uponprep.

Brit.

/əˈpɒn/, U.S.

/əˈpɑn/

Forms: α. Middle English– upon (Middle English, 1600s up on, 1500s Scottish uponn), Middle English–1600s vpon (Middle English vp on, Middle English Scottish vpone, ScottishMiddle English–1500s wpone, 1500s–1600s wpon), Middle English–1600s uppon, vppon (Middle English Orm. upponn, Middle English upp on). β. Middle English–1500s opon (Middle English oupon, opan), Middle English oppon. γ. Middle English–1500s, 1800s Scottish apon (Middle English apan), Middle English Scottish, 1500s apone, Middle English–1500s Scottish apoun, Middle English–1600s Scottish appon(e, apponne. δ. 1500s poun, 1700s–1800s 'pon. See also upo' prep.

Etymology: Early Middle English upon , uppon , etc., < up adv.¹, up adv.² + on prep.; distinct from late Old English and early Middle English uppon , variant of Old English uppan up prep.¹The compound may have partly arisen from uses of upp on or uppe on in Old English (for instances see up adv.¹, up adv.²), but the date at which it appears, and the locality of the texts in which it is first prominent, suggest that it was mainly due to the influence of Old Norse upp á (Middle Swedish up a, op a, uppa, oppa, etc.; Swedish på, Norwegian and Danish paa), with which it agrees in laying the stress on the preposition and weakening or altogether ignoring the force of up. In the modern Scandinavian tongues, except Icelandic and Faroese, the reduced form på, paa, corresponding to English (colloquial or dialect) 'pon, 'po', has displaced the simple preposition å, aa = on.

Originally denoting elevation as well as contact, the compound has from the earliest period of its occurrence so far lost the former implication, that is, it has been regularly employed as a simple equivalent of on, in all the varieties of meaning which that preposition has developed. The use of the one form or the other has been for the most part a matter of individual choice (on grounds of rhythm, emphasis, etc.) or of simple accident, although in certain contexts and phrases there may be a general tendency to prefer the one to the other. For ease of comparison, the following arrangement of the senses corresponds as closely as possible with that of on prep. (See also hereupon adv., thereupon adv., whereupon adv.)

I. Of local position outside of, but in contact with or close to, a surface.

a. Above and in contact with; in an elevated position on; at rest on the upper surface of; on and supported by; = on prep. 1.In a few instances in late manuscripts (e.g. Hatton Gosp. Matthew v. 14) Old English up on can be taken in this sense, but appears to be merely a scribal variant or alteration of uppon for uppan up prep.¹

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > support > supported by [preposition]

toc890

oneOE

upona1272

against1447

a1272 Luue Ron 121 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Hit stont vppon a treowe mote.

c1290 St. Brendan 368 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 229 At ester eue heore procuratour bad heom..heore resurrection opon þe fisches rugge make.

c1290 St. Brendan 368 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 577 Þe ston þat ich op-on sitte.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2867 Ðat..hise folc..ben ðor gare, In ðe deserd an stede up-on, His leue sacrifise to don.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1054 The hyȝe trone..Þe hyȝe godez self hit set vpone.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 635 Til he cam to the Celle Vp on the floor.

c1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 199 Vynys that vppon the hillis stonde.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 486 Reynawde..was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyn.

1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 184 The birdis sang vpon the tender croppis.

1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) i. 4 Welcum, oure rubent roiss vpoun þe ryce.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. xv. 6 A forked Mountaine, or blew Promontorie With Trees vpon't.

1682 G. Hartman Digby's Choice Coll. Rare Secrets ii. 215 Take it upon the point of a knife.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. iv. viii. 222 The Castle upon yonder Hill.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xiv. ii. 119 She's here, Mrs. Honour is upon the Stairs.

1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 191 Wilt thou rest, old man, Upon this traveller's seat?

1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 383 A pair of rollers upon the top of the roving-can.

1903 Mrs. De la Pasture Cornelius 7 A Crown Derby service was spread forth upon a round table.

b. Said with reference to an expanse, as of land, sea, etc.; = on prep. 1b (Frequently from c1650.) upon a (†the) level (with): see level n. 2, 3.

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c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 735 Þer sat is ship up-on þe sond.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3273 And moyses stod up-on ðe sond.

1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 39 Neuere werrede we wiþ wiȝth up-on erþe.

1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 739 Of swiche bestus..Þei han miht vp-on molde.

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. ix. 56 Vnder a Lynde, vppon a launde leonede I a stounde.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 53 He syh upon the grene gras The faire freisshe floures springe.

c1420 Chron. Vilod. 2393 Þis blessud virgyn..Twolfeȝere..in hurr tombe lay, As saffe, as hole as he vpon vrthe ȝede.

?c1475 in J. Gairdner Sailing Direct. (1889) 20 Opyn oo grounde, there is wose and sonde togidir..opon o the taile of ars in xxiiijti or xxvj fadome depe..Open one Liere there is stremy grounde.

1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. avi^v Thai plantit doun ane pailyeoun vpone ane plane lee.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark vi. f. liij When they sawe him walkinge apon the see.

1535 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. (1876) 305 He must treade vppon the fallowes.

1568 in J. C. Hodgson Wills & Inventories Registry Durham (1906) III. 44 Corne..in the barne 58l., Upon the earth at 20l.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xvi. 5 Thou wast throwen forth upon the face of the earth.

1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Exact Hist. Late Revol. Naples i. 15 Benches, Forms,..were burnt all to ashes upon the streets.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 203 Wood and Lodging..are very scarce upon that Road.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 42. ¶3. Two or three Shifters of Scenes..make up a compleat Body of Guards upon the English Stage.

1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. xiii. 14 Now I'm in the world alone, Upon the wide, wide sea.

1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham III. xix. 309 I have no time..to speak of the earlier part of my life. I passed it upon the race-course.

1871 H. R. Haweis Music & Morals (1874) 7 The Painter's art lies upon the surface of the world.

c. Denoting the part of the body on which one is supported; = on prep. 1c.See also foot n. and int. Phrases 2, knee n. 3a, tiptoe n. 1.

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1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 286 Sche began merci to crie Upon hire bare knes.

c1440 Generydes 44 Vppe vppon his fete he was a non.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 18 He satte vpon his hammes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. i. 269 Vpon my knees, I charme you,..By all your vowes of Loue.

1661 Earl of Orrery Coll. State Lett. (1742) 40 We are now upon our last legs.

1692 tr. C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. 157 Three or four Pages..serve me upon Knee.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 460. ⁋7 Gallantry strutting upon his Tiptoes.

1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 546 Her tott'ring form Ill propp'd upon French heels.

1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well i. xi Upon his side the Hart was lying stretched.

1843 T. B. Macaulay Horatius lxvi Horatius in his harness, Halting upon one knee.

d. Indicating a means of locomotion or conveyance; = on prep. 1d.

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a1300 Cursor Mundi 894 For þou sal slid apon þi brest.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2041 Yf he mouhte..gangen wel up-on hise fet.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 43 Strengest vp-on stede, and styuest vnder gurdell.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 88 Swyerez þat swyftly swyed on blonkez, & also fele vpon fote.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) i. 4 It es made sittand apon a hors.

1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 794 Vpon ane rude Runsy he ruschit out of toun.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A3^v She..Heauie sate vpon her palfrey slow.

1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Rijdt-bane, a Sliding place..to slide upon Schates.

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 350 The great King, whom they carry upon a Sindela of cotton.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 39 We went on Shore upon the Tide of Flood, near high Water.

1803 R. Southey Queen Orraca iv. vii Upon her palfrey she is set, And forward then they go.

1821 W. Scott Pirate III. iii. 58 She saw him flee forth of the window..upon a dragon.

1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxii. 282 I mounted the upheaving ice, and rode upon the fragments.

e. Denoting that on which the hand is placed in taking the oath, or the basis of an oath, etc.; = on prep. 1f.See also conscience n. Phrases 1, evangel n.¹ 3, evangely n. 3, faith n. 2, honour n. Phrases 2, life n. Phrases 4, rep n.¹, soul n. Phrases 2, word n.

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c1290 Beket 585 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 123 Þat he ne scholde nouȝt swerie op-on þe boke.

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10468 He swor hym vpon þe bok, To holde of hym his heritage.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xv. cxxxvi Hoote welles þat..blindeþ þeues ȝif he swereþ vpon þe water and toucheþ heere yȝen þerewiþ.

a1460 in Hist. Coll. Lond. Citizen London (Camden) 119 The for sayde captaynys have sworne a-pon hyr honowre that..they shalle not makyn [etc.].

1493 Litt. Red Bk. Bristol (1900) II. 134 This ys trew apon owre consciens.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 642 Yow swiftly shall sweire vppon swete goddes, This couenaunt to kepe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. ii. 123 I'le sweare vpon that Bottle, to be thy true subiect.

1645 Docqets Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837) 268 Administring of Oathes vpon the Holy Evangelistes.

1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 253. ¶1 The Assistants..were all sworn upon their Honour.

1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 79 He would come back..and untie him upon his Word.

1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 52/1 You have sworn me upon the waters of the Ganges: how can I tell more than I remember?

1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus III. x I declare that..he himself [is] worthy of death, upon my honour!

1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxxix. 387 Upon my word and honour,..it would be a charity.

†f. Above, more than. Obsolete. Cf. up prep.¹ 8.

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c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 359 Opon al oþer y loue þe.

c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 969 Son, vpon al thing Doo aftre Nathanaels teching.

†g. figurative. Over (a person, etc.), in respect of rule, authority, or supervision. Obsolete.See also reign v. 4a(b), rule v. 3c, ruler n.¹ 1a(a) (quot. a1382).

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c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 383 Þe kyngis of heþen han lordeschip vp-on hem.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iii. 10 Þi powere es grete apon þi subgets.

1422 J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 162 Oure Lord god enoyntyd Saule Kynge vppon Israell.

1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 35 He aught to haue lawde That..hath lordship vpon his ennemyes.

1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Tullyes Offyces i. sig. B.4 A man that wolde be chefe ruler vpon the commentye.

h. Taking part in, forming a member of (an inquest, jury, etc.). Cf. on prep. 1f.

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1516 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 422/2 Thai..being apone the inqueist..in the schiref court.

1609 Bible (Douay) I. Deut. xxix. 20 Al the curses sitte upon him.

1643 in W. H. Black Docquets Lett. Patent at Oxf. (1837) 5 Consociating himselfe with his neighboring Justices in sitting upon an illegal Commission.

1676 Office Clerk of Assize a vj Persons..to serve in or upon the Grand Jury.

1729 G. Jacob New Law-dict. sig. Eee4^v/1 Clergymen, Apothecaries, &c. are exempted by Law from serving upon Juries.

1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xxiii. 301 As many as appear upon this panel are sworn upon the grand jury, to the amount of twelve at the least, and not more than twenty-three; that twelve may be a majority.

i. Hence in many phrases, originally denoting physical location, of which the sense has become more or less figurative; = on prep. I.*. See esp. anvil n. 2b, carpet n. 1b, hand n. Phrases 1i(a), high adj. and n.² Phrases 5, Phrases 3, level n. 4, par n.¹ 2a, spot n.¹ and adv. Phrases 1d, table n. Phrases 4a(a).

a. Denoting contact with or location on a surface, etc., whatever its position; = on prep. 2a.

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(a)

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 69 Þatt upp onn all þiss boc ne be. Nan word ȝæn cristess lare.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 23215 Painted fire..Þat apon a wagh war wroght.

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Exod. xxxiv. 1 Y shal write vpon hem [sc. stone tables] the wordes that hadden the tablis.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Hab. ii. A Wryte the vision planely vpon thy tables.

1552 in J. O. Payne St. Paul's Cathedral (1893) 22 A greate clothe of redd silke..with lions of golde upon it.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. S iv More lyvely..than any forme may be insculped upon metall or marble.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 57 A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell stampt in gold, but thats insculpt vpon.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. i. 7 I haue seene her..take foorth paper,..write vpon't, read it.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. x. 26 As our rarer Monsters are Painted vpon a pole.

1629 Vse of Law 89 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light So that hee fore-see, that hee pay Debts vpon Record, debts to the King; Then vpon Iudgements.

1729 T. Innes Crit. Ess. Anc. Inhabitants Scotl. I. 106 His name is upon it, written with his own hand.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. ii. 11 As he had engraven upon his wife's tomb.

1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 97/2 Did you see upon the face of the bond anything to make you suspect it?

1801 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 203 Which is very practicable upon paper.

1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Children v. 36 A gold bangle with ‘Mignon’ upon it..in raised letters.

(b)a1225 Leg. Kath. 1187 Þe treo Þer he deide upon.c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 43/300 Þis ȝoungue Man sixe and þritti dawes heng up-on þe galu-treo.1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. i. 154 Was neuere leef vpon lynde liȝter þer-after.14.. J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1911) 252 As he [sc. Christ] hangeth vp-on the roode tre.1536 Exhort. to North in F. J. Furnivall Ballads from MSS (1868) I. 307 The gallous apone, prepared for mardoche, hanged he was.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 121 Lat him end his lyf vpon ane fork.a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. v. 37 Vpon the next Tree shall thou hang. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. A sail set upon the flying jib-boom.1899 Shetland News 16 Dec. ( E.D.D. at Hing I took aff me kjaep, an' hang her apon a nail.(c)c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 111 Vp on his arm he bar a gay bracer.?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 813 With broches and golde opon hir arme.1494 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 23 The little Bone that sitteth upon the great Fin.?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiii^v A weding hoke w^t a socket set vpon a lytell staffe.1547 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 10 Th'under sleves of..Satten cut vpon Red Sarcenett.1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. ii. 7 By reflection of the Sunns beams upon a thick cloud, which, not able to pierce it, are refracted upon it.1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 231 Upon the head of the woman is a veil.1824 T. G. Cumming Illustr. Origin Rail & Tram Roads 24 Several branches were made..with the flaunche upon the wheel, and not upon the rail.1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. v. 110 Those clothes would not look well upon Oswald.1889 A. Conan Doyle Micah Clarke xxx. 318 Monmouth must fight now, if he ever hopes to feel the gold rim upon his temples.

b. Used of immaterial relationships, or in figurative expressions. to (be)get..upon (a woman): see beget v. 2a(b), get v. 25a.

