Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-?
Proto-Germanic *uz-
Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-
Old English ar-
Old English ā-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *-anē
Proto-Germanic *ubanē
Proto-West Germanic *obanā
Proto-West Germanic *biobanā
Old English bufan
Old English abūfan
Middle English aboven
English above
From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana.
The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Of heaven; heavenly.
(not-comparable, qualifier:by ellipsis) Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
aboue
alternative, obsolete
lexicographic
Translations (13)
fr ci-dessus (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · nl bovenstaand (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · fi ylempänä (oleva) (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · nl hemels in de lucht (heavenly) · pl powyższy (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · da ovenstående (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · nl eerder genoemd (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · ta மேலே (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · fi taivaallinen (heavenly) · sk predchádzajúci (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · cmn 上述 (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · lv augšā (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page) · nl bovenvermeld (being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-?
Proto-Germanic *uz-
Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-
Old English ar-
Old English ā-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *-anē
Proto-Germanic *ubanē
Proto-West Germanic *obanā
Proto-West Germanic *biobanā
Old English bufan
Old English abūfan
Middle English aboven
English above
From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana.
The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.
Meanings
Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing.
He always put his coat on above his sweater.
In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface.
Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7:
And God said, Let the waters bring foorth aboundantly the mouing creature that hath life, and foule that may flie aboue the earth in the open firmament of heauen. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 1:20:
Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps, […] and the light of the reflector fell full upon her. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
Farther north than.
Idaho is above Utah.
Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise.
(figuratively) Higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; higher in measure, degree, volume, or pitch, etc. than; out of reach; not exposed to; not likely to be affected by; incapable of negative actions or thoughts.
to cut above average
Thy worth, sweet friend, is far above my gifts, 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, act I, scene i:
That's above my comprehension.
I thought you said you were above these kinds of antics.
He was always above reproach.
Even the chief of police is not above suspicion.
At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightnes of the Sunne, shining round about mee, and them which iourneyed with me. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 26:13:
Higher in rank, status, or position.
to stand head and shoulders above the rest
☞ This word [wrap] is often pronounced wrop, rhyming with top, even by ſpeakers much above the vulgar. 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 557:
(Scotland) In addition to; besides.
above and beyond the call of duty
over and above
Surpassing in number or quantity; more than.
That amount is way above our asking price.
In preference to.
Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards.
The owner was above taking more than a token salary.
