■ preposition
1》 extending upwards from or above.
↘above so as to c~ or protect.
2》 at a higher level or layer than.
↘expressing authority or control.
↘expressing preference.
↘expressing majority.
3》 higher or more than (a specified number or quantity).
4》 expressing passage or trajectory across.
↘beyond and falling or hanging from.
↘at the other side of; beyond.
5》 expressing duration.
6》 by means of.
7》 on the subject of.
■ adverb
1》 expressing passage or trajectory across an area.
↘beyond and falling or hanging from a point.
2》 in or to the place indicated.
3》 expressing action and result.
↘finished.
4》 expressing repetition of a process.
■ noun Cricket a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch.
Phrases
be ~ be no longer affected by.
~ against
1》 adjacent to.
2》 in contrast with.
~ and above in addition to.
~ and out indicating that a message on a two-way radio has finished.
Origin
OE ofer , of Gmc origin.