(a) Above and touching (sth.); seated upon (sth.); supported by (sth.); also used, in fig. context, with a person as obj. [quot. a1225(c1200)]; (b) based on (truth, authority, etc.); grounden ~; (c) riding upon (a horse, horse’s back); also, carried on (a hide, a man’s back); also, sitting on (a bench); (d) onto (sb. or sth.), on; also, down onto (sb. or sth.), down on [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (a)]; also, covering (a wound, part of the body, etc.); doun ~; (e) of an abstraction: onto (sb. or sth.), on; down onto (sb. or sth.), down on; also, affecting (sb. or sth.), on; (f) ~ trone, on a throne; also, in majesty.

(a) Indicating motion to a place higher than that previously occupied: up onto (a hill, horse, etc.); also, up into (a tree); ~ loft (heigh, heighte), up into the air, heaven, etc.; geten ~ heighte, to escape; (b) indicating a change of place with no significant change in elevation: up onto (a shore, land); (c) up over (channels, banks, rocks); up ~; (d) over (the sea, the ground), along.

(a) Poised on (feet, toes, knees); also, walking on (the feet); also, of a snake: moving on (its chest); (b) onto (the knees); (c) rennen ~ whele, to go on continuously; turnen ~, rotate on (a celestial point).

(a) On the surface of (the earth, sea, a wall, etc.); also, in (a wall), on (a board) [quots. c1390]; also, across (a surface) [quot. c1400(?c1380)]; heigh ~, high on (the leg) [could also be construed as up adv. 1a.(a)]; (b) in contact with (a head, helmet, etc.); smiten (gliden, etc.) ~; (c) adhering to (skin, a wall, etc.); (d) ~ erthe (lond, molde, etc.), in the world, throughout the world; also, alive.

(a) At the summit of (a hill, tower, etc.), atop; (b) on top of (a head, torch), on; ~ loft, on top.

(a) Around (an arm, a body, etc.), encircling; clothing (sb., the skin, etc.); also, over (sb., part of a bird) as a covering; (b) above but not touching (sb. or sth.), over; overlooking (sb. or sth.); (c) of the hand of God, the Holy Spirit: covering (sb.) as a token of grace; (d) ~ al thing, above all else.

(a) Organically attached to (part of the body); growing on (skin, a tree, etc.); (b) suspended from (a tree, cross, etc.), hung on; affixed to (sth.), attached to; also, spitted on (a skewer); also, carried on (one’s person) [quot. a1450 Eagle Magic]; (c) dependent upon (God, sth.); contingent upon the attainment of (a state); also, until (the occurrence of a corrective action) [quot. 1465-6].

(a) At (a place or position); also, into (a position); also, into the presence of (sb.); ~ the lift (right, etc.) side; comen ~, to come into the presence of (sb.); also, of an emotion: come upon (sb.), happen to; gon ~, of sleep: come upon (sb.); (b) alongside (a river, territory, etc.), bordering, by; also, parallel to (a specified line); also, on (a journey); (c) near (sth.); also, with (sb.) [last quot.]; (d) ~ bothe parties (halves), ~ the two sides, on both sides; ~ sere halves, ~ everi side, on all sides, everywhere; ~ honde, nearby, at hand; also fig. [quot. a1393]; ~ roume, at a distance; (e) ~ that other side, on the other hand, alternatively; (f) ~ heigh, on high; also, in heaven [quot. a1225(c1200) should be deleted from on prep. 7.(f)].

(a) By or through physical contact with (sb. or sth.), against; in or into physical contact with (sth.); fallen ~, to fall on (one’s side); lenen ~, lean on (sth., one’s side); pleien ~, play on (a musical instrument); (b) in physical opposition to (sb., a city, etc.), against; (c) indicating the object of adversative action or speech: against (sb. or sth., oneself); leien (putten) honde ~; (d) indicating the object of hostile emotion: against (sb.).

(a) Within the confines of (the earth), on; in (heaven, the firmament); (b) inside the boundaries of (Christendom, a manor, etc.); ~ lond, in the country [cp. up-lond adv.]; (c) within the period of (a day).

Into the control, possession, or realm of concern of (sb., oneself); attaching to (sb.); ~ moder half, maternal.