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a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS xlii. 8 His eȝe is euere þe vppon.

1423 Kingis Quair ii I..toke a boke to rede apon a quhile.

c1450 Mirk's Festial i. 6 Vnsley old man, goo heþen! for I se apon þe mony meruayles.

1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Pref. sig. ❧.i^v All thynges must be read vpon the boke.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 20 Vpon some booke I loue, I'le pray for thee.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iii. §4 That what is spoken hath the impress of Divine authority upon it.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. v. §2 They have a clear and distinct perception of God upon their own minds.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 234 The Horror that was upon our Minds.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xii. 66 Every one's eyes were upon me.

1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vi. 106 Here am I..with a sort of traveller's lumbago upon me.

1832 L. Hunt Gentle Armour i. 142 The page returns with doubt upon his eyes.

1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 228 There was a tale Upon thy tongue he interrupted.

1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 669 It is absurd upon its very face.

c. By means of; with. Now dialect.

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c1440 York Myst. xix. 212 Þe knyght vppon his knyffe Hath slayne my sone.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 244 To dy vpon the hand I loue so well.

1742 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 42 266 The Perfection of Smelling in the Inhabitants of the Antibes, who can run a Man upon the Nose like an Hound.

1751 C. Labelye Descr. Westm. Bridge 71 Explaining before them, upon a working Model, the Method I proposed.

1790 J. Boswell Let. 8 ann. 1765 I. 268 I intended to have printed it upon what is called an English letter.

1865 R. Hunt Pop. Romances W. Eng. I. 105 Which eye can you see me upon?

d. Used in reference to an axis, pivot, or base; = on prep. 1e (Cf. raise v.¹ 8c, to turn upon —— 2 at turn v. Phrasal verbs 2.)

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1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 8 A triangle..set or described vpon a line.

1593 T. Fale Horologiographia f. 14 Upon E make a halfe circle from H by G.

1679 J. Moxon Math. made Easie 29 The Circle..is described upon the Centre A.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. A Triangle is equal to a Parallelogram upon the same Base, but half the Altitude.

1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 197 Each describing the portion of a circle upon (P) as a center.

1830 Ld. Tennyson Mariana vi, in Poems 17 The doors upon their hinges creaked.

1832 Proposed Regulations Cavalry iii. 47 Two contiguous points given as a Base, upon which a body of troops is to march or form.

1877 T. H. Huxley Man. Anat. Invertebrated Animals vi. 309 The next four somites..cease to be moveable upon one another.

a. On the bank of (a river or lake); on the shore of (the sea); on the borders of (a territory, etc.); close by, near to; bordering upon; beside or by; = on prep. 6.

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1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. V. 329 He fauȝt..aȝenst þe Saxons..uppon þe ryver Gleny.

a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 4090 A Castel he had vpon þe ryue.

c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 142 The tounes vp-on the see.

1473 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 197 To mak a myl..othir vpoun the gret watter or vpoun the burn.

1526 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 514/1 Theifis and tratouris duelland apoun Levin.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. viii. 7 b Alger..is situated vpon the Mediterane Sea.

1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 150 Siras seated vpon the riuer Bindimire.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iv. §13 The greatest part of the Countries lying upon the Ocean and Mediterranean.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 221 A Tract of Land..seated upon some navigable River.

1747 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 87 Upon the heads of Joniady River.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 8 Arthur..Held court at old Caerleon upon Usk.

†b. About; near; close on (a specified number, etc.). Obsolete.In later use only with close adj. 1d, near adv.² 1c, nigh adv. 8d.

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1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 68 He left at his deth swech persones dedicate to God vp-on too þousand too hundred.

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 99 He cessed not to..rowe til he cam nyghe the Ile vpon a bowe shotte.

1478 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 613 A steppe-modyr of hyrs whyche is vpon 1 yer of age.

1482 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 102 Ther wylbe in aull with blottes apon xxvij or xxviij sarplers wholl.

1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Luke viii. 42 He had but a doughter only, apon a twelve yere of age.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxxij^v He had askryed a nomber of horsemen..vppon the poynct of syx thowsand.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. 177 There were upon two thousand & five hundred taken alive.

1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 226 To pay mee my allowance..as it was regulated upon three years since.

a. Denoting collateral position; esp. with side, hand, †half; beam (of a ship), point (of the compass); north, south, etc.; right, left; = on prep. 4.See also border v. 5, touch v. 19, verge v.¹ 2b.

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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in fact, actually

in, of feata1400

in effectc1405

effectually1420

really?a1425

literallyc1429

(by) matter in deed1447

indeed1535

in fact1592

merely1596

de facto1602

essentially1604

in point of fact1628

upon1644

in point of event1650

effectively1652

in matter of fact1709

absolutelya1712

substantially1753

actually1762

positively1800

in actual fact1824

factually1852

as matter of fact1871

fair dinkum1891

dinkum1894

'smatter of fact1922

basically1927

(a)

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7929 Southsex..& Middelsex..marchen vpon Kent.

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vi. 22 Mesopotamy also marchez apon þe desertes of Araby.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 354 For we [Scots] are so lodged vpon England, that we may..enter which way we lust.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 31 Wpon the coste of the Lenox lyes Argyle.

1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον ii. 92 That part..which butted upon the west.

1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 81 Their own Soldiers, and..their Associates, who did all neighbor neer upon them.

1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) i. 1 The upper part..is termed Hypochondrium, neighbouring upon the lower gristles of the Ribs.

1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar i. i. 2 Upon the skirts Of Arragon, our squander'd Troops he rallies.

1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson Hist. Reign Philip III v. 400 An island bordering upon Istria.

1842 R. I. Wilberforce Rutilius & Lucius 106 Behind they abutted upon the grounds of Milo.

1873 T. W. Higginson Oldport Days v. 115 The house was close upon the water.

(b)?a1400 Morte Arth. 3795 We are with Sarazenes be-sett appone sere halfes!c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2070 Þe brode ȝateȝ [were] Vnbarred & born open vpon boþe halue.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 175 Schir Gylys de argente he set Vpon ane half, his renȝe to get.1565 A. Golding tr. Ovid Fyrst Fower Bks. Metamorphosis i. f. 1^v Twoo Zones doo cut the Heauen vpon the righter syde.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 291 I se the Firmament fair vpon ather syde.1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 70^v A riche grounde, leuell, and lying vpon the Sunne.1644 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Apr. (1913) 341 My Lord Ambassador beinge plac'd..upon his left hand about three Seates distante from him.1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 4 Upon what Point of the Compass the Object beareth from you.1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 5 When the Wind is upon any Point of the Compass between the South and the West.1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §76 A vessel steering to Foy will have the wind upon her beam.1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 11 [It] shelved down, upon our right, in one plane of smooth rock.in extended use.1656 Cromwell Speech in T. Burton Diary (1828) I. p. clxix It was never so upon the thriving hand.1718 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 362 May the kindgom of our Lord be upon the growing hand.1852 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 5) 252 To you, dear ass, upon the sire's side, To you, sir steed, I'm on the dam's allied.

b. transferred. Indicating the side, part, cause, etc., espoused or supported by the agent.

ΚΠ

c1430 Chev. Assigne 219 ‘Go we forthe, fader,’ quod þe childe, ‘vpon goddes halfe!’

1445 tr. Claudian's De Consulatu Stilichonis in Anglia (1905) 28 256 [They] seyen the duke of yorke hath god vpon his side.

1611 B. Jonson Catiline v. sig. M2 The least man, that falles vpon our party This day..Shall walke at pleasure, in the tents of rest.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 34 Till she had kindled France and all the world, Vpon the right and party of her sonne.

1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 23 Famine and Pestilence, And Panic, shall wage war upon our side.

c. Engaged in assailing, or about to attack.

ΚΠ

1568 R. Grafton Chron. II. 291 The French men were so mingled among their enemies, that some time there was fiue men vpon one Gentleman.

c1670 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 114 Captain Walter had six rebells upon him, and..fought it out so..gallantly that [etc.].

1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 269 The Senate heard that Severus was just upon them.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 314 He saw five Men upon him.

1721 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 211 We are all undone, the roundheads are upon us.

1860 All Year Round 28 July 384 Certain manœuvres, which had just time to result.., when the squall was upon us.

1885 Manch. Examiner 10 June 4/7 The crisis..is upon us at last.

†d. Having a tendency to be; verging towards; bordering on. Frequently with little. Obsolete.to run upon —— 2c at run v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΚΠ

1707 Ld. Raby in T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 43 He is..a little upon y^e dirty as all y^e Poles are.

1716 in London Gaz. No. 5438/4 Lost.., a large Brilliant.., a little upon the Blue.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 180 I think, he's a little upon the silly, or so.

1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 33 A Countenance much upon the Wheedler and the Devote.

a. Within the bounds or limits of; in; = on prep. 7 (Cf. quot. 1773 at upo' prep.)

ΚΠ

a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 4180 [He] karf..Doun riȝt þe viser wiþ is swerd And half þe her vpon is berd.

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 242 Seeke him out vpon The British partie.

1639 W. Laud Wks. (1853) V. 364 I find by the bishop's certificate, that he hath constantly resided upon his episcopal houses.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 449 His country seat, possessed and lived upon by his ancestors for several generations.

1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. ix. 232 Miss Clara..just sitting upon the wind of a door [= in a draught].

†b. Denoting ratio between two numbers, etc.; = per prep. 1, in prep. 9. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo i. xxxvi. 195 In regarde of lecage of tenne or fifteene vpon the hundreth.

1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 76 The Ascent..not being above one Foot perpendicular upon 20 Feet slope.

1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 78.

a. Denoting the day of an occurrence, regarded as a unit of time. Frequently also with night, morn, morrow, eve(n, time, †tide, †hour, occasion, etc. = on prep. 8.once upon a time: see once adv. 2b.

ΚΠ

1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 37 Unto Kyngeston..Com S. Dunstan, opon a Sonenday.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 3 Now upon this tyde Men se the world..so diversed, That [etc.].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19810 Apon a dai at þe tid o non, An angel com.

?a1400 Arthur 539 And sone after vpon an owr He hurde of Mordred.

1424 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 36 Writen at Sarum apon þe seynt Michell euen.

a1470 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 111 My wyf and y welbe with you uppon Ester.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job i. 6 Now vpon a tyme..the seruauntes of God came and stode before the Lorde.

1551 R. Robinson in tr. T. More Vtopia sig. ✠ii Vpon a tyme, when tidynges came [etc.].

1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 471 Once euery yeare vpon the same day of his Anniuerse.

1663 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 183 [They] were all brought before the mayor vpon the 28th of December.

1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 35 Would an Impartial Reader (to use Dr. Taylor's expression upon another occasion) say [etc.]?

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 164. ¶4 Upon the Day on which..their Marriage was to have been solemnized.

1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton III. 285 I wrote upon the instant, but..cannot recollect what I said.

a1821 J. Keats Eve St. Mark 1 Upon a Sabbath-day it fell.

1868 Ld. Tennyson Lucretius 24 He..woke upon a morn That mock'd him.

†b. In, at, or during (any period of time); in the course of; = on prep. 8b. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

(a)

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 314 [He] made upon the derke nyht..Gret fyr.

1427–9 Rolls of Parl. IV. 364 To make a Toure to be uppon day light a redy Bekyn.

1529 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 34 Thomas..directed..the hole recordys..vppon a yere past or more to vs..to examen the same.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8684 Wyth myche dole vppon dayes & on derke nightes, Sum walt into wodenes.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix Vpon the euening the fire..got into their pouder.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 34 Vpon the Heauy midle of the night.

1661 Act 13 Chas. II c. 9 §27 No man in or belonging to the Fleet shall sleep upon his Watch.

1673 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 247 Offences committed by them the same day upon the said election.

1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 86 Upon the honey'd middle of the night.]

(b)1591 H. Unton Corr. (1847) 103 Upon nowe advertisement is come from the Kinge.1638 K. Digby in G. Digby & K. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 19 To tell you what upon the present..occurreth to me.

†c. Within the space of (a specified period of time); = on prep. 8c. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 510 Be iournays qua ga hit may, fourty myle a-pon a day.

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 704 Vp on a day he gat hym moore moneye Than þ^t the person gat in Monthes tweye.

1457–8 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 15 He sall warne thame to pass to the kings chapell..apone xl dais.

1459 Rolls of Parl. V. 369/2 A commaundement..to be redy to come..upon a day warnyng.

?a1585 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems vii. 35 Rome wes not biggit all vpon ane day.

1674 Reg. Privy Council Scott. 3rd Ser. IV. 299 [The lords] ordaines letters of horning upon 48 houres to be direct for that effect.

d. At the point of; close on, touching on; = on prep. 8d.Usually with verbal noun or gerund: see group (a). upon the point of: see point n.¹ Phrases 1i.

ΚΠ

(a)

c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 6 Haue mynd apon ȝoure endyng, of þe payns of helle.

1491 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 205/1 I am apone my saling and may nocht lang tary.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 423/1 I am upon my lieng downe, as a woman that is nere her tyme.

