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Above
6 dictionary results for: above
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
a·bove       [uh-buhv] Pronunciation Key
–adverb
1.in, at, or to a higher place.
2.overhead, upstairs, or in the sky: My brother lives in the apartment above. A flock of birds circled above.
3.higher in rank, authority, or power: She was told to speak to the person above.
4.higher in quantity or number: books with 100 pages and above.
5.before or earlier, esp. in a book or other piece of writing; foregoing: the remark quoted above. Compare below (def. 6).
6.in or to heaven: gone to her eternal rest above.
7.Zoology. on the upper or dorsal side.
8.Theater. upstage. Compare below (def. 9).
9.higher than zero on the temperature scale: The temperature dropped to ten above this morning.
–preposition
10.in or to a higher place than; over: to fly above the clouds; the floor above ours.
11.more in quantity or number than; in excess of: all girls above 12 years of age; The weight is above a ton.
12.superior in rank, authority, or standing to: A captain is above a lieutenant.
13.not subject or liable to; not capable of (some undesirable action, thought, etc.): above suspicion; to be above bad behavior.
14.of too fine a character for: He is above such trickery.
15.rather than; in preference to: to favor one child above the other.
16.beyond, esp. north of: six miles above Baltimore.
17.Theater. upstage of.
–adjective
18.said, mentioned, or written above; foregoing: the above explanation.
–noun
19.something that was said, mentioned, or written above: to refer to the above.
20.the person or persons previously indicated: The above will all stand trial.
21.heaven: truly a gift from above.
22.a higher authority: an order from above.
23.above all, most important of all; principally: charity above all.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME above(n) (Cf. aboon), OE abufan, onbufan (a-1, on + bufan above (c. D boven), equiv. to b(e) by + ufan, c. OFris uva, OS oban(a), OHG obana, G oben, ON ofan above; akin to over); see up; cf. about for formation]

Above as an adjective (the above data) or as a noun (study the above) referring to what has been mentioned earlier in a piece of writing has long been standard. A few critics object to these uses in general writing, believing that they are more appropriate in business or technical contexts; they occur, however, in all kinds of edited writing.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
a·bove       (ə-bŭv')  Pronunciation Key 
adv.  
  1. On high; overhead: the clouds above.
  2. In heaven; heavenward.
    1. Upstairs: a table in the dining room above.
    2. To a degree that is over zero: 15° above.
  3. In or to a higher place.
  4. In an earlier part of a given text: "The problems cited above have led to a number of suggestions for reform" (Wharton Magazine).
  5. In or to a higher rank or position: the ranks of major and above.

prep.  
  1. Over or higher than: a cool spring above the timberline.
  2. Superior to in rank, position, or number; greater than: put principles above expediency.
  3. Beyond the level or reach of: a shot that was heard above the music.
  4. In preference to.
  5. Too honorable to bend to: I am above petty intrigue.
  6. More than: somewhat above normal temperature.
  7. Upstream of: a dam positioned ten miles above the town.
  8. North of: Minnesota is above Iowa.

n.  
  1. An earlier part of a given text: Refer to the above for that information.
  2. The person or persons already referred to in a text: The above hereby affix their signatures.

adj.   Appearing earlier in the same text: flaws in the above interpretation.


[Middle English aboven, from Old English abūfan : a-, on; see a-2 + būfan, above; see upo in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
above 
O.E. abufan, from on "on" + bufan "over," compound of be "by" + ufan "over/high," from P.Gmc. *ufan-, *uban-. Meaning "in addition" first recorded 1596. Aboveboard (1616) was originally a gambling term, "A figurative expression borrowed from gamesters, who, when they put their hands under the table, are changing their cards." [Johnson]

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
above

adjective
1. appearing earlier in the same text; "flaws in the above interpretation" 

adverb
1. at an earlier place; "see above" [ant: below
2. in or to a place that is higher [ant: at a lower place

noun
1. an earlier section of a written text; "for instructions refer to the above" 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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