Within (an enclosed space), inside; also, as intrinsic to (sth.), as part of the nature of.

(a) Of God’s spirit, an abstraction, etc.: in (sb., someone’s heart), within; also, into (someone’s mind) [quot. a1382, 2nd]; (b) of a disease or condition: afflicting (sb., oneself, an animal); of an injury: affecting (the brain).

In the course of (a narrative); within (a book, letter, etc.); pouren (reden) ~ bok, to read a book.

(a) Among a group of (persons or things), in the midst of; also, in company with (sb.); (b) included in (a beard), in.

Into (pieces).

(a) In the direction of (sb. or sth.), toward; also, at (sb.), to;—freq. used with ref. to speaking or looking; also in fig. context [quot. a1393]; ~ the hed, headfirst; also, impetuously, rashly [quot. c1440]; smellen ~, to smell (an odor); (b) behind (sb.);—used of the closing of a door.

Away from (sb.), from; also, out of (sth.).

In temporal uses: (a) at (a certain time); on (a certain day, occasion, etc.); also, at the time of (death); ~ a dai; ~ on, q.v.; ~ that, with that, at that time; ~ the pointe, at the point in time (when sth. occurs); (b) during (the night, day, a specified period); ~ continuinge, incessantly; ~ daies (nightes), during the daytime (nighttime); ~ ordre of right, during the due legal proceedings; ~ seven, in seven days, within the span of seven days’ time; ~ while, within a short space of time; (c) after (Easter, noon, a while); ~ longe (lengthe), after a long time, after a while; at length, finally.

Engaged in (an action or activity); engrossed in (sth.); ~ hire pleie, happily; biginnen ~, to begin (a task, journey).

(a) In (a state or condition); ~ heigh, to a great extent; ~ lif, alive; (b) with (someone’s or God’s blessing); (c) in (a sequence); ~ a reue; (d) in (a certain manner); ~ cas (chaunce), by chance; ~ hap (happes), perhaps; ~ heighte, aloud; (e) into (a heap); (f) in (a certain language); (g) into (a state or condition); ~ neue, into a new state; setten ~ a fir, to set (sth.) on fire.

(a) In regard to (sb. or sth.), as to, with respect to; also, in the matter of (a topic, question); (b) with reference to (a text), concerning; (c) with attention to (sb. or sth.), about; focused on (sth.); thinken ~; (d) in charge of (sb. or sth.), over; of sleep: dominating (sb.), controlling; (e) surpassing (sb. or sth.), above, beyond; also, in triumph over (an enemy); (f) in relation to (sb.), toward.

In selected phrases;—freq. used postpositively: (a) bileven (leven, trouen) ~, to believe in (God, Satan, God’s power, etc.); (b) deliten (gladen) ~, to take pleasure in (sb.); loven ~, love (sb.); (c) fien ~, to cry fie on (sb.); (d) reuen ~, haven merci (pite) ~, to take pity on (sb. or sth.); (e) sweren ~, to swear by (sth.), swear on; (f) ben trusti ~, to be trustful of (sb.); trusten ~, place reliance on (sb.); (g) werken ~, to work with (sth.); also, bring about (sin); (h) wondren ~, to wonder at (sb. or sth.).

(a) On behalf of (sb. or sth.), for the sake of, for; for (sth.); also, paid to (sb.) [quot. 1452]; also, representing (a side in a dispute) [quot. 1448]; (b) awaiting (sb. or sth.); also, attending to (sb. or sth.); (c) for (each unit), per (unit).

(a) Because of (sth.), on account of; (b) by means of (sb. or sth.), through.

(a) In accordance with (sth.), conforming to; ~ resoun, within reason; ~ right, in truth, truly; (b) to the extent of (one’s power); (c) on the authority of (someone’s honor, warranty, etc.); at one’s own (discretion, will); also in asseverations; (d) at the risk of (sth.), under penalty of; ~ his hed (deth, lif, etc.), at the risk of his life; (e) at (someone’s expense or cost); also, for (a reasonable remuneration) [quot. 1423].

In phrases: biyeten (yeten) ~, to beget (a child) on (a woman).

On the model of (sb.).

(a) Over and above (sth.); harm ~ harm, sinne ~ sinne, etc.; (b) approximately (some number).