1604 T. Dekker & T. Middleton Honest Whore v. i. 4 Wife. Comes the duke this way. Pio. He's vpon comming mistris.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Emmati,..faded, vpon withering.

1670 A. Marvell Let. 10 Mar. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 103 I intended more but the post also is upon going.

1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 10 The King of Prussia is upon sending to the..Library all the..medals.

1774 O. Goldsmith Grecian Hist. I. vii. 247 The truce..was just upon expiring.

1842 C. Whitehead Richard Savage i. i I was just upon commending them to a lower place.

elliptical.1899 Daily News 12 Sept. 4/7 The new..recreation garden..is just upon finished.(b)1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 As wee were vpon our departure.1626 N. Breton Fantasticks sig. D 3^v Few that are merry, but..wenches that are vpon the mariage.1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour v. i. sig. K2 Signor Adorni is return'd! now upon entrance.1666 A. Marvell Let. 1 Dec. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 47 The Smyrna fleet..is upon returne.c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. 133 They did so many Irrational, Senseless, and Destructive Acts, that almost all lay at Stake..and was just upon the go.1722 A. Pope Corr. May (1956) II. 115 I'm told you are all upon removal very speedily.1775 S. J. Pratt Liberal Opinions (1783) IV. cxxxiii. 206 Our old rector will make a subject by and by;..he's certainly upon the go [= dying].1797 M. Robinson Walsingham IV. 318 The good fellow is upon the go; his life is not worth six weeks' purchase.1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) iv. ii. 116 Doge. How goes the night? Ber. F. Almost upon the dawn.

†e. By or for (a specified time). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1510 Brasenose Coll. Doc. (MS.) A³ 43 To make me a Dublett and a Jacket upon Crystmasse next comyng.

†f. For the extent or period of. Obsolete.Cf. upon a stretch at stretch n. 6a.

ΚΠ

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xlix^v Which sickenes contynued vpon fyue monethes.

a. On the occasion of; = on prep. 9.In frequent use c1670–1825. Group (b) illustrates obsolete usages.See also occasion n.¹ Phrases 1b, sight n.¹ 4d, 6b, sudden n. 1b, suddenty n. 1b, view n. Phrases 2.

ΚΠ

(a)

c1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine i. 981 Vp-on this hir letter hath she sent.

1492 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS Comm. App. Pt. IV: MSS Duke of Rutland (1888) I. 13 in Parl. Papers (C. 5614) LXIV. 1 To thentent that uppon convercacion we may shewe unto you our minde.

1515 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 79 The saide artificers seyne that by the grauntis made uppon their first corporacion it appereth that [etc.].

1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Bv His maister, hangs him straighte vpponte.

1629 Vse of Law 3 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light If one kill another vpon a suddaine quarrell.

1662 C. Culpeper in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 152 (note) I haue some Quakers..in prison which I doe intend to let goe upon taking the Oath.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 74 The Banyans repairing to the Suburbs upon Tattoo.

1705 J. Collier Ess. Moral Subj.: Pt. III i. 13 Was ever..any Fencer, worth the naming, heard to groan upon a Hit?

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 369. ¶17 They..were cast into Hell upon their Disobedience.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 309 Upon comparing the various animals..with each other, we shall find [etc.].

1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. iv. 450 They retired upon the brisk advancement of the grenadiers.

1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 101 Upon which they raised their heads, and answered as before.

1890 Ld. Esher in Law Times' Rep. 63 734/1 [He] shall be released from that obligation upon the Director undertaking the case.

(b)1510 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 307/1 The slauchter..committit be him apoun subdante.1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 35/1 in Chron. I Cesar..writeth that immediatly vpon knowledge had..he woulde inuade Brytaine.1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 269 The Silly-how, that sometimes is found about the heads of children upon their birth. 1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 63 Y^e sneaking Villains, like Worms upon a Rain, crawl'd out.1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. v. 89 Yet often upon a pinch, I was forced to work like a common Mariner.1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iv. 72 Persons may be betrayed into wrong Behaviour upon Occasions of Surprize.1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 222 [Johnson:] He has no tenants..who will follow him to the field upon any emergency.

b. Immediately after; following on.

ΚΠ

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 71 Whan that he this tale herde, Hou upon that the king ansuerde With Hercules he moste feighte.

1496 Coventry Leet Bk. 573 And what persones þat be absent þat day vppon warnyng shall pay xij d.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxlviii. 177 [They] conquered..townes and castels one vpon the other by force.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. i. sig. Fiv So soone vpon supper.., Slepe maketh yll..digestion.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 381 I am content..to render it vpon his death vnto the Gentleman.

1615 J. Day Festivals 268 Whether the Fault were vnawares, or vpon advisement.

1645 Bp. J. Hall Remedy Discontentm. xv. 80 After he had upon ten years siege, taken the rich City.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 181/2 The bite or sting of a Scorpion is present Death if..[Swine] drink upon it.

1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. (ed. 3) ii. i. 199 I have wrote..not rashly, or by Chance, but upon thought.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xiii. 276 Immediately upon this fortunate supply they stood to the westward.

1780 Mirror No. 95 I left my own house immediately upon the discovery I made.

1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. xi. 215 Coming as it generally did upon a week's previous inactivity.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 539 This plan had been dropped upon the detection of the Rye House Plot.

1883 Howells in Harper's Mag. Dec. 79 The silence which his friend has absent-mindedly let follow upon his last words.

elliptical.1818 H. T. Colebrooke On Import Colonial Corn 183 The capital should at first be less productive if,..upon a balance, this become more fruitful.

†c. As soon as. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1475 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 484 I woll vppon as I heer from yow come to yow in alle hast possible.

†8. Denoting physical arrangement, order, etc., = in (masses, a row, etc.). Cf. on prep. 10. rare.

ΚΠ

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 892 Als he lep þe kok vn-til, He shof hem alle upon an hyl.

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1474 For thinges that ben past, j knowe, And thinges that ben comeng vppon a rowe.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1991 The flode..Rose vppon rockes [= in high masses] as any ranke hylles.

1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng Restored 68 Nor [could] these have continued upon such a direct line, as still some of them seem to do.

a. In (a particular or specified manner, etc.); = on prep. 9.See also cross n. 29, head n.¹ Phrases 1m, loft n. 2a, sly n. 2, square adj. 12a, 12b.

ΚΠ

c1300 Havelok 468 Godard..tok þe maydnes bothe samen, Al-so it were up-on hiis gamen.

1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 25 Bot þat þise lowed men vpon Inglish tellis, Right story can me not ken, þe certeynte what spellis.

a1400–50 Alexander 3300 Like to þis werke, Þat þis coppis opon kell~wyse knytt in þe woȝes.

a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Biii Chanons can not counterfet but vpon thre.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7359 There only was ordant of Ectors dethe, With all Soteltie to serche opon sere wise.

1568 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 828 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 153 The lordis leuch vpoun [a1525 Asloan apon] loft.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 1 It was vpon this fashion bequeathed me by will.

1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxxxii. sig. Y6 Though he doth forbeare to call for it, yet I beleeue, vpon the like, thou owest him.

1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. I. iii. 146 Charles de Lens..was slaine upon cold bloud.

†b. upon new adv. = anew adv. 1. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > frequency > [adverb] > anew or again

moeOE

of newOE

yetOE

againOE

newlyOE

once morelOE

anewc1305

newa1325

i-gainc1325

againwardc1380

upon new1399

freshlya1413

newlings1440

of the newc1449

afreshc1450

of (also on) fresh1490

for the newc1535

backwardly1552

over againa1568

over1598

de novo1627

all over1811

1399 J. Gower In Praise of Peace 315 Every dai it chaungeth uppon newe.

10.

a. Occupied with; engaged in; employed on; = on prep. 12a.For further illustration of group (a) see guard n. 5a, patrol n. 1, sentry n.¹ 3, watch n. 6b.

ΚΠ

(a)

a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 190 He was ever upon his bok, And to his lore tok gret kepe.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 217 Vp on this daunce, amonges othere men Daunced a Squier biforne Dorigen.

1478 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 19/1 Þe lordis..declarit þat þai wald nocht sit apoun na summondis quhil þe said xj day.

1612 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 608 The Electour Palatine is now at the Haghe upon his voyage into England.

1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 154 Those who carve in Brasse or Marble waxe old upon their workes.

1659 Vane in T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 171 Consider what it is we are upon, a Protector in the office of Chief Magistrate.

1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. i. xi. §146 When Mankind were but one People,..and were upon Building a City together.

1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 30 He designs to carry on the work, being now upon a III^d volume.

1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 14 Neither am I at present upon a wild speculative Project.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 317 They seem'd to be upon their own Affairs.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 163 Well, Jacob, what do you stare at! Pray mind what you're upon.

1784 in B. Ward Dawn Catholic Revival (1909) I. iv. 81 That they may be upon the mission all unius moris in Domino.

1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 34 He was never absent..unless upon an errand.

(b)1574 St. Avstens Manuell in Certaine Prayers S. Augustines Medit. sig. Piiij I will..stand vpon my gard, and with waking eyes will I sing in my hart.1647–8 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1917) 573 There was onely townesmen upon the guarde, and those expressed great joy to see Sir Hugh.1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 27 He was upon pursuit To take you somewhere hereabout.1681 Viscountess Campden Let. 25 Aug. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Duke of Rutland (1889) 56 in Parl. Papers (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 Lady Skidmore..was at Mr. Conisby's house upon a visette.a1716 R. South 12 Serm. (1717) VI. 378 No Man would spend the Night upon the Sentry, who [etc.].

b. Denoting state or condition. Cf. on prep. 12.See also behaviour n. 3, by n.² 2b, case n.¹ Phrases 1, content n.² 2, duty n. 5e, fret n.² 6, loan n.¹ 3, loose n.² 1, oath n. 1, parole n.¹ 1, trial n.¹ 12. The uses placed under (b) are obsolete.

ΚΠ

(a)

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 272/39 Ich am a man opon mi seruiz, and noman serui i-nelle Bote mi louerd.

a1400–50 Alexander 42 He was wyse enoȝe wirdis to reken..of ledes opon lyfe.

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. lxxvii. [lxxiii.] 229 All suche..were styll in theyr owne houses vpon a redynes.

c1580 in Eng. Hist. Rev. July (1914) 517 You must kepe good wache by night and be upon your owne kepinge.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xi. 13 b The Caddy..keepeth the town vpon tribute vnder the king of Alger.

1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. iv. sig. H4 Their difference is neuer so much vpon the view, as then.

1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 35 Large Plains in Italy, wherein he might fight the Romans upon great advantage.

1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 95 It must with the Chissel be split upon a good Blood-Red-Heat in that place.

1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer i. i. 4 A Granadeer..absent upon Furlow.

1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. (1786) II. 373 He never missep hitting..the fleetest animals, though upon full speed.

1788 C. Reeve Exiles I. 181 Poor Albert..had been upon the fret ever since I left him.

1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband III. 86 The kettle was just upon the boil.

1823 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War I. 686 The fate of the continent was upon the hazard.

(b)1425 Rolls of Parl. IV. 290 For lake of Parsons..children have deghed uncristend..and wymen opon chyld perechyd.1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Chron. xiii. B Yf ye come vpon disceate, and to be mine aduersaries [vpō in text].a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. i. 101 And now in madnes..Vpon malicious brauery [1623 knauerie], dost thou come To start my quiet? 1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 45 Finding a Door upon the jar.a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 542 Lord Russel..was upon all the secret of his [sc. Rumsey's] going beyond sea.1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 266 I had left the Door upon the Jarr.

c. Indicating a sphere of activity or existence.Partly with implication of locative sense: cf. 1b.

ΚΠ

1487 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 159 Mony goyth now uppon the bursse at a xj^s iij^d ob. the nobull.

1589 ‘Pasquill of England’ Returne of Pasquill sig. Aij I little thought to meete thee so suddainly vpon the Exchange.

1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ ii. xv. 32 One may heare 7. or 8. sorts of tongues spoken upon their Bourses.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 48. ⁋4 I was curious to observe the Reception these Gentlemen met with upon Change.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 266. ⁋2 This Creature is what they call newly come upon the Town.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 221 [Johnson:] A merchant upon the 'Change of London.

1822 W. Irving Bracebridge Hall vii. 59 A dashing young ensign, just come upon the town.

1838 D. Jerrold Men of Char. II. 255 Again was John Applejohn upon the world.

1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xi. 79 He found employment upon the Morning Post.

d. With nouns denoting activity or progress.See also gallop n. 1, gog n.², hunt n.² 1b, listen n. 2, long run n. and adj., scramble n. 1, trot n.¹ 1d.

ΚΠ

1645 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 176 Our horse, upon a Gallop without once drawing up.

1664 J. Wilson Cheats i. i. 2 I was out t'other Night upon the Randan.

1678 in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 50 Lord Rochester hath bin att the gates of death, and so penitent that he is upon an amendment.

1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband v. i. 78 You will every Day see hundreds as fast upon the Gallop, as she is.

1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 4 Every thing upon the waste.

1801 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 105 Grain of all kinds continues upon the advance.

1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 505 The leaves are just upon the turn, and the fall of the year is close at hand.

e. Denoting situation with a portion of time or space.

ΚΠ

1632 T. Hawkins tr. P. Matthieu Vnhappy Prosperitie 76 His life was now almost wholly wasted, he is upon the last hour.

1680 R. L'Estrange tr. Erasmus 20 Select Colloquies xx. 258 Observing the Woman to Yawn, and just upon her last Stretch, he put [etc.].

1694 Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. 165 Before the Ship could Ware and bring to upon the other Tack, She struck.

1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 196 We being then upon our Starboard Tack.

