Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of On?

\On\, prep. [OE. on, an, o, a, AS. on, an; akin to D. aan, OS. & G. an, OHG. ana, Icel. [=a], Sw. [*a], Goth. ana, Russ. na, L. an-, in anhelare to pant, Gr. 'ana`, Zend ana. [root]195. Cf. {A-}, 1, {Ana-}, {Anon}.] The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath; as: 1. At, or in contact with, the surface or upper part of a thing, and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface; as, the book lies on the table, which stands on the floor of a house on an island. I stood on the bridge at midnight. --Longfellow. 2. To or against the surface of; -- used to indicate the motion of a thing as coming or falling to the surface of another; as, rain falls on the earth. Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. --Matt. xxi. 44. 3. Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with; as, to play on a violin or piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's feelings; to make an impression on the mind. 4. At or near; adjacent to; -- indicating situation, place, or position; as, on the one hand, on the other hand; the fleet is on the American coast. 5. In addition to; besides; -- indicating multiplication or succession in a series; as, heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss; thought on thought. --Shak. 6. Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in; as, to depend on a person for assistance; to rely on; hence, indicating the ground or support of anything; as, he will promise on certain conditions; to bet on a horse. 7. At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See {At} (synonym). 8. At the time of, conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform. Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded. 9. Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as, have pity or compassion on him. 10. At the peril of, or for the safety of. ``Hence, on thy life.'' --Dryden. 11. By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor. 12. To the account of; -- denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon; as, on us be all the blame; a curse on him. His blood be on us and on our children. --Matt. xxvii. 25. 13. In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect punctuality; a satire on society. 14. Of. [Obs.] ``Be not jealous on me.'' --Shak. Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner? --Shak. Note: Instances of this usage are common in our older writers, and are sometimes now heard in illiterate speech. 15. Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey. 16. In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee. Note: On and upon are in general interchangeable. In some applications upon is more euphonious, and is therefore to be preferred; but in most cases on is preferable. {On a bowline}. (Naut.) Same as {Closehauled}. {On a wind}, or {On the wind} (Naut.), sailing closehauled. {On a sudden}. See under {Sudden}. {On board}, {On draught}, {On fire}, etc. See under {Board}, {Draught}, {Fire}, etc. {On it}, {On't}, of it. [Obs. or Colloq.] --Shak. {On shore}, on land; to the shore. {On the road}, {On the way}, {On the wing}, etc. See under {Road}, {Way}, etc. {On to}, upon; on; to; -- sometimes written as one word, onto, and usually called a colloquialism; but it may be regarded in analogy with into. They have added the -en plural form on to an elder plural. --Earle. We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the stage. --J. R. Green.
\On\, adv. [See {On}, prep.] 1. Forward, in progression; onward; -- usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on. ``Time glides on.'' --Macaulay. The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger. --Shak. 2. Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on. 3. In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on. 4. Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, ``He is neither on nor off,'' that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute. 5. Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use. ``I have boots on.'' --B. Gonson. He put on righteousness as a breastplate. --Is. lix. 17. 6. In progress; proceeding; as, a game is on. Note: On is sometimes used as an exclamation, or a command to move or proceed, some verb being understood; as, on, comrades; that is, go on, move on. {On and on}, continuously; for a long time together. ``Toiling on and on and on.'' --Longfellow.