Middle English Dictionary Entry
upo prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | upo prep. Also uppo, op(p)o. |
| Etymology | From up adv. & o prep.(2); also cp. upon prep. Some exx. could be construed as a collocation of up adv. & o prep.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. on prep., up prep.
1.
(a) Physically on top of (sth.), on; also, in contact with and in front of (sth.) [quot. c1230]; also, carried on (someone’s back);
(b) ~ fot, standing, on foot;
(c) of an abstraction: onto (sb.), on;
(d) on the surface of (a field), on, in; also, in (a flood); ~ loft (molde), in the air (world), living;
(e) to the top of (a building);
(f) in a position of suspension from (a cross), on; also, in a state of dependency or contingency upon (sth.) [1st 2 quots.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1046 : Tær oferr þatt arrke wass An oferrwerrc wel timmbredd…& tær uppo þatt oferrwerrc Þeȝȝ haffdenn liccness metedd Off Cherubyn.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)199/3 : His scheld…wes his leoue licome þet wes ispread o rode, brad as scheld buuen…nearow bineoðen as þe an fot efter monies wene set up o þe oðer.
- a1275 Judas (Trin-C B.14.39)4 : Þou most to iurselem oure mete for-to bugge; þritti platen of seluer þou bere up-o þi rugge.
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7037 : The Renke vp rose…And foght vpo fote as a freke noble.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)42/289 : Ne lið hit nawt to þe to legge lahe upo me.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14468 : Caym…ledde himm ut uppo þe feld & sloh himm.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14547 : He wiþþ hise suness þre & teȝȝre fowwre wifess Þærinne mihhtenn berrȝhenn hemm Fra drunncninng uppo flode.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/10 : Margarete…wiste up o þe feld hire fostmodres schep.
- a1350 Ich herdemen (Hrl 2253)1 : Ich herde men vpo mold make muche mon.
- a1350 Lutel wot hit (Hrl 2253)30 : Fayrest fode vpo loft, my gode luef, y þe greete.
e
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11810 : Þatt deofell haffde mahhte To brinngenn ure Laferrd Crist Uppo þatt heȝhe temmple.
f
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.117 : All Crisstene follkess berrhless Iss lang uppo þatt an, þatt teȝȝ Goddspelless hallȝhe lare Wiþþ fulle mahhte follȝhe rihht.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5027 : Forr all þin hellpe & all þin hald Iss uppo Godess are.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)16/24 : Ure lauerd þolede pine up o þe rode.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)205/3 : Þis blod, for ow isched up o þe earre two treon, schal makien ow sareptiens.
- a1250(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Tit D.18)62/789 : Ne mahte…his heuenliche cunde…fele nowðer sar ne sorhe up o þe cruche.
2.
Indicating the object of an adversative action: at (sb.), against; fallen ~, to attack (sb.).
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)63/672 : Þe reue…fen on to feamin & gristbeatien grisliche up o þis meoke meiden.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2596 : Nimes nu swiþe forth…And slos up-o þe dogges swiþe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2761 : Faste þey fullen opo þem alle, Þat sone þer force gan doun falle.
3.
In phrase: gon ~, of sleep: to come upon (sb.).
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)148/21 : Hali redunge beo eauer i þine honden; Slep ga up o þe as þu lokest þron.
4.
Within (a written text).
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.100,105 : Himm bidde icc þatt het write rihht…All þwerrt ut affterr þatt itt iss Uppo þiss firrste bisne…& tatt he loke wel þatt he An bocstaff write twiȝȝess, Eȝȝwhær þær itt uppo þiss boc Iss writenn o þatt wise.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.179 : Mann maȝȝ uppo Goddspellboc Godnessess findenn seffne.
5.
In the direction of (sb., God), to, toward;—used with ref. to looking, calling, praying, etc.; ~ bak, backward.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8619 : He badd uppo Drihhtin Godd Þatt itt ne shollde reȝȝnenn.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)114/793 : Ha ueng to cleopien upo þe cwelleres, ant hihede ham to donne þet ham wes ihaten.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)33/22 : Tu a sunful mon art…to keasten cang ehnen up o ȝung wummon.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)219/9 : Te ancre legge on eiðer sum penitence—mare up o þe ilke þe greatluker gulte.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6521 : The troiens…frusshet þere fos fer vppo backe.
6.
During the course of (a space of time); ~ dai, on each day, a day; ~ pointe of deth, at the point of death.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6965 : Ta þreo kingess comenn Fra Kalldea till Beþþleæm Uppo þrittene daȝȝess.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)17/30 : Sepcies in die laudem dixi tibi: Seuin siþe o-po day saie I louing to þe.
- ?a1425 Brut-1333 (Dub 490)41/24 : Oppo [Rwl B.171: He wax sike, and was in poynt of deþ].
7.
In phrase: trusten ~, to place trust in (sb.).
Associated quotations
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)213 : Þeo hwile ðet ich truste uppo mon, þu…lettest me al iwurden wið þeo þet ich truste uppon.
8.
In addition to (sth.); also, over and above (sth.); peine ~ peine, sorwe ~ sorwe; ~ side, besides, in addition.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)20/318 : Ah þe meidnes habbeð up o þeo þe is to alle iliche imeane, a gerlondesche schenre þen þe sunne.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)33/536 : Hit þer to cumeð…þat unroles uuel, þat pine upo pine, þat wondrende ȝeomerunge.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)33/550 : Hwat te…loken after al þis hwen hit forwurðe, & bringe on his moder sorhe up o sorhe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13441 : Askathes the skathill had sket sones thre: The first was Lycomede…There were sones vpposyde, semly men two, To Askathes…The ton freike…Philmen was cald; The tothir mon…Menalipes heght.