Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Above?

\A*bove"\, prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. [root]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.
\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. Note: 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.