arz فوق (over, on top of) · ar على (in preference to) · wa ådzeu di (in or to a higher place) · no over (more) · no over (in or to a higher place) · nl bovenop (over, on top of) · ta தாண்டி (beyond) · hu felett (in or to a higher place) · sq përpjet (farther north) · no over (superior to, surpassing) · aln mi (over, on top of) · sk nad (higher in rank) · be над (in or to a higher place) · hu felé (in or to a higher place) · nl een trapje hoger (higher in rank) · ga lastuas de (over, on top of) · ta மேல் (in or to a higher place) · pl nad (superior to, surpassing) · wa ådzeu di (superior to, surpassing) · got 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂 (over, on top of) · la super (in or to a higher place) · vec sovra (in or to a higher place) · es muy orgulloso[a], al revés (too proud or averse to) · ar شَمَالِيّ (farther north) · ar فَوقَ (in or to a higher place) · rm sura (in or to a higher place) · he מעל (more) · pt mais que (more) · id atas (in or to a higher place) · sco abune (superior to, surpassing) · he מֵעַל (over, on top of) · ru над (in or to a higher place) · pt sobre (in or to a higher place) · nl met een hogere rang (higher in rank) · pl ponad (more) · nl ten noorden van (farther north) · ta மேலே (in or to a higher place) · ta மேலும் (in addition to) · ta மேலே (out of reach, heightwise) · fi päällä (over, on top of) · fi yläpuolella (higher in rank) · da oppe over (in or to a higher place) · el από πάνω (over, on top of) · tr daha (more) · sco aboon (in or to a higher place) · hu fölött (in or to a higher place) · dsb górjejce (in or to a higher place) · sl nad (more) · kmr raserî (in or to a higher place) · fr au-dessus de (in or to a higher place) · ko ...위에 (in or to a higher place) · da over (in or to a higher place) · sh iznad (over, on top of) · bg отвъд (beyond) · pl powyżej (superior to, surpassing) · fi ylempänä (in or to a higher place) · bo ཐོད་ལ (over, on top of) · ta மேலே (superior to, surpassing) · bg по-високо от (in or to a higher place) · scn sùpira (in or to a higher place) · ne माथि (over, on top of) · yue 喺…上便 (farther north) · csm líl·e-m·yˀ (over, on top of) · fi päällä (in or to a higher place) · es suso (in or to a higher place) · la super (more) · es arriba (in or to a higher place) · sk nad (superior to, surpassing) · egy Hr:Z1 (in addition to) · gun áry (in or to a higher place) · ms atas (in or to a higher place) · it sopra (in or to a higher place) · sh nad (over, on top of) · wa dipus ki (more) · es más allá (beyond) · egy Hr:Z1 (in or to a higher place) · chn såh'-ha-lee (over, on top of) · qu pata (over, on top of) · bo ཐོག་ལ (over, on top of) · ru свы́ше (more) · nl daarenboven (in addition to) · cs nad (superior to, surpassing) · ar أَكْثٰر (more) · ar أَعْلَى (over, on top of) · es encima (over, on top of) · pdc owwe (over, on top of) · rup prisuprã (in or to a higher place) · sh nad (in or to a higher place) · grc ὑπέρ (over, on top of) · eo super (in or to a higher place) · uk над (in or to a higher place) · es sobrepasar, superar (superior to, surpassing) · es además de (in addition to) · fr par-dessus (superior to, surpassing) · da ovenover (in or to a higher place) · nl over (more) · fi ylemmäs (in or to a higher place) · fur sore (in or to a higher place) · wyi koov-ee (over, on top of) · rup disuprã (in or to a higher place) · fi mieluummin (kuin) (in preference to) · sk nad (in or to a higher place) · scn supra (in or to a higher place) · sl nad (superior to, surpassing) · nv bikáaʼgi (in or to a higher place) · ja ...の上に (in or to a higher place) · sq sipër (in or to a higher place) · acw فوق (over, on top of) · lv virs (in or to a higher place) · eo super (superior to, surpassing) · bg над (superior to, surpassing) · kmr li hindavî (in or to a higher place) · ta மேலிடம் (higher in rank) · fi lisäksi (in addition to) · ota یوقاری (in or to a higher place) · fi takana (upstage of) · pl ponad (superior to, surpassing) · he מעל (in or to a higher place) · jje 우이 (in or to a higher place) · de über (over, on top of) · ro deasupra (in or to a higher place) · es fuera de alcance (out of reach, heightwise) · no utover (superior to, surpassing) · fi ylle (out of reach, heightwise) · kw a-ugh dhe (over, on top of) · rm sesura (in or to a higher place) · ta மேலே (over, on top of) · pt em cima de (in or to a higher place) · sq përmbi (in or to a higher place) · pt mais de (more) · sq mbizotëron (superior to, surpassing) · tr yukarıya (in or to a higher place) · sl nad (in or to a higher place) · fi yläpuolella (superior to, surpassing) · de jenseits (beyond) · sk nad (more) · bg над (in or to a higher place) · mk над (over, on top of) · hi के ऊपर (over, on top of) · kmr di ser re (superior to, surpassing) · egy Hr:Z1 (over, on top of) · ta மேல் (superior to, surpassing) · my အပေါ် (in or to a higher place) · ru превы́ше (superior to, surpassing) · nl meer dan (more) · sv ovan (in or to a higher place) · abe Tasiwi (over, on top of) · arz فوق (in or to a higher place) · de über (in or to a higher place) · de über (superior to, surpassing) · kmr li ser (in or to a higher place) · cs nad (in or to a higher place) · nl bovendien (in addition to) · bg по-горе (over, on top of) · yo lórí (in or to a higher place) · tr üstünde (superior to, surpassing) · sco aboon (more) · et üles (in or to a higher place) · hu fölé (in or to a higher place) · pl nad (in or to a higher place) · rm süsur (in or to a higher place) · cy uwchben (in or to a higher place) · ta மேல் (over, on top of) · fr plus de (more) · sv ovanför (over, on top of) · pt acima (over, on top of) · ar أَعْلَى (superior to, surpassing) · de über (beyond) · ca damunt (in or to a higher place) · tl sa ibabaw ng (in or to a higher place) · uk понад (superior to, surpassing) · ota یوقاری (over, on top of) · pt acima de (more) · es sobre (in or to a higher place) · th เหนือ (in or to a higher place) · la super (superior to, surpassing) · fi yllä (in or to a higher place) · fr sur (over, on top of) · ur ... کے اوپر (in or to a higher place) · no ovenfor (in or to a higher place) · kmr zêdeyî (more) · mi runga (in or to a higher place) · nl meer dan (superior to, surpassing) · fi yllä (over, on top of) · bg отгоре на (in or to a higher place) · es asuso (in or to a higher place) · wa pus ki (more) · pl powyżej (in or to a higher place) · mi whakatamatama (superior to, surpassing) · sh na (over, on top of) · nl over (superior to, surpassing) · sco abune (in or to a higher place) · ht anlè (in or to a higher place) · sk pred (in preference to) · cmn 在...上面 (farther north) · vi trên (in or to a higher place) · ga os cionn (in or to a higher place) · ro peste (over, on top of) · ta வடக்கே (farther north) · sk na (over, on top of) · oj ishpayi'ii (over, on top of) · ta மேலே (more) · la suprā (superior to, surpassing) · sk za (more) · es eclipsar, hacer sombra (upstage of) · wa dizeu (in or to a higher place) · de über (more) · ta மேல் (higher in rank) · vec sora (in or to a higher place) · nb over (over, on top of) · hi ... के ऊपर (in or to a higher place) · cmn 在...上面 (in or to a higher place) · oc dessús (in or to a higher place) · sco aboon (superior to, surpassing) · pt acima de (superior to, surpassing) · sv över (over, on top of) · uk поза (superior to, surpassing) · sh над (in or to a higher place) · fi pohjoisempana (farther north) · ko ...우에 (in or to a higher place) · es más al norte (farther north) · bg висш (superior to, surpassing) · mr आणखी (more) · fi taaempana (upstage of) · be па-на́д (superior to, surpassing) · da ovenpå (in or to a higher place) · la suprā (in or to a higher place) · tl ibabaw ng (farther north) · bg отгоре (over, on top of) · sv över (in or to a higher place) · mr वरती (in or to a higher place) · pox boven (in or to a higher place) · fi yläpuolella (too proud or averse to) · el πάνω (in or to a higher place) · bg освен това (more) · rm survart (in or to a higher place) · fi yläpuolella (in or to a higher place) · bg още повече (more) · rm soura (in or to a higher place) · sco abune (more) · tl itaas (superior to, surpassing) · la suprā (more) · sq mbi (over, on top of) · bg над (over, on top of) · pt acima de (in or to a higher place) · fi yli (more) · es sobre (more) · eo sur (over, on top of) · es encima de (in or to a higher place) · nl hoger dan (in or to a higher place) · fi takana (beyond) · fi yläpuolella (over, on top of) · yue 喺…上便 (in or to a higher place) · nl boven (in or to a higher place) · tl sa ibabaw ng (over, on top of) · gun áry (over, on top of) · be вы́шэй (superior to, surpassing) · es a preferencia de (in preference to) · es más en rango (higher in rank)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-?