11.

a. Indicating the basis or reason of reliance, trust, etc.See also count v. 9, depend v.¹ 5, hang v. 13b (quot. 1817 at sense 7a), rely v.¹ 6, rest v.¹ 14a, to stand upon —— 1 at stand v. Phrasal verbs 2, stay v.² 2b, 3b, suspend v. 9, trist v. 1, trust v. 1.

ΚΠ

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16724 & wha se lefeþþ upp onn himm Þatt mann iss all unndemedd.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 206 For þet stondunge is treowe trust of hardi bileaue up on godes strengðe.

c1250 Prayer to Virgin 18 in Old Eng. Misc. 196 Al min hope is uppon þe.

c1315 Shoreham v. 51 Four manere ioyen hy hedde here Of hyre sone so lef an dere, Wytnes opan þe godspelle.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. i. 117 Þei leueden vppon hym þat lyed in þis manere.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. vii. 2 Siria restede vp on Effraym.

1509 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 286/2 Ony proclamatioun..anent the intercommonyn and sitting apoun the Inglismenis assouerans.

1574 R. Scot Perfite Platforme of Hoppe Garden 2 I, for my part, relye not upon other mens opinions.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xx. 24 [He] resolued [= relied] vppon so smal an assuraunce of the Bascha.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 294 My life vpon her faith: honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leaue to thee.

1640 W. Laud Wks. (1853) III. 279 His Majesty's goodness was confident upon the fidelity of his subjects.

1767 B. Gooch Pract. Treat. Wounds I. 241 It is fallacious, and by no means to be depended upon, as a Criterion.

1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. vi. 6 Depend upon it,..I will visit them all.

1823 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War I. 715 They counted upon succour from San Juan's troops.

1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam xxxii. 51 Then one deep love doth supersede All other,..And rests upon the Life indeed.

b. According to; in agreement or accordance with; on the model of.

ΚΠ

(a)

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 108 I not if that be Sompnolence, Bot upon youre conscience, Min holi fader, demeth ye.

c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 105 Comaundinge hem vppon her legeaunce To come.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 66 To make amendys fully in trewe restitucyoun, vp-on þi powere.

c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 515 Quat is þi rawunsun, opon ryȝte? Þe soth þou mon sayn.

1516 in Acta Parl. Scot. (1875) XII. 37/1 He..behavis him swa towart..ȝoure brothir..that apon Ressoune na man sall be discontentit of his gyding.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xviii. 20 b The king..was set at libertie, vpon an accord and alliaunce which hee made.

1664 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1912) 3rd Ser. 226 I inform'd my Lord..that vpon my certaine knowledge a greate number would meete..att such a house.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 54 Nothing remaining of it but only what is taken upon Chronicle.

1702 J. Vanbrugh False Friend i. i I find you much upon my taste in this matter.

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. xxvii. 120 Here Mr. Belford gives the substance of it upon his memory.

1867 J. R. Lowell Fitz Adam's Story 464 An honest cord [of wood] in Jethro still would fail By a good foot upon the Deacon's scale.

(b)a1225 Leg. Kath. 994 Hwi schulde he forhohien to wurðen to þet þing Þet is iwend [= formed] upon him?1563 J. Shute First Groundes Archit. sig. Biv This piller [is]..made by the Ionians vpon the Simetrie of a strong man.1777 Ann. Reg. 1776 148 A rifle gun upon a new construction.1790 W. Wrighte Grotesque Archit. 11 The four minarets at the angles bring the plan upon a square of forty feet.1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §85 Upon these ideas I drew up..the following plan.1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks I. viii. 264 The new constitution of Greece is formed very much upon that of France.1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xxii. 172 The Society papers..are to some extent modelled upon the Reviews.

c. Indicating the ground, basis, occasion, or reason of an action, opinion, etc.; = on prep. 11.In very frequent use from c1525. In group (b) with allusion to literal uses (sense 1).

ΚΠ

(a)

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 169 A symple knycht may nocht lede a baroun..apon his sauf condyt.

a1500 in C. T. Martin Chancery Proc. 15th Cent. in Archaeologia (1904) 59 4 Uppon untrue verydyte yoven in London ther lieth none atteynt.

1515 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 403/2 The slauchter..committit apoun forthocht felony.

1554–5 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 170 In a redines to serve vpon further warnynge.

1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft x. i. 177 Those witches, that make men beleeue they can prophesie vpon dreames.

1602 W. S. True Chron. Hist. Ld. Cromwell sig. F4 The great Lord Cromwell arreasted vpon treason.

1647–8 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1917) 569 How..Cholmeley came first to be imployed in the Parliament service, and upon what grounds hee quitt the same.

1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. **4^v He has solv'd more Phænomena of Nature upon sound Principles, than Aristotle in his Physics.

1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 14 Upon these Arguments my Brother chang'd my Resolutions again.

1747 W. Gould Acct. Eng. Ants Pref. Upon this Reason my Lord Bacon does not approve of the historical Method of writing in Philosophy.

1787 J. Whitaker Mary Queen of Scots Vindicated I. 62 They thus condemn the Queen..upon letters unauthenticated by the producers.

1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate Introd. Invernahyle obtained from the Chevalier his prisoner's freedom upon parole.

1846 Chambers's Jrnl. 31 Oct. 280/2 Upon the most insubstantial of pretexts.

1872 H. P. Liddon Some Elements Relig. i. 16 The most intellectual Gnostics were Sensualists; Sensualists upon a theory and with deliberation.

(b)a1400–50 Alexander 4641 Pure is ȝoure tecches, Mare fonden opon foly þan ficchid on reson.1565 Sir R. Maitland in Maitland Folio MS. 23 Grund all thy doing vpon suthfastnes.1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 27 I..tould him I wuld bilde uppon him.1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 23 This is the major Proposition of his Syllogism, and if this fail, the Charge he builds upon it, must needs fall.1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶8 Our Modern celebrated Clubs are founded upon Eating and Drinking.1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. x. 207 He particularly built upon a very happy..autumn there this year. 1844 A. Beresford-Hope Ess. 111 This..does give us very different ground to go upon.1878 J. P. Hopps Princ. Relig. iii. 13 Upon this great truth..we base all our hopes.

†d. Of (a cause of death or illness). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1420 Brut 344 Mony a worthi man yn þat viage deid vpon þe Flix.

1510 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 73 Vppon the seid enprisonement the same John..deyed within xij howres.

1600 P. Holland tr. Florus Breviaries cxl, in tr. Livy Rom. Hist. 1264 Upon which fracture he died thirtie daies after.

1645 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 163 Y^e Gentlewoman y^t had lived in it dead upon Grief.

1696 A. Telfair New Confut. Sadducism 10 Which frightned him so much, that he fell sick upon it immediately.

e. Indicating means of subsistence or existence, or an article of food furnishing sustenance.Sometimes = ‘after having taken or consumed’: see (c).

ΚΠ

(a)

1457 J. Hardyng Chron. in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1912) 747 His lyfelode exceded noght all clere An hundreth marke to leue vpon in dede.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 98 We have loste our store of vytaylles, so that we have noo thynge to lyve upon.

1564 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 125 Aspshawe is a very poore man, and liveth apon his neibours.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F8^v [They] are to be compelled to worke, and not to liue vpon other mens labours.

1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Dram. Pers. sig. Aiv Shift. A Thredbare Sharke. One that..liues vpon lendings.

1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. v. 249 Monasteries..maintained vpon the common beneuolence of the citie.

1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 45 All liuing vpon Fishing.

1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 24. 161 A whimsical Fellow..liv'd upon setting Stones in Wrist-Buttons.

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Sept. 3/1 The lady did not indeed say that she lived with her father and mother, but she lived upon them.

1885 Law Times Rep. 52 651/1 He earned nothing, and he lived upon some money of mine.

(b)c1440 Pallad. on Husb. x. 76 Til May hit wol suffice vppon to feede.?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) Pref. sig. B j Suche two footed Moules and Todes whom..nature hath ordayned to..suck vpon the muck.1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vi. 276 They liue vpon the flesh of Ostriches and camels.1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §94. 467/2 'Tis thought he surfeited upon Melons.1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 34 He..breakfasted upon toast and ale.1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. iii. 221 While Moths upon his rotting Carpets fed.1818 G. S. Faber Horæ Mosaicæ (ed. 2) II. 281 If the Dominical Supper be a feast upon a sacrifice.1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds ii. 26 The grass it fed upon.1885 Manch. Examiner 16 June 5/1 M. Henze fed his prize oxen upon silage.elliptical.1717 M. Prior Alma iii. 243 Was ever Tartar fierce or cruel, Upon the Strength of Water-Gruel.1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. v. 109 A young Horse may look pretty sleek upon Hay only.1895 G. Meredith Amazing Marriage I. i. 13 The clergyman,..renouncing strong drinks, because he found that he ‘cursed better upon water’.(c)1663 R. Boyle Some Considerations Usefulnesse Exper. Nat. Philos. ii. vi. 185 Though..[it] did make her sickish, especially, when she slept upon it.1829 W. Scott Jrnl. 5 July (1946) 91 So to roost upon a crust of bread and a glass of small beer, my usual supper.

†f. At (an expense, cost, etc.). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1400 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3799 Al þe bachelerie..he nom in is compaynie..vp [v.rr. vp on, vppon] is coust.

1476 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 49/1 Þare to remain apoun þare awin expenss.

a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) ii. xv. sig. p.vi Many shyps were made vpon the kynges cost.

1563 Ref. Privy Council Scotl. I. 239 To commande thame to warde, to remane thairin upon thair awne expense.

1577 M. Hanmer tr. Socrates Scholasticus vii. xxxiv, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 396 He had buylded vpon his owne costes and charges the sepulchres and tumbes.

1674 Reg. Privy Counc. Scot. IV. 278 A mudwall rowme..built upon his owne coast.

1711 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 124 Each company..was subsisted upon the cost of every captain for three months.

g. Denoting security of a loan, etc.

ΚΠ

1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) 121 The besant..was holden & gaged vpon an ymage.

1562 J. Heywood Fifth Hundred Epygrams (new ed.) xciii. in Wks. sig. Bbj^v No man will one peny lende upon it.

1611 Bible (King James) Neh. v. 4 Wee haue borrowed money..vpon our lands and vine~ yards.

1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 7 Moneys lent upon Goods at very easie Interest.

1707 London Gaz. No. 4333/8 They will..Lend Money upon Tallies or other good Securities, at 5 l. per Cent.

1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 40 The money is secured..upon land.

1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1765 I. 268 [Johnson:] Security being taken upon the property.

1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 407 He assigns 1000 marks..to his son's wife, secured upon the Swiss possessions of his house.

1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. iv. 42 If [a banker]..issues notes upon no property at all, the issue is fraudulent.

1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 54 §11 Any mortgage or charge duly created..upon the profits of any benefice.

†h. On condition of. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1516 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 422/2 The kingis grace dischargis thaim apone thair remaining in ward for the said errour.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. v. 36 Vpon my Blessing I command thee goe.

1626 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 199 Maister Lappage doth..promise that hee will continew his ministry..upon true payment and receivinge the afforesaid allowance.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §5 If it were suitable to Gods nature to promise life to man upon obedience.

†i. Out of; with; by the use of. Obsolete. rare.

ΚΠ

1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 42 He did not make the wife vppon the same claie, whereof he made man.

1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 17 That his Letter be Cast upon good Mettal, that it may last the longer.

j. In many phrases, as upon..accord, on (also †upon) account of), upon composition, upon condition, upon design, upon distrust, upon envy, upon foot, upon fraud, upon head, upon lease, upon matter, upon purpose, upon score, upon shame, upon suspicion, upon trust, upon whole, for which see the nouns.

12. At the risk or with the certainty of incurring or suffering (a pain, penalty, etc.); on peril of; = on prep. 16.See also pain n.¹ 1b, penalty n. 1.

ΚΠ

c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 1570 That he shuld fast goon Vpon the peyn to be blynde.

c1420 Contin. Brut 384 Þe King commaunded to..late hem passe yn pees, vpon deth.

c1420 Contin. Brut 385 [He] chargyd ham, vpon her lyf, to kepe wel the toun and þe Castell.

1480 W. Caxton Descr. Brit. 9 Walsshmen shold not passe that dyche with wepen vpon a grete payne.

1540 Acts Privy Council (1837) VII. 21 To temperate his tongue hereafter upon adventure of further punishement.

a1554 W. Cholmeley Request & Suite (1853) 19 Commaundyng..the Aldermen, upon the losse of their auctoritie and office,..to see [etc.].

1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. A4 With threats, Vppon a penaltie inioynd to come.

1603 R. Parsons 2nd Pt. Treat. Conuersions in Treat. Three Conuersions Eng. I. xii. 625 The Duke protesteth the contrary (vpon his death).

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 126 I have,..upon severe punishment, inhibited the translation of my Alcheron.

1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 439 He order'd every man upon the pain of death to bring in all the money he had.

13. Indicating that which forms the basis of revenue, profit, fines, taxation, lending, etc.; = on prep. 17.See also retire v. 4c(b) (quot. 1806 at sense 2b), tax n.¹ 1.

ΚΠ

1466 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 4/2 [He] sall..resaue þe soume of mone aucht till him vppoun þe said annuel.

1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 43 Preamble So that the seid Erle upon his seid leasses.., do reserve asmuch rentis..as be nowe usuell.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Neh. v. 3 Let vs borowe money of the kinge vpon vsury.

1544 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 217 They so offending to be payned opon a certen some of money.

?1677 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1699) 272 Such a part of the full value of their Commodities, as may possibly be lost upon the sale of them.

1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth I. 333 Five hundred Pounds upon the brown Bay still.

