ABOVE


Meaning of ABOVE in English

I. ə-ˈbəv adverb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English abufan, from a- + bufan above, from be- + ufan above; akin to Old English ofer over

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : in the sky : overhead

the clouds above

b. : in or to heaven

2.

a. : in or to a higher place

b. : higher on the same page or on a preceding page

c. : upstairs

d. : above zero

10 degrees above

3. : in or to a higher rank or number

30 and above

4. archaic : in addition : besides

5. : upstage

II. preposition

Date: before 12th century

1.

a. : in or to a higher place than : over

b. : upriver of

2.

a. : superior to (as in rank, quality, or degree)

b. : out of reach of

above suspicion

c. : in preference to

d. : too proud or honorable to stoop to

not above taking undue credit

3. : exceeding in number, quantity, or size : more than

men above 50 years old

4. : as distinct from and in addition to

heard the whistle above the roar of the crowd

III. noun

( plural above )

Date: 13th century

1.

a. : something that is above

b. : a person whose name is written above

2.

a. : a higher authority

b. : heaven

Usage:

Although still objected to by some, the use of above as a noun in sense 1a

none of the above

the above is Theseus's opinion — William Blake

and as an adjective

without the above reserve — O. W. Holmes †1935

I was brought up on the above words — Viscount Montgomery

has been long established as standard.

IV. adjective

Date: 1604

: written or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page

Usage: see above III

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.