Proto-Germanic *uz-
Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-
Old English ar-
Old English ā-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *-anē
Proto-Germanic *ubanē
Proto-West Germanic *obanā
Proto-West Germanic *biobanā
Old English bufan
Old English abūfan
Middle English aboven
English above
From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana.
The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Directly overhead; vertically on top of.
Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything. 2013 May 11, “The climate of Tibet: Pole-land”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, page 80:
(not-comparable) Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go.
That angels are men in the most complete form, and enjoy every sense, may be seen above (n. 73-77); and that the light in heaven is far brighter than the light in the world (n. 126-132). 1905, Emanuel Swedenborg, chapter 19, in Heaven and Hell:
Nobody has lived in it since the summer of 1879, and it is fast going to pieces. For some three years before the date mentioned above, it was occupied by the family of Charles May 1913, Ambrose Bierce, Present at a Hanging and Other Ghost Stories:
(not-comparable) Into or from heaven; in the sky.
He’s in a better place now, floating free as the clouds above.
(not-comparable) In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream.
(not-comparable) Higher in rank, power, or position.
He appealed to the court above.
(archaic, not-comparable) In addition.
(not-comparable) More in number.
(not-comparable) Above zero; above freezing.
It was a cold day at only 5 above.
(not-comparable) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.
The sparrow I saw was rufous above and off-white below.
it sopra (overhead, on top of) · sk vyššie (in a higher place) · fi yllä (overhead, on top of) · de oben (in a higher place) · ta மேலும் (archaic: in addition) · fi yli nollan (above freezing) · es asuso (in a higher place) · cmn 高於 /高于 (higher in rank) · nv bikáaʼgi (in a higher place) · be уве́рсе (in a higher place) · uga 𐎓𐎍𐎐 (overhead, on top of) · msk taas (overhead, on top of) · fi ynnä (archaic: in addition) · ru наверху́ (in a higher place) · uk вище (in a higher place) · ga thuas (in a higher place) · cic aba' (in a higher place) · fi yläpuolella (higher in rank) · ga os cionn (overhead, on top of) · ca dalt (in a higher place) · ta மேலே (on the upper half of the dorsal surface) · pl powyżej (in a higher place) · ga os cionn (in a higher place) · no høyere (higher in rank) · ccc i'yijku shana (in a higher place) · no ovenfor (in a higher place) · fi yllä (of or in the heavens or sky) · pl powyżej (earlier in order in writing) · wa divant (earlier in order in writing) · cs výše (earlier in order in writing) · fi olla ylempiarvoinen kuin (higher in rank) · wa å hôt (of or in the heavens or sky) · cs výše (in a higher place) · de oben (earlier in order in writing) · got 𐌹𐌿𐍀𐌰 (overhead, on top of) · fr ci-dessus (earlier in order in writing) · mbb bavew (overhead, on top of) · txb kauc (overhead, on top of) · wa pus hôt (higher in rank) · fi yllä (earlier in order in writing) · bg отгоре (in a higher place) · wa ådzeu (of or in the heavens or sky) · gur zuum (overhead, on top of) · wa ådzeu (overhead, on top of) · nl boven (in a higher place) · yi אויוון (overhead, on top of) · grc ἐπάνω (overhead, on top of) · fi ylhäällä (in a higher place) · hi ऊपर (in a higher place) · be ўве́рсе (in a higher place) · cs výše (higher in rank) · el πάνω (in a higher place) · ru вы́ше (earlier in order in writing) · cy uwchben (in a higher place) · ta மேலிடம் (higher in rank) · fr au-dessus (in a higher place) · kk жоғарыда (in a higher place) · la suprā (higher in rank) · la insuper (overhead, on top of) · la suprā (overhead, on top of) · pt para cima (in a higher place) · bg по-горе (earlier in order in writing) · es arriba (earlier in order in writing) · ru вы́ше (in a higher