1798 Hull Advertiser 24 Mar. 2/3 Insurance upon..outhouses, and upon unthreshed stock therein.

1845 R. W. Hamilton Inst. Pop. Educ. x. 278 How can the State raise the amount? Is it not to be raised upon the people?

1892 Law Times 94 104/1 A commission of over 60 per cent. upon the sums received.

II. Of motion or direction towards a position, thing or person, state, etc.

14.

a. Upward so as to place or be on a surface, point, etc. Cf. on prep. 18.

ΚΠ

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11959 Þe deofell brohhte iesu crist. Wiþþ utenn o þe temmple. Vpp onn an sæte. upp o þe rof.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1942 He lep up on a stede lith.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3899 Moyses ðor made a wirme of bras, And henget hege up-on a saft.

a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 2318 Vpon his palfrai lep Catoun.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ix. xxx. 384 They came vpon sir launcelot sodenly and vnnethe he myght putte vpon hym his helme.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xvi. xv. 684 Therfore starte vpon thy hors.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 471 In gret hy thair hors hint thai, And stert apon thame sturdely.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Joel ii. 9 They shal clymme vp vpon the houses.

1627 M. Drayton Nimphidia in Battaile Agincourt 120 Flye Cranion her Chariottere, Vpon the Coach-box getting.

1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 130 He leapes upon his Mule.

1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Pears Mount them one upon another Steeplewise.

1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 57 To uplift the woman's fall'n divinity Upon an even pedestal with man.

1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters xxi. 446 A large loligo..had thrown itself high and dry upon the beach.

b. To or towards a position on a surface, etc.; = on prep. 18.Group (b) corresponds to sense 1c; group (c) illustrates non-physical uses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > high position > position upon > on or upon [preposition]

oneOE

anuppeOE

uponc1175

(a)

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14667 Sniþ itt alls itt wære an shep. & leȝȝ itt upp onn allterr.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3949 Vp-on hise asse his sadel he dede.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3186 On an gold gad ðe name god Is grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8895 Vnwarli sco sett hir don Apon þis ilk tre.

c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §7. 21 Ley thi label vp-on the same degree of the sonne.

c1400 St. Alexius (Cotton) 257 They hylde water wppon hys hede.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 921 Som drope of pitee..Vp on vs wrecched wommen lat thow falle.

c1430 Two Cookery Bks. 42 Þan take fayre pecez of Brede..vppe~on þe Eyroun.

1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. iii. sig. H3 Her head sunk down vpon her brest.

a1655 T. T. de Mayerne Archimagirus Anglo-Gallicus (1658) lxxxiv. 58 Lay this froth upon your sullibub as high as you can.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 140 The various God..draws a Rock upon his dark Abode.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. If a Perpendicular be let fall upon the Base of an oblique angled Triangle.

1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. i. 78 Upon the gale she stooped her side.

1844 J. Jack Hist. St. Monance xi. 74 The skipper placed upon the table a large wooden caup or platter.

1870 R. Anderson Hist. Missions Amer. Board IV. xxvi. 63 The mob rushed forward and trampled spitefully upon it.

elliptical.c1450 Mirk's Festial i. 5 Sle, sle, opon þe broche, rost hote.(b)1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 952 Syttyþ dowun vppon ȝoure knees.c1400 26 Pol. Poems 149/233 I set me doune apon my kne.1486 Bk. St. Albans b iv b Softe and layserly fall oppon yowre kneys.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Mark xv. 19 [They] fell vpon the kne, & worshipped him.a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 209 The said preist..kneillit doune wpoun his knie.a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 289 Come on, away, apart vpon our knees. 1837 F. Palgrave Merchant & Friar (1844) 176 The Chancellor, dropping off the Woolsack upon his bended knees.1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby ‘Up-end yourself,’ get upon your legs.(c)c1325 Spec. Gy Warw. 995 And anon god putte his fuisoun Vp-on hire mele.a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxv. 3 Vp on whom shyneth not the liȝt of hym?1461 Rolls of Parl. V. 463/2 Takyng upon hym..the Coroune and name of Kyng.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. vi. D The Lorde make his face to shyne vpon the [vpō in text].1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. vi. 210 Whereby they had put themselves..upon great difficulties.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 The Nymphs, Companions of th' unhappy Maid, This punishment upon thy Crimes have laid. 1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VIII. xxi. 99 I fell in love all at once..—it burst upon me..like a bomb.1768 J. Boswell Let. 8 Feb. (1924) I. 145 I am thrown upon the wide world again.1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 79 The magnitudes, being doubled upon themselves, increase so, that [etc.].1816 Ld. Byron Prisoner of Chillon x A light broke in upon my brain.

c. Denoting incidence, seizure, hold, etc.; = on prep. 14b.

ΚΠ

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2339 Ðo cam iosep swilc rewðe up-on, He dede halle ut ðe toðere gon.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. cxv Ripe & igadered ere corrupcioune oþer rostinge falle vpon whete.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 748/2 I take holde apon one, jempoygne.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxiv. 3 The paynes of hell gat holde vpon me.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. iii. 18 She is a tre of life to them that laye holde vpon her.

1546 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 148 The sayde Leonard Sumpter..toke and seased uppon the same as lawfull wayff and thynge forsaken.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vii. 303 The Venetian Factor seased vpon all.

1665 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1912) 3rd Ser. 240 There was a full congregation of quakers and the like seised vppon by Sir Francis Clarke sunday last.

1880 J. Payne New Poems 259 A deadly terror got A sudden hold upon her.

1892 H. Lane Differ. Rheum. Dis. (ed. 2) 67 It seems to have taken a firm hold upon the public.

d. Of the incidence of a blow, stroke, etc.; = on prep. 14c.

ΚΠ

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2734 He..smot him so up-on þe crune, Þat [etc.].

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 2368 Þan hastiliche þe ost ichon Opon Segyn þat smiten anon.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lx. 516 Sir Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the helme.

1507 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden) 253 He sawe..Irton being hurt vppon the hed.

1562 Aberd. Kirk Session Rec. (Spalding Club) 6 To be puneist with ane palm vpone the hand for ilk falt.

1594 1st Pt. Raigne Selimus 1447 Dart Thy smouldring flame Vpon the head of cursed Acomat.

1611 Bible (King James) Exod. vii. 17 Behold, I will smite with the rod..vpon the waters.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶11 His Neighbour may give him a Kick upon the Shins.

1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War i. xxi, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 732 Many..have stood amazed..when they saw him..shoot the arrow upon the mark.

1813 W. Scott Rokeby vi. 313 One stroke, upon the castle bell, To Oswald rung his dying knell.

1844 E. B. Barrett Drama of Exile 64 in Poems I This is the Eden lost By Lucifer!..this the sword..That smote upon the forehead.

1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. viii. 187 The cruel cat falling at every step upon their..bleeding shoulders.

e. In phrases of the type harm upon harm, torment upon torment, denoting cumulative addition or repetition; = on prep. 18e.

ΚΠ

c1320 tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 865 Þey wounded here, and heped harm vp on harmes.

c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 346 And so servauntis upon servantis weren char[g]ious to þis hous.

c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iv. 1336 He had torment opon torment.

?1529 S. Fish Supplicacyon for Beggers sig. A7 The capteyns of his kingdome..haue heped to him benefice vpon benefice.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 86 Why thou losse vpon losse.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 229 Huddleing iest vpon iest, with such impossible conueiance vpon me.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 152 Which heaped vpon them Anathema vpon Anathema.

1699 J. Evelyn Acetaria App. sig. P4 Cover the Bottom of the Jar with some Dill,..then a Bed of Nuts; and so stratum upon stratum.

1864 C. Kingsley Roman & Teuton v. 137 Dietrich had had to write letter upon letter.

1882 ‘Ouida’ In Maremma I. 90 Centuries upon centuries of carnage..have laid the land bare.

1884 C. F. Woolson in Harper's Mag. Feb. 371 Millions upon millions of violets.

f. On (a voyage, expedition, mission, etc.); = on prep. 18d.

ΚΠ

1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 648 Or I myhte make my passage To gynnen vp-on my pylgrymage.

c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 12 The kyng procedyng forthe upon his way, kome to the Condyte.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 148 When the vnhappy king..did set forth Vpon his Irish expedition.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 55. ¶1 A young Fellow..sent upon a long Voyage.

1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 324 To encourage our South Sea Company..to go upon some Discovery that way.

1817 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. II. xvii. 77 The rufescent ants do not leave their nests to go upon these expeditions..till [etc.].

1839 P. J. Bailey Festus 232 As on they sped upon their starward course.

15. Into contact or collision with, esp. by way of attack; against; = on prep. 19a.See also to come upon —— 1a at come v. Phrasal verbs 2, to fall upon —— 1a at fall v. Phrasal verbs 2, fly v.¹ 8b, to go upon —— 1a at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, lay v.¹ 32a, to set upon —— 1 at set v.¹ Phrasal verbs 1.

ΚΠ

a1300 Cursor Mundi 24461 Me-thoght moght it [v.r. i] apon him rine,..I suld ha ben all hale.

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 1996* Þou schalt ȝif þe first asaut Opon þe Almaundes.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf.) Dido. 1327 On a nyght sleping he let hir lye, And staal a-wey vpon [v.r. vnto] his companye.

c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 444 Russhande wpone the altare.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 56 Whan Vter saugh..the Danes assembled, he sette vpon hem as vigorously or more.

c1500 Melusine (1895) lix. 348 Go we vpon our enemyes to helpe & socoure our frendes.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xvii. 35 And whan he wolde haue bene vpon me, I toke him by his beerde.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 The Turkes.., vpon whom they of the Castle..gaue an assault.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 48 I stumbled..vpon a great dung mixen.

1631 E. Pellham Gods Power 2 Wee eight men..were bound for this Greenland aforesaid, to make a voyage upon Whales or Sea-horse.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 299. ¶2 He drew his Sword upon me before he was Nine Years old.

1782 W. Cowper Loss Royal George 20 She ran upon no rock.

1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod iii. i. 130 The two combatants..were thereby prevented from running their horses upon each other.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. ix. 231 [They] run plump upon one of the masters as they emerge into the High street.

elliptical.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 56 The kynge seide to his peple, ‘Now vpon hem in all that we may.’1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Sam. xviii. 14 Not so, I wil vpon him before thy face.1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iv. iii. 343 Aduaunce your standars, and vpon them Lords. 1821 Ld. Byron Sardanapalus iv. i. 136 Upon them! (Trumpet sounds again.)figurative.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Bel & Dragon 30 Now whan y^e kynge sawe, that they russhed in so sore vpon him,..he deliuered Daniel vnto them.1887 ‘L. Carroll’ Game of Logic i. 36 Let them Rush upon their Fate!

16. In the direction of; towards; = on prep. 20.

a. In respect of looking, etc.See also cast v. 7, front v.¹ 1, gape v. 3, gaze v. 1b, glare v. 2, laugh v. 2, look v. 1, pore v. 1, to see on —— at see v. Phrasal verbs 2, smile v. 2a, squint v. 2.

ΚΠ

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 47 To kasten canh echnen vp on an ȝeung wimmon.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2661 Ðor-quiles he seweden [= looked] him up-on. Mani dede bleph un-don.

c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 5024 Þair bodys sal alle unsemely be,..and ugly, opon to se.

14.. in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 144 Dame ypocryte loke vp-on a boke.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 219 He caste his eye vp on Emelya.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 John i. 1 That which..we have loked apon, and oure hondes have handled.

1581 Earl Morton in Calr. Scott. Pap. VI. 14 I was purposed to have..turned my backe upon Scotland while I had sene further.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 38 Arthur looked vpon me, and I laughed vpon him.

1710 J. Strype Hist. E. Grindal i. vii. 70 These Unsuccesses were justly looked upon to proceed from the punishing Hand of Heaven.

1790 J. Bruce Trav. Source Nile I. 5 We pointed our prow directly..upon Alexandria.

1799 W. Wordsworth Two April Mornings 19 Matthew..fixing still his eye Upon the eastern mountain-top.

1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) II. 357 The fears of some, the hopes of others, and the attention of all, were now turned upon the young emperor.

1874 F. W. Farrar Life Christ I. 472 He turned His back for a time upon His native land.

1884 M. Oliphant Sir Tom iv Her gray eyes absolutely flamed upon him.

b. In respect of movement, etc.

ΚΠ

?a1400 Morte Arth. 262 Thow countez no caas, ne castes no forthire, Bot hurles furthe appone heuede, as thi herte thynkes.

1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xv Our sauyour criste..apperyd to his disciples..and after .viij. dayes..he come vpon theym ayen.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 6258 If any stert vpon stray, strike hym to dethe!

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 11 [We] were driuen to lee-ward a hundred leagues vpon the Coast of Brazil.

1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride To Rdr. sig. A2 Unless you point directly upon his Vice.

1716 London Gaz. No. 5455/3 Our Fleet..bore down upon them.

1828 in G. Concanen Rep. Rowe v. Brenton (1830) 28 To sink a shaft upon the lode.

1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. 142 The hospitals..of Salamanca being evacuated upon Lamego, that town was crowded.

17.

†a. In or into (pieces); = on prep. 17b.

ΚΠ

c1400 Sege Jerusalem 699 Twey apys..Þat renten þe rawe flesche vpon rede peces.

b. Into, as by penetration; = on prep. 17a.

ΚΠ

1738 T. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 137 The sea, which here indents upon the country.

18. Unto, to (a person): in reference to descent or (Scottish) marriage; = on prep. 22.

ΚΠ

1492 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 254/2 His faider..maryit him apoun his sister dochter incontrare his band.

c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. iv. vii. f. 42/2 The eldest of hir dochteris wes maryid apon..Marius.

