Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
abreast en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) + breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Side by side, facing forward.
-
(figuratively, not-comparable) Alongside; parallel to.
-
(not-comparable) Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
-
(not-comparable) Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced
to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science
Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy. It not only enables them to keep abreast of the times; it qualifies them to furnish in their own personality a good bit of the motive power to the mad pace.
c. 1900, Kate Chopin, A Reflection:
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(not-comparable) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:abreast.
abreast en · ADP
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) + breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.
Meanings
-
Abreast of; alongside.
This ship sank abreast the island.
abreast en · ADV
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) + breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”; roughly “breast-by-breast”.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Side by side and facing forward.
The only path was narrow and rugged: two men could hardly walk abreast;
1859, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second:On Sunday afternoon it was as dark as night, with barely room for two riders abreast on a gradient that touches 20%.
2012 July 15, Richard Williams, “Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track”, in Guardian Unlimited:
-
(figuratively, not-comparable) Alongside; parallel to.
-
(not-comparable) Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted.
-
(not-comparable) Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced.
She believes it is important to keep abreast of new scientific developments.
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(Scotland, not-comparable) Breast high (of an advancing wave).
The west wind blew a tempest, and, according to the common expression, brought in the water [of the Solway] three foot abreast.
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(not-comparable) Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam.
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(not-comparable, obsolete) At the same time; simultaneously.
Abreast therewith began a convocation.
1842, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, From the birth of Jesus Christ until the year MDCXLVIII., 3rd edition, volume 1, page 412:
Coordinates
tandem
Deriveds
line abreast
Synonyms
up to date (informed) · informed (informed) · up-to-date (informed) · apprised (informed)
Translations (65)
ru бок о́ бок (side by side) · tr yan yana (side by side) · de auf dem Laufenden (informed) · ga gualainn ar ghualainn (side by side) · pt bem informado (informed) · it al traverso (nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam) · nl op de hoogte (informed) · nl goed ingelicht (informed) · nl gelijke tred houdend (up to a certain level or line) · el δίπλα-δίπλα (informed) · ca ensems (side by side) · it aggiornato (informed) · nl met zijn tijd mee (informed) · bg рамо до рамо (side by side) · es al corriente (informed) · pl obok siebie (side by side) · ru на тра́верзе (nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam) · ru ря́дом (side by side) · et kursis (informed) · fi tasalla (up to a certain level or line) · it di pari passo (side by side) · nl bekend (informed) · de Seite an Seite (side by side) · pl na bieżąco (informed) · cs na úrovni (up to a certain level or line) · cs na výši (up to a certain level or line) · fi kyljittäin (nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam) · fi vierivieressä (side by side) · cs vedle sebe (side by side) · es lado a lado (side by side) · it al passo (informed) · nl zij aan zij (side by side) · sco abreest (side by side) · cs bok po boku (side by side) · bg един до друг (side by side) · fi ajan tasalla (informed) · de beieinander (side by side) · fi rinnakkain (side by side) · es a fondo (side by side) · sh uporedo (side by side) · ru борт о́ борт (nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam) · nl naast elkaar (side by side) · ota خبردار (informed) · sh rame uz rame (side by side) · it affiancato (side by side) · nl welingelicht (informed) · pt lado a lado (side by side) · fi tietoinen (informed) · bg редом (side by side) · fr côte à côte (side by side) · fi vierekkäin (side by side) · es a la altura de (side by side) · cmn 並肩 /并肩 (side by side) · mi upane (side by side) · es de lado a lado (side by side) · it al corrente (informed) · fr au courant (informed) · bg на един ред (side by side) · nl bijblijven (up to a certain level or line) · de auf der Höhe (up to a certain level or line) · de nebeneinander (side by side) · cmn 並排 /并排 (side by side) · de Schritt (up to a certain level or line) · de auf gleicher Höhe (nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam) · de auf dem Laufenden (up to a certain level or line)