I. əˈbəv adverb
Etymology: Middle English above, aboven, from Old English abufan, from a- (I) + bufan above (akin to Old Saxon bi-oƀan, Middle Dutch bōven, Old Frisian bova, Middle High German bobene ), from be- + ufan above — more at over
1.
a. : in a higher place : overhead
he lay under the tree and looked at the branches above
: in the sky
the stars above
: in or to heaven
gone above
: upstairs
a stairway leading above
b. : farther up (as on a mountain or river)
the bridge is two miles above
c. : on the upper or dorsal surface
these young birds are light brown above
2. : higher on the same page or on a preceding page
except as stated above
3. : higher or superior in rank, position, or power
a vacancy in the rank above
: higher in number
50 and above
4. archaic : in addition : besides
II. preposition
Etymology: Middle English above, aboven, from above, aboven, adverb
1.
a. : in or to a higher place than
the house perched above the road
: directly over
a room above the store
: higher than
b. : farther up than (as on a mountain or river)
anchored 10 miles above the city
: on the other side of : beyond
hunted above the farm
c. : farther north than
the ship sank just above the Azores
d. : on top of — used of clothing
aprons above a motley of borrowed … raiment — Ellen Glasgow
2.
a. : superior to or surpassing in any respect : higher than (as in rank, position, quality, or degree)
filial piety is above self-interest
: out of reach of : not likely to be affected by : not exposed to
be above suspicion
: in preference to : over against
preoccupation with design above all other elements
b. : too proud or honorable to stoop or condescend to
above taking profits for himself
: averse to : disinclined to
she is not above reading her poems
3. : exceeding in number, quantity, or size : more than
men above 50 years old
4. : in addition to : besides
above and beyond his good nature
•
- above oneself
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English above, aboven, from above, aboven, adverb
1.
a. : something that is located, written, or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page
a diagram like the above
b. : a person whose name is written higher on the same page or on a preceding page
the above is the owner of this car
2.
a. : higher especially arbitrary authority
the policy was imposed from above
b. : heaven
every perfect gift is from above — Jas 1:17 (Authorized Version)
IV. adjective
Etymology: above (I)
1. : being located, written, or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page
the above chart
2. : of heaven : heavenly
think on things above