1629 Vse of Law 37 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light If this inheritance descend vpon a woman.

1667 Duchess of Newcastle Life Duke of Newcastle ii. 93 A good Estate in the West, which afterwards descended upon my Lord.

1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish i. 11 My marriage upon my own cousin, Miss Betty Lanshaw.

1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xxi. 254 She was married..upon my Uncle Robin.

19. Into, to, or on (some action, occupation, course, or condition); = on prep. 23.

ΚΠ

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 30 Thanne upon dissencioun Thei felle.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15580 Alle þe apostels þan bi-gan to fal a-pon a gret.

1435 Contract Fotheringhay Church (1841) 29 During all the sayd werke the seid Will. Horwode shall nether set mo nor fewer Free-Masons..thereupon.

1483 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 103 The said schiref put apone the said inquest..persons quhilk war suspect of the law.

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xxxiiii^v A Quest of .xii. knyghtes of Mydd[lesex], sworne vpon a Iurye.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 29 b For..we naturallie runne upon things which are forbidden us.

1607 T. Rogers Faith, Doctr., & Relig. Pref. sig. ¶4 Wee set vpon the building of Gods house.

1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 2 My Purpose is not here to fall vpon that Question.

1658 R. Allestree Pract. Christian Graces; or, Whole Duty of Man xiv. §22. 300 It puts the child upon shifts, and tricks.

1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxi. 240 Some while..after the entrance of Queen Elizabeth upon her government.

1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 1 (1753) I The..Perplexity of being forced upon Choice.

1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret i. 8 I advised him to pull off his spurs before he went upon action.

1813 Examiner 17 May 320/1 It put the Church upon the alert.

1847 Wordsw. in Mem. (1851) I. 14 When at school, I..was put upon reading the first six books of Euclid.

20.

a. Indicating the person or thing that action, feeling, etc., is directed towards or against, or that is influenced or affected by it; = on prep. 24.Construed with many verbs, as attend, await, bear, bespit, bestow, breathe, call, charge, etc. See also fie int. 1, 2, out int. 2, shame n. Phrases 9b.

ΚΠ

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6119 Þe birrþ þin rihhte swinnkess winn Vpp onn ȝuw alle nittenn.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1750 Þa bedess. þatt te laferrd crist. Forr hise þeowwess biddeþþ Vpp onn hiss faderr heofenn king.

a1225 Leg. Kath. 130 Ah se sone ha..wende hare wiheles, upon ham seoluen.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3167 Þe king ek in is syde is herte up on him caste.

c1320 Cast. Love. 1482 Þat muche wo vs brouȝte vppon.

c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 106 He hadde greuously synned vpon him.

1473 J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 8 The Kynge..losyde his gonnys of his ordynaunce uppone them.

c1500 Melusine (1895) lix. 360 Be ye he that wyl take the trybute vpon my Fortresse?

1533 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1905) VI. 156 To Johne Drummondis childer wirkand upoune the hagbute stokkis.

1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xviii. 21 We will not leaue the following on vpon our purpose.

1633 S. Marmion Fine Compan. (1875) i. iii. 114 They can doe no more good upon me, than a young pittifull Lover upon a mistress that has the sullens.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. v. 206 He..had made their places be conferred upon men void of counsel.

1680 Laws Nevis (1740) iii. 6 If the said Offenders are not able to pay..then to be compelled to work it out upon the Forts.

1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Antiq. Jews xvi. iv, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 514 The father may have a suspicion upon all his sons.

1796 Ann. Reg., St. Papers 297 The constitution..is sacredly obligatory upon all.

1805 tr. A. Lafontaine Hermann & Emilia I. 261 Nothing is more detestable than to offer one's self upon a young man.

1850 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1857) 3rd Ser. 7 Persecution is that which affixes penalties upon views held, instead of upon life led.

1896 Peterson Mag. Jan. 102/2 The intruded-upon young lady turned her back upon him.

b. Denoting the object of regard, desire, etc.; = on prep. 20b.See also dote v.¹ 2a, eager adj. 1, keen adj. 6b, mad adj. 5, to run upon —— 2c at run v. Phrasal verbs 2, set v.¹ 37.

ΚΠ

c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7604 Opon þat meyden he wax al mad.

1382 J. Wyclif Psalms xxxix. [xl.] 17 Ful out ioȝe thei, and glade vpon me, alle that sechen thee.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 267 He schal haue miche gretter affeccioun vpon the seid freend.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lvi. 508 Louers..soo mad and soo soted vpon wymmen.

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 169 The king..was covatous wpoun money.

1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man i. 51 A young man..that was..enamoured vpon an Image of marble.

1612 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. I. i. iv. 307 In this case, Moses should haue bene..cast downe..; yet how hote is hee vpon iustice.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 106. ¶3 When he is pleasant upon any of them, all his Family are in good Humour.

1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 619 O'Connell is bent upon the disruption of the British empire.

†c. Among (a number of sharers, etc.). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1492–3 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 323 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 Distributers of the same upon the commynes.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xv. 26 To make a certayne distribucion apon the poore sanctes.

1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce sig. K 3 Hee diuideth the Lands vpon his horsemen, to each his portion.

d. Indicating the person by whom a cheque, draft, order, etc., is payable, or the bank on which it is drawn; = on prep. 24c.See also cheque n. 3, draught n. 35, draw v. 91.

ΚΠ

1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 226 Mr. Fox hauing giuen mee a note upon Mr. Shaw to pay me my allowance.

a1722 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 12 The bill upon his wife for £200.

1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 255 He shows me a Bill upon me, drawn by my Wife.

1798 in Ushaw Mag. Dec. (1913) 287 An order upon Mr. Wright for £12 as the price of the book sent you.

1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 736 It may be quite as well..to draw upon the bank.

21.

a. Indicating a person or thing towards whom or which hostile or adverse action or language is directed; against; = on prep. 26.See also (a) blow v.¹ 30, complain v. 6b,to cry out 2 at cry v. Phrasal verbs 1, design n. 2a, lie v.² 1b, peach v. 2b,rage v. 2c, rail v.⁵ 1a, steal v.¹ 5e; (b) to go upon —— 1a at go v. Phrasal verbs 2,to make upon —— at make v.¹ Phrasal verbs 2,seek v. 17.

ΚΠ

(a)

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 415 Þatt fand mann nan þing upp on hemm To wreȝenn. ne to tælenn.

a1225 Leg. Kath. 2204 Þa Porphire iseh feole, Þet me seide hit upon,..dreien to deaðe.

c1275 Passion Our Lord 241 in Old Eng. Misc. 44 A ueole kunne wise hi lowen him vp-on.

c1430 J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 151 He cryethe affter peasse, compleynnythe vppon þe werres sore.

c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 12 Þis abbatis..forgaff þaim at þai had saide vppon hur.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. x He declareth howe greuously he is complained vpon vnto the Duke.

1642 W. Laud Diary 2 Dec. They were sufficiently railed upon in the streets.

1651 H. More Second Lash of Alazanomastix in Enthusiasmus Triumphatus (1656) 253 I now forgive thee heartily for all thy abuses upon me.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 385 The Court carried every question.., tho' with..a protestation made upon every step that was carried.

1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War v. xiii, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 914 He also jested upon him.

1753 J. Collier Art Tormenting (1811) ii. ii. 130 Nor need you be apprehensive of the others telling tales upon you.

1861 F. Temple Serm. 274 The unhappy man who has not courage to tell upon himself.

1891 Law Times 90 441/2 The judges..must accept criticism upon their order.

(b)c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7155 Forr þatt he wennde þatt tatt follc. Vpp onn himm cumenn wære..forr to niþþrenn himm.c1230 Hali Meid. 17 Leccherie..secheð earst upon hire, nebbe to nebbe.c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 65 Was non so bold..Þat durste upon his menie bringhe Hunger.c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 537 The peple roos vp-on hym on a nyght.1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 106 Ich am wratthe,..wol gladliche smyte Boþe with ston and with staf, and stele vp-on myn enemy.a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 4875 Euermore hij beþ werrende, And vpon oþer conquerrende.1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 5 They bring assailours uppon this lande.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 24 The hethen assembled a grete oste vpon hem.1518 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 137 Afterwardes they sought vpon hym at hys boothe with ij clubbys.1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Esdras i. 27 I am not sent..to fight agaynst y^e, for my warre is upon Euphrates.1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. C4 It shal be my charge To raise the towne vpon him.(c)1476 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 55/2 Elene Tulloch..wes marijt þe tim þat þe said det wes recouerit apon hir.1482 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 85 To see the hurtes and harms he dyd yow uppon your goodes.1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 28 He is to haue great care..that his soldiers grow not licencious vpon their poore hosts.1647 in Crawford Proclam. (1910) II. 55/1 Robberies committed by the tories and rebels upon the protestants.1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §98. 468/1 Encroachments upon his Dominions.1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 176 The most eligible station on that coast for cruising upon the enemy.1754 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 102. ⁋2 A Design upon one another's Pockets..was introductory of another Crime.1772 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. (1915) 30 He places a number of..sepoys upon them and their families.1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 448/2 The disadvantages are..unreliability in stays.., hardness upon helms.

b. On or against (a person), by way of vengeance or the like.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5862 Þat suerd apon hus tak na wrak.

c1400 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iii. viii. 55 They alwey hauen sought vengeaunce.., to be wroken vppon tho that ought haue mysliked them.

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lv. 506 Soone we shold haue ben reuenged vpon the fals knyghtes.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iiiii Josue commaunded the sonne to stande styll in one place, vnto he were reuenged vpon his ennemies.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. i. D I must ease me of myne enemies, and a venge me vpon them.

1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine ii. v. 86 Reuenge my death vpon his traiterous head.

1860 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops Canterbury I. vii. 377 Edwy had the power to avenge himself upon Dunstan.

elliptical.c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 322 A shamefull deth I aske vpon herowde.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lviii. 10 God letteth me se my desyre vpon myne enemies.

c. So as to close in or confine.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings iv. 5 The woman wente, and closede the dore vpon hir silf and vpon hir children.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. xvi. E They wente downe quycke in to the hell..And the earth closed vpon them [vpō in text].

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxix. 15 That..the pitte shut not hir mouth vpon me.

1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 5) 580 The Lord..himselfe shut the doore of the Arke upon Noah.

1701 H. Prideaux Direct. Church-wardens (1712) 10 If they shall meet..with the Doors lock'd, barred, or bolted upon them.

1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xlviii. 555 Softly turning the key upon him as they went out.

22.

a. With respect or regard to; in reference to; touching, concerning; as to; = on prep. 25.See also agree v. 8a, compliment v. 3, conclude v. 13, consult v. 1, insist v. 3, lot n. 1, matter n.¹ 5c, pride v. 3, treat v. 2a, value v. 8.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxii. 11 A litil weep vp on the deade, for he restede.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 110 I finde upon Surquiderie, How that..Be olde daies was a King [etc.].

c1400 Contin. Brut 321 In þe whiche parlement was treted..how he myȝte best oppon his wrong be avenged.

1439 Cases bef. King's Council (Selden) 105 The Kyngis counsaillours examined the persones..upon the ryot.

1484 Surtees Misc. (1888) 43 Surmising none othere upon hyme.

1515 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 85 Two seuerall Writtes..to theym directed to enquere and examyn vpon certen Interrogatoriez.

1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health xc. 81 If you will not be at cost vppon spices, you may make a verie sweete water thus.

1609 Bible (Douay) I. 1 Kings xxx. 6 The soule of everie man was bitterly affected upon their sonnes, and daughters.

1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xiii. 227 Having such good Success upon Brass, I improv'd the Invention so, as to make it serve for Wood also.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 150. ⁋4 I could name Two, who..fell out and parted Beds upon the boiling of a Leg of Mutton.

1760 Imposters Detected iii. vii [She] was not in the least vain or proud upon the encomiums..from every mouth.

1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 9 Opinions and practices..completely at variance upon the subject of mashing.

1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 209 I shall set you at ease..upon that point.

1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 921 This case raises a novel point upon which there is no authority.

b. Denoting the object to or towards which mental activity is directed; = on prep. 25b.See also consider v. 11b, meditate v. 1a, min v.² 4b, mind n.¹ 6 (quot. 1589 at sense 10c), put v. 16b, reflect v. 8a, remember v.¹ 7b, to run upon —— 2b at run v. Phrasal verbs 2, study v. 12, 5, think v.² 3a, treat v. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > thought > product of thinking, thought > matter of thought > indicating object of thought [preposition]

onOE

upona1300

a1300 Sarmun xxxvi, in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 5 And þench þos wordis her ispoke; for-ȝite ham noȝt ac þench apan.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 14 To studie upon the worldes lore Sufficeth now withoute more.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 112 In hir wirschip wald i bigyn A lastand warc apon to myn.

a1400 Isumbras 427 Sir Ysambrace hym umbithoghte Appone a horse that coles broghte.

1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 34 A remembraunce to thinke vpon me.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 49 The moste remembraunce that I shall haue, shall be vpon yow, and on yowre nedes.

1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. vii. 28 The multitude were in admiration vpon his doctrine.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Tim. iv. 15 Meditate vpon these things.

1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa II. i. viii. 418 Did you reflect upon it with an vnprejudicate opinion.

1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 263 I ask'd him what it was he study'd upon.

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 82 But now the Admiration was turn'd upon another Question.

1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi. 319 It has a closin'-in heid-piece concern that min's me..upon a mutch that my wife hed ance.

1899 W. J. Locke White Dove 3 S—— was at last able to reflect upon the entire unexpectedness of his presence.

c. Denoting the subject of speech or writing; = on prep. 25c.Frequently with verbs, as rave, talk, write; amplify v. 3c(b), criticize v. 2a, distinguish v. 8c, to speak unto —— at speak v. Phrasal verbs 1.

