Etimology
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, adjective and the noun derive from the adverb.
preposition
above
Physically over; on top of; worn on top of, said of clothing. [first attested before 1150.]
In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface. [first attested before 1150]
Farther north than. [first attested before 1150]
Rising; appearing out of reach height-wise. [first attested around 1150–1350]
(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. [first attested around 1150–1350]
Higher in rank, status, or position. [first attested around 1150–1350]
(Scotland) In addition to; besides. [first attested around 1150–1350]
Surpassing in number or quantity; more than. [first attested around 1350–1470]
In preference to.
Too proud to stoop to; averse to; disinclined towards;
Beyond; on the other side.
(theater) Upstage of.
Examples
He always put his coat on above his sweater.
Antonyms: below, beneath
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.
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.
Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.
Idaho is above Utah.
Even the chief of police is not above suspicion.
He was always above reproach.
I thought you said you were above these kinds of antics.
That's above my comprehension.
to cut above average
Thy worth, sweet friend, is far above my gifts,
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.
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.
above and beyond the call of duty
over and above
That amount is way above our asking price.
The owner was above taking more than a token salary.
adverb
above (not comparable)
Directly overhead; vertically on top of. [first attested before 1150.]
Higher in the same page; earlier in the order as far as writing products go. [first attested before 1150.]
Into or from heaven; in the sky. [first attested around 1150–1350]
In a higher place; upstairs; farther upstream. [first attested around 1150–1350]
Higher in rank, power, or position. [first attested around 1150–1350]
(archaic) In addition. [first attested around 1150–1350]
More in number. [first attested around 1350–1470]
Above zero; above freezing. [first attested in the mid 20th century.]
(biology) On the upper half or the dorsal surface of an animal.
Examples
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.
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
That angels are men in the most complete form, and enjoy every sense, may be seen above ; and that the light in heaven is far brighter than the light in the world .
He's in a better place now, floating free as the clouds above.
He appealed to the court above.
It was a cold day at only 5 above.
The sparrow I saw was rufous above and off-white below.
adjective
above (not comparable)
Of heaven; heavenly. [first attested around (1150 to 1350).]
(by ellipsis) Being located higher on the same page or on a preceding page. [first attested in the mid 18th century.]
noun
above (uncountable)
Heaven. [first attested around 1150–1350]
Something, especially a person's name in legal documents, that appears higher on the same page or on a preceding page.
Higher authority.
(archaic) betterment, raised status or condition.
Examples
A brother from another mother, sent from the above.
Withal they saw of him that he had no doubt but that they should come to their above on the morrow,
Related words
related terms
abovesaid
aboves'd