A*bove" (#), prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. 199. See Over.]

1.

In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.

Fowl that may fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20.

2.

Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach.

"Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts."

Marlowe.

I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi. 13.

3.

Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)

above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other things.

Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.

 

© Webster 1913.


A*bove" (#), adv.

1.

In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.

2.

Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page.

"That was said above."

Dryden.

3.

Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.

4.

More than; as, above five hundred were present.

Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations, the above reference, the above articles. -- Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from above."

Josh. iii. 13.

It is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above-described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written, above-given.

 

© Webster 1913.

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