ΚΠ

(a)

a1390 Wycliffite Bible (1850) IV. 303 An other [prologue] vpon Romayns.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 65 Laodomie his lusti wif..Upon a thing wherof sche dradde A lettre..sende him.

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. Preface My Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycle.

1533 J. Frith Bk. answeringe Mores Let. sig. Eiij^v The mynde and exposition of the olde Doctours vpon the wordes of Chrystes maundye.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. O.iii (heading) Vpon the deceas of w. Ch.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 22 We would spend it in some words vpon that Businesse.

1697 D. Defoe Ess. Projects Pref. I wou'd not adventure to appear in Print upon that Subject.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 114. ⁋1 Our Discourse chanced to be upon the Subject of Death.

1758 J. Boswell Let. 16 Dec. (1924) I. 6 From 1 to 2, [I] attend a college upon Roman Antiquities.

1801 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 66 A series of animadversions..published upon it in a provincial paper.

1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XVI xlvii. 87 She..Made epigrams..Upon her friends.

1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xii. 133 He engaged the goodwife..with some compliments upon the rizzoring of our haddocks.

(b)1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) xxxi. 53 Now I shalle telle yow vpon this matere of a good lady.?1529 Proper Dyaloge Gentillman & Husbandman sig. C vi Saynct Austyne sayeth vppon the Psalter, the clargy occupyeth the secular lordshyppe secularly.1574 R. Bristow Briefe Treat. Plaine Wayes x. f. 47^v Upon these two, Christ.. and his Church, ronneth al the Scriptures.1581 Fulke in Confer. (1583) iii. sig. Q ij b I wil not vouchsafe to replie vpon this answere.1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 143 But hee repaied him with this re-allusion vppon the name.1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 14. ⁋1 My Design of observing upon Things.1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xxvi. 166 I..am the less sollicitous..to amplify upon the contents of either.(c)1481 in Blades W. Caxton (1882) 231 The polytyque book..whiche that Tullius wrote vpon the disputacons [etc.].c1600 W. Fowler Wks. (S.T.S.) 9 A Fvneral Sonet, written vpon the death of..Elizabeth Dowglas.1709 J. Addison Tatler No. 163. ⁋3 The Sonnet..was written upon a Lady.1776 S. Johnson in Boswell Life Johnson (1904) I. 647 A man who has never been engaged in trade himself may undoubtedly write well upon trade.1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship To Rdr. p. v Had they spent as much time in riding upon turnips, as they have in writing upon them.

III. In other senses.

†23. From (a person or persons), esp. by means of hostile attack; = on prep. 27. Obsolete. (Cf. 21)Const. with verbs, as make, nim, recover, take, win; also conquer v. 2b, gain v.² 4.

ΚΠ

1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 22 Uppon Saynt Edmunde Northfolk he nam.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 291 Egbertus..took Chestre uppon þe Britouns.

1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy iii. 3423 Troyens han wonne a-geyn her londe Vp-on Grekis.

1483 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 114 Quhilk some was recoverit be..Dure apone the said Schir Johne.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) 527 A ryche shyp, the whiche was wonne vpon the sowdans men.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 194 They wanne dayly and yerely vpon the sayd Turkes, so that they had..much of the landes.

1643 W. Prynne Doome of Cowardize 6 At last by such forcible assaults the said Towne was taken upon the said Robert.

1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. i. 2 Whatsoever the Popes of Rome gained upon us.

1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 187 The prizes made by the Ostenders upon the Kings subjects.

1742 G. Leoni tr. A. Palladio Architecture II. 66 The Spoils made upon Pyrrhus King of Epirus.

†24. In respect of; = on prep. 5. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 32 He is blosme opon bleo, brihtest vnder bis.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 2034 (MED) He lis here vte, cum se þu sal, Nakid apon his limes all.

25. On (a musical instrument).

ΚΠ

c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 110 Ther herd I pleyen vpon an harpe..Orpheus ful craftely.

1524 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 499/1 Playing apoun organis in the Kingis chapell.

1552 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 89 I haue provided one to plaie vppon a kettell drom.

1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie Ded. Able to play vpon an oaten pipe.

1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 68 No more skill..than a Pig playing upon the Organs.

1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. 149 A great many of 'em..can toot, toot, toot, it upon a Pipe.

1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 92 When you want me, sound upon the bugle horn.

a1845 S. Smith Elem. Sketches Moral Philos. (1850) 175 Any air..performed upon such an instrument as the bagpipe.

1876 J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. ii. 380 Discoursing laments upon the Bagpipes.

26. Denoting advance from or improvement on some standard, etc.See also improve v.² 6b, improvement n. 6c, refine v. 9.

ΚΠ

1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura iv. 50 Which afterwards Sebastiano Serli refining upon, compos'd the better part of that excellent book of his.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 44. ¶6 The French have therefore refin'd too much upon Horace's Rule.

1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. iii. 301 An improvement was made upon this doctrine.

1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 197 Mr. Collins has improved greatly upon his last year's exhibition.

