 5 Quotations
28.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.55].
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)37 : Ȝif þu wult habben bone to drihten, þu most beon on ward þine sunnen.
    • Note: ?sense covered
  • (c1435) Contract in OSSLH 4187 : The seid John…ensured youre seid suppliant on faith and on his pristhode [to] delyuer the seid godes on the morow.
    • Note: New phrase

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Quot. a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34) 95/7 removed from sense 7.(f); treated instead under upon prep. sense 7.(f), q.v.

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