place) · de darüber (in a higher place) · wa al copete (in a higher place) · wa padzeu (in a higher place) · sl zgôraj (earlier in order in writing) · la suprā (in a higher place) · cy uwchlaw (in a higher place) · cic aba' (overhead, on top of) · tl ibabaw (in a higher place) · ta மேலே (earlier in order in writing) · wa ådzeu (higher in rank) · no over (in a higher place) · sk vyššie (earlier in order in writing) · ceb ibabaw (overhead, on top of) · pt acima (higher in rank) · ro deasupra (in a higher place) · yi אויבן (in a higher place) · mg ambony (in a higher place) · hu fent (in a higher place) · fi päältä (on the upper half of the dorsal surface) · fr en haut (overhead, on top of) · hu fent (overhead, on top of) · la super (in a higher place) · pt acima (earlier in order in writing) · ta மேலே (overhead, on top of) · de höher (in a higher place) · de ranghöher (higher in rank) · bg горе (in a higher place) · pt acima (in a higher place) · sl zgôraj (in a higher place) · kw a-vann (overhead, on top of) · la suprā (earlier in order in writing) · ga lastuas (overhead, on top of) · bg с по-висок ранг (higher in rank) · de oben (overhead, on top of) · hu felül (in a higher place) · sk povyše (in a higher place) · ru вверху́ (in a higher place) · wa dissu (overhead, on top of) · ur اوپر (in a higher place) · sk hore (in a higher place) · ta மேலே (more) · fi edellä (earlier in order in writing) · bg по-горе (higher in rank) · wa cial ådzeu (earlier in order in writing) · fi korkealla (in a higher place) · ta மேல் (in a higher place) · wa ådzeu (earlier in order in writing) · es arriba (in a higher place) · nl hierboven (in a higher place) · mqy eta (overhead, on top of) · fi yli (more) · yi אויבן (overhead, on top of) · es suso (in a higher place) · de früher (earlier in order in writing) · de vorgesetzt (higher in rank) · de vorher (earlier in order in writing) · wa ådzeu (in a higher place) · lmo sora (overhead, on top of) · kk жоғарыда (earlier in order in writing) · ta மேலே (above freezing) · cic aba' (of or in the heavens or sky) · be наве́рсе (in a higher place) · fi ylempänä (higher in rank)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ud-s-?
Proto-Indo-European *h₂u-s-?
Proto-Germanic *uz-
Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-
Old English ar-
Old English ā-
Proto-West Germanic *bi-
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *-anē
Proto-Germanic *ubanē
Proto-West Germanic *obanā
Proto-West Germanic *biobanā
Old English bufan
Old English abūfan
Middle English aboven
English above
From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from on (“on”) + bufan (“over”), (akin to Icelandic ofan (“from above”), Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene) from bī (“by”) + ufan (“over”); also cognate with Danish oven, Dutch boven, German oben, Swedish ovan, Old Saxon oƀan, Old High German obana.
The preposition, the adjective, and the noun derive from the adverb.
Meanings
(uncountable) Heaven.
A brother from another mother, sent from the above. 1998, “Twinz”, in Capital Punishment, performed by Big Pun and Fat Joe:
(uncountable) Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
(uncountable) Higher authority.
(archaic, uncountable) Betterment, raised status or condition.
Withal they saw of him that he had no doubt but that they should come to their above on the morrow, 1896, William Morris, The Well at the World's End:
ru вышеупомя́нутый (something mentioned previously in a document) · fi edellä mainittu (something mentioned previously in a document) · lv iepriekšminētais (something mentioned previously in a document) · cs vyšší (something mentioned previously in a document) · fi yllä mainittu (something mentioned previously in a document) · ta மேலிடம் (higher authority) · ta மேல் (something mentioned previously in a document) · bg гореспоменат (something mentioned previously in a document) · hu fentemlített (something mentioned previously in a document)