1859 W. E. Gladstone in Q. Rev. Oct. 480 If he continues to advance upon himself as he has advanced heretofore.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	upon
释义	† uponadv. Etymology: Elliptical use of upon prep. Obsolete (exc. archaic in sense 1b). 1. a. On it; on or upon the surface. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surface > [adverb] abovec1300 upon1307 superficially?a1425 aloft?1440 superficiarily1631 peripherically1792 peripherally1852 1307 in M. Sellers York Memorandum Bk. (1912) I. 181 Lether with the here apon. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxxiii. 6 An hors courser..vnder eche man vpon sittende neȝeth. 1547 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 13 Changeable Taffita stripyd vpon with blewe golde dornix. 1567 in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. (1907) IV. 90 A clothe of blacke and redd wroughte with goulde vpon. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 57 A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell stampt in gold, but thats insculpt vpon. b. On one's person, as an article of apparel. clothed upon, after biblical use (see quot. 1611.) Cf. clothe v. 9. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adverb] in (or under) weeda1275 upona1366 all standing1837 a1366 Romaunt Rose 364 A chapelet, so semly oon, Ne werede neuer mayde vpon. c1386 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 84 He [sc. a gay yeoman] hadde vp-on a courtepy of grene. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 246 And sche..hir scherte dede upon And caste on hire a mantel clos. 1446 J. Lydgate Two Nightingale Poems ii. 123 Whan Crist Ihesu was for mankynd dede And had vpon a garnement ful newe. a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xii. sig. e.ii His gloues, his gyrdell, the kynge had vpon. 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Cor. v. 2 Desiring to be clothed vpon with our house, which is from heauen. View more context for this quotation 1643 J. Caryl Expos. Job (1676) I. 1885 Those bodies of Saints..shall be cloathed upon with a house which is from Heaven. 1895 L. Johnson Poems 34 Old ramparts, gray and stern; But comely clothed upon With wealth of moss and fern. 1930 Month Mar. 230 Ancient stones, like Ezekiel's dry bones, need to be clothed upon. 2. a. Into or to a position on a surface or object; so as to be put or placed on the thing in question. ΘΚΠ the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > [adverb] > on or in contact with a surface or position thereonnec1175 hereonc1315 whereup1340 upon1382 whereona1400 thereonto1898 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Num. xvii. 2 Of echon the name thow shalt vpon write [L. superscribes] to his ȝerde. c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurgie 219 Make it abrood upon a clooþ & leie it vpon hoot. c1440 Pallad. on Husb. vii. 106 Do donge vppon and vmbe on euery side. 1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Luke xx. 18 But on whosoever it faul vpon, it wyll grynde him to powder. b. In a direction towards something indicated or specified. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place uponc1475 up1513 down along1525 towards1590 on1804 downlong1863 againwards1876 to1889 c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 2 Þer for, if we wil, we mai calle bischoppis, locars up on. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. vi. 10 Aiax Ile fight with him alone stand Diomed. Diom. He is my prize, I will not looke vpon. Troy. Come both you cogging Greekes haue at you both. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) ii. iii. 27 Whiles the Foe doth..looke vpon, as if the Tragedie Were plaid in iest, by counterfetting Actors. View more context for this quotation 3. On or upon that (in time or order); thereafter, thereupon. Esp. coupled with anon, near, soon.See also hereupon adv., thereupon adv., whereupon adv. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > thereafter or after that thoc700 thenforthc875 thereafterc897 fro ðan ðatc1175 thethenforthc1175 thenforthwardc1200 thereup?c1225 from?a1366 thencec1374 thenceforthc1374 fromwardc1400 thyne-forwardc1400 sin1405 thyne-forthc1440 thenceforward1457 sinsyne1470 thenafter1470 then afterwarda1485 upon?1523 sineth1542 thence-after1593 thenceforwards1684 thereafterward1867 14.. Lydgate's Bochas v. 2898 Afftir whos deth anon vpon [MS. Harl. 1245 vpon anoon] suyng, To Euergetes..She was ageyn ioyned in mariage. c1440 Generydes 1926 Thanne came the prince of Cesare sone vppon. c1440 Generydes 6632 Kyng auferius fell seke anon vppon. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. viii So that they be sowen or the begynnyng of March or soone vpon. 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. ii. 178 Ham. I thinke it was to see my mothers wedding. Hor. Indeede my Lord, it followed hard vpon. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. iv. 3 It is great morning, and the houre prefixt..Comes fast vpon . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. vi. 14 The..Citizens Haue hent the gates, and very neere vpon The Duke is entring. View more context for this quotation 4. By way of addition, increase, etc. ΚΠ a1485 J. Fortescue Wks. (1869) 487 Why will God put uppon newe turments ovir the travaile of ther labour? This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021). uponprep. Brit. /əˈpɒn/, U.S. /əˈpɑn/ Forms: α. Middle English– upon (Middle English, 1600s up on, 1500s Scottish uponn), Middle English–1600s vpon (Middle English vp on, Middle English Scottish vpone, ScottishMiddle English–1500s wpone, 1500s–1600s wpon), Middle English–1600s uppon, vppon (Middle English Orm. upponn, Middle English upp on). β. Middle English–1500s opon (Middle English oupon, opan), Middle English oppon. γ. Middle English–1500s, 1800s Scottish apon (Middle English apan), Middle English Scottish, 1500s apone, Middle English–1500s Scottish apoun, Middle English–1600s Scottish appon(e, apponne. δ. 1500s poun, 1700s–1800s 'pon. See also upo' prep. Etymology: Early Middle English upon , uppon , etc., < up adv.¹, up adv.² + on prep.; distinct from late Old English and early Middle English uppon , variant of Old English uppan up prep.¹The compound may have partly arisen from uses of upp on or uppe on in Old English (for instances see up adv.¹, up adv.²), but the date at which it appears, and the locality of the texts in which it is first prominent, suggest that it was mainly due to the influence of Old Norse upp á (Middle Swedish up a, op a, uppa, oppa, etc.; Swedish på, Norwegian and Danish paa), with which it agrees in laying the stress on the preposition and weakening or altogether ignoring the force of up. In the modern Scandinavian tongues, except Icelandic and Faroese, the reduced form på, paa, corresponding to English (colloquial or dialect) 'pon, 'po', has displaced the simple preposition å, aa = on. Originally denoting elevation as well as contact, the compound has from the earliest period of its occurrence so far lost the former implication, that is, it has been regularly employed as a simple equivalent of on, in all the varieties of meaning which that preposition has developed. The use of the one form or the other has been for the most part a matter of individual choice (on grounds of rhythm, emphasis, etc.) or of simple accident, although in certain contexts and phrases there may be a general tendency to prefer the one to the other. For ease of comparison, the following arrangement of the senses corresponds as closely as possible with that of on prep. (See also hereupon adv., thereupon adv., whereupon adv.) I. Of local position outside of, but in contact with or close to, a surface. 1. a. Above and in contact with; in an elevated position on; at rest on the upper surface of; on and supported by; = on prep. 1.In a few instances in late manuscripts (e.g. Hatton Gosp. Matthew v. 14) Old English up on can be taken in this sense, but appears to be merely a scribal variant or alteration of uppon for uppan up prep.¹ ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > supported by [preposition] toc890 oneOE upona1272 against1447 a1272 Luue Ron 121 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Hit stont vppon a treowe mote. c1290 St. Brendan 368 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 229 At ester eue heore procuratour bad heom..heore resurrection opon þe fisches rugge make. c1290 St. Brendan 368 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 577 Þe ston þat ich op-on sitte. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2867 Ðat..hise folc..ben ðor gare, In ðe deserd an stede up-on, His leue sacrifise to don. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1054 The hyȝe trone..Þe hyȝe godez self hit set vpone. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 635 Til he cam to the Celle Vp on the floor. c1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 199 Vynys that vppon the hillis stonde. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 486 Reynawde..was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyn. 1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 184 The birdis sang vpon the tender croppis. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) i. 4 Welcum, oure rubent roiss vpoun þe ryce. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. xv. 6 A forked Mountaine, or blew Promontorie With Trees vpon't. View more context for this quotation 1682 G. Hartman Digby's Choice Coll. Rare Secrets ii. 215 Take it upon the point of a knife. 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. iv. viii. 222 The Castle upon yonder Hill. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xiv. ii. 119 She's here, Mrs. Honour is upon the Stairs. View more context for this quotation 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 191 Wilt thou rest, old man, Upon this traveller's seat? 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 383 A pair of rollers upon the top of the roving-can. 1903 Mrs. De la Pasture Cornelius 7 A Crown Derby service was spread forth upon a round table. b. Said with reference to an expanse, as of land, sea, etc.; = on prep. 1b (Frequently from c1650.) upon a (†the) level (with): see level n. 2, 3. ΚΠ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 735 Þer sat is ship up-on þe sond. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3273 And moyses stod up-on ðe sond. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 39 Neuere werrede we wiþ wiȝth up-on erþe. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 739 Of swiche bestus..Þei han miht vp-on molde. 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. ix. 56 Vnder a Lynde, vppon a launde leonede I a stounde. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 53 He syh upon the grene gras The faire freisshe floures springe. c1420 Chron. Vilod. 2393 Þis blessud virgyn..Twolfeȝere..in hurr tombe lay, As saffe, as hole as he vpon vrthe ȝede. ?c1475 in J. Gairdner Sailing Direct. (1889) 20 Opyn oo grounde, there is wose and sonde togidir..opon o the taile of ars in xxiiijti or xxvj fadome depe..Open one Liere there is stremy grounde. 1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. avi^v Thai plantit doun ane pailyeoun vpone ane plane lee. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark vi. f. liij When they sawe him walkinge apon the see. 1535 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. (1876) 305 He must treade vppon the fallowes. 1568 in J. C. Hodgson Wills & Inventories Registry Durham (1906) III. 44 Corne..in the barne 58l., Upon the earth at 20l. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ezek. xvi. 5 Thou wast throwen forth upon the face of the earth. 1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Exact Hist. Late Revol. Naples i. 15 Benches, Forms,..were burnt all to ashes upon the streets. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 203 Wood and Lodging..are very scarce upon that Road. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 42. ¶3. Two or three Shifters of Scenes..make up a compleat Body of Guards upon the English Stage. 1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. xiii. 14 Now I'm in the world alone, Upon the wide, wide sea. 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham III. xix. 309 I have no time..to speak of the earlier part of my life. I passed it upon the race-course. 1871 H. R. Haweis Music & Morals (1874) 7 The Painter's art lies upon the surface of the world. c. Denoting the part of the body on which one is supported; = on prep. 1c.See also foot n. and int. Phrases 2, knee n. 3a, tiptoe n. 1. ΚΠ 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 286 Sche began merci to crie Upon hire bare knes. c1440 Generydes 44 Vppe vppon his fete he was a non. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 18 He satte vpon his hammes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. i. 269 Vpon my knees, I charme you,..By all your vowes of Loue. View more context for this quotation 1661 Earl of Orrery Coll. State Lett. (1742) 40 We are now upon our last legs. 1692 tr. C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. 157 Three or four Pages..serve me upon Knee. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 460. ⁋7 Gallantry strutting upon his Tiptoes. 1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 546 Her tott'ring form Ill propp'd upon French heels. 1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well i. xi Upon his side the Hart was lying stretched. 1843 T. B. Macaulay Horatius lxvi Horatius in his harness, Halting upon one knee. d. Indicating a means of locomotion or conveyance; = on prep. 1d. ΚΠ a1300 Cursor Mundi 894 For þou sal slid apon þi brest. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2041 Yf he mouhte..gangen wel up-on hise fet. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 43 Strengest vp-on stede, and styuest vnder gurdell. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 88 Swyerez þat swyftly swyed on blonkez, & also fele vpon fote. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) i. 4 It es made sittand apon a hors. 1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 794 Vpon ane rude Runsy he ruschit out of toun. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A3^v She..Heauie sate vpon her palfrey slow. 1648 H. Hexham Groot Woorden-boeck Een Rijdt-bane, a Sliding place..to slide upon Schates. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 350 The great King, whom they carry upon a Sindela of cotton. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 39 We went on Shore upon the Tide of Flood, near high Water. 1803 R. Southey Queen Orraca iv. vii Upon her palfrey she is set, And forward then they go. 1821 W. Scott Pirate III. iii. 58 She saw him flee forth of the window..upon a dragon. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxii. 282 I mounted the upheaving ice, and rode upon the fragments. e. Denoting that on which the hand is placed in taking the oath, or the basis of an oath, etc.; = on prep. 1f.See also conscience n. Phrases 1, evangel n.¹ 3, evangely n. 3, faith n. 2, honour n. Phrases 2, life n. Phrases 4, rep n.¹, soul n. Phrases 2, word n. ΚΠ c1290 Beket 585 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 123 Þat he ne scholde nouȝt swerie op-on þe boke. c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10468 He swor hym vpon þe bok, To holde of hym his heritage. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xv. cxxxvi Hoote welles þat..blindeþ þeues ȝif he swereþ vpon þe water and toucheþ heere yȝen þerewiþ. a1460 in Hist. Coll. Lond. Citizen London (Camden) 119 The for sayde captaynys have sworne a-pon hyr honowre that..they shalle not makyn [etc.]. 1493 Litt. Red Bk. Bristol (1900) II. 134 This ys trew apon owre consciens. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 642 Yow swiftly shall sweire vppon swete goddes, This couenaunt to kepe. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. ii. 123 I'le sweare vpon that Bottle, to be thy true subiect. View more context for this quotation 1645 Docqets Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837) 268 Administring of Oathes vpon the Holy Evangelistes. 1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 253. ¶1 The Assistants..were all sworn upon their Honour. 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 79 He would come back..and untie him upon his Word. 1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 52/1 You have sworn me upon the waters of the Ganges: how can I tell more than I remember? 1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus III. x I declare that..he himself [is] worthy of death, upon my honour! 1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxxix. 387 Upon my word and honour,..it would be a charity. †f. Above, more than. Obsolete. Cf. up prep.¹ 8. ΚΠ c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 359 Opon al oþer y loue þe. c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 969 Son, vpon al thing Doo aftre Nathanaels teching. †g. figurative. Over (a person, etc.), in respect of rule, authority, or supervision. Obsolete.See also reign v. 4a(b), rule v. 3c, ruler n.¹ 1a(a) (quot. a1382). ΚΠ c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 383 Þe kyngis of heþen han lordeschip vp-on hem. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) iii. 10 Þi powere es grete apon þi subgets. 1422 J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 162 Oure Lord god enoyntyd Saule Kynge vppon Israell. 1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 35 He aught to haue lawde That..hath lordship vpon his ennemyes. 1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Tullyes Offyces i. sig. B.4 A man that wolde be chefe ruler vpon the commentye. h. Taking part in, forming a member of (an inquest, jury, etc.). Cf. on prep. 1f. ΚΠ 1516 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 422/2 Thai..being apone the inqueist..in the schiref court. 1609 Bible (Douay) I. Deut. xxix. 20 Al the curses sitte upon him. 1643 in W. H. Black Docquets Lett. Patent at Oxf. (1837) 5 Consociating himselfe with his neighboring Justices in sitting upon an illegal Commission. 1676 Office Clerk of Assize a vj Persons..to serve in or upon the Grand Jury. 1729 G. Jacob New Law-dict. sig. Eee4^v/1 Clergymen, Apothecaries, &c. are exempted by Law from serving upon Juries. 1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xxiii. 301 As many as appear upon this panel are sworn upon the grand jury, to the amount of twelve at the least, and not more than twenty-three; that twelve may be a majority. i. Hence in many phrases, originally denoting physical location, of which the sense has become more or less figurative; = on prep. I.. See esp. anvil n. 2b, carpet n. 1b, hand n. Phrases 1i(a), high adj. and n.² Phrases 5, Phrases 3, level n. 4, par n.¹ 2a, spot n.¹ and adv. Phrases 1d, table n. Phrases 4a(a). 2. a. Denoting contact with or location on a surface, etc., whatever its position; = on prep. 2a. ΚΠ (a) c1175 Ormulum* (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 69 Þatt upp onn all þiss boc ne be. Nan word ȝæn cristess lare. a1300 Cursor Mundi 23215 Painted fire..Þat apon a wagh war wroght. 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Exod. xxxiv. 1 Y shal write vpon hem [sc. stone tables] the wordes that hadden the tablis. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Hab. ii. A Wryte the vision planely vpon thy tables. 1552 in J. O. Payne St. Paul's Cathedral (1893) 22 A greate clothe of redd silke..with lions of golde upon it. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. S iv More lyvely..than any forme may be insculped upon metall or marble. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. vii. 57 A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell stampt in gold, but thats insculpt vpon. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. i. 7 I haue seene her..take foorth paper,..write vpon't, read it. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. x. 26 As our rarer Monsters are Painted vpon a pole. View more context for this quotation 1629 Vse of Law 89 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light So that hee fore-see, that hee pay Debts vpon Record, debts to the King; Then vpon Iudgements. 1729 T. Innes Crit. Ess. Anc. Inhabitants Scotl. I. 106 His name is upon it, written with his own hand. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. ii. 11 As he had engraven upon his wife's tomb. 1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 97/2 Did you see upon the face of the bond anything to make you suspect it? 1801 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 203 Which is very practicable upon paper. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Children v. 36 A gold bangle with ‘Mignon’ upon it..in raised letters. (b)a1225 Leg. Kath. 1187 Þe treo Þer he deide upon.c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 43/300 Þis ȝoungue Man sixe and þritti dawes heng up-on þe galu-treo.1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. i. 154 Was neuere leef vpon lynde liȝter þer-after.14.. J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1911) 252 As he [sc. Christ] hangeth vp-on the roode tre.1536 Exhort. to North in F. J. Furnivall Ballads from MSS (1868) I. 307 The gallous apone, prepared for mardoche, hanged he was.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 121 Lat him end his lyf vpon ane fork.a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. v. 37 Vpon the next Tree shall thou hang. View more context for this quotation1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. A sail set upon the flying jib-boom.1899 Shetland News 16 Dec. ( E.D.D. at Hing I took aff me kjaep, an' hang her apon a nail.(c)c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 111 Vp on his arm he bar a gay bracer.?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 813 With broches and golde opon hir arme.1494 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 23 The little Bone that sitteth upon the great Fin.?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiii^v A weding hoke w^t a socket set vpon a lytell staffe.1547 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 10 Th'under sleves of..Satten cut vpon Red Sarcenett.1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. ii. 7 By reflection of the Sunns beams upon a thick cloud, which, not able to pierce it, are refracted upon it.1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 231 Upon the head of the woman is a veil.1824 T. G. Cumming Illustr. Origin Rail & Tram Roads 24 Several branches were made..with the flaunche upon the wheel, and not upon the rail.1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. v. 110 Those clothes would not look well upon Oswald.1889 A. Conan Doyle Micah Clarke xxx. 318 Monmouth must fight now, if he ever hopes to feel the gold rim upon his temples. b. Used of immaterial relationships, or in figurative expressions. to (be)get..upon (a woman): see beget v. 2a(b), get v. 25a. ΚΠ a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS xlii. 8 His eȝe is euere þe vppon. 1423 Kingis Quair ii I..toke a boke to rede apon a quhile. c1450 Mirk's Festial i. 6 Vnsley old man, goo heþen! for I se apon þe mony meruayles. 1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Pref. sig. ❧.i^v All thynges must be read vpon the boke. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 20 Vpon some booke I loue, I'le pray for thee. View more context for this quotation 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iii. §4 That what is spoken hath the impress of Divine authority upon it. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. v. §2 They have a clear and distinct perception of God upon their own minds. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 234 The Horror that was upon our Minds. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xii. 66 Every one's eyes were upon me. 1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vi. 106 Here am I..with a sort of traveller's lumbago upon me. 1832 L. Hunt Gentle Armour i. 142 The page returns with doubt upon his eyes. 1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 228 There was a tale Upon thy tongue he interrupted. 1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 669 It is absurd upon its very face. c. By means of; with. Now dialect. ΚΠ c1440 York Myst. xix. 212 Þe knyght vppon his knyffe Hath slayne my sone. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 244 To dy vpon the hand I loue so well. View more context for this quotation 1742 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 42 266 The Perfection of Smelling in the Inhabitants of the Antibes, who can run a Man upon the Nose like an Hound. 1751 C. Labelye Descr. Westm. Bridge 71 Explaining before them, upon a working Model, the Method I proposed. 1790 J. Boswell Let. 8 ann. 1765 I. 268 I intended to have printed it upon what is called an English letter. 1865 R. Hunt Pop. Romances W. Eng. I. 105 Which eye can you see me upon? d. Used in reference to an axis, pivot, or base; = on prep. 1e (Cf. raise v.¹ 8c, to turn upon —— 2 at turn v. Phrasal verbs 2.) ΚΠ 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 8 A triangle..set or described vpon a line. 1593 T. Fale Horologiographia f. 14 Upon E make a halfe circle from H by G. 1679 J. Moxon Math. made Easie 29 The Circle..is described upon the Centre A. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. A Triangle is equal to a Parallelogram upon the same Base, but half the Altitude. 1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 197 Each describing the portion of a circle upon (P) as a center. 1830 Ld. Tennyson Mariana vi, in Poems 17 The doors upon their hinges creaked. 1832 Proposed Regulations Cavalry iii. 47 Two contiguous points given as a Base, upon which a body of troops is to march or form. 1877 T. H. Huxley Man. Anat. Invertebrated Animals vi. 309 The next four somites..cease to be moveable upon one another. 3. a. On the bank of (a river or lake); on the shore of (the sea); on the borders of (a territory, etc.); close by, near to; bordering upon; beside or by; = on prep. 6. ΚΠ 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. V. 329 He fauȝt..aȝenst þe Saxons..uppon þe ryver Gleny. a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 4090 A Castel he had vpon þe ryue. c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 142 The tounes vp-on the see. 1473 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 197 To mak a myl..othir vpoun the gret watter or vpoun the burn. 1526 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 514/1 Theifis and tratouris duelland apoun Levin. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. viii. 7 b Alger..is situated vpon the Mediterane Sea. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 150 Siras seated vpon the riuer Bindimire. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iv. §13 The greatest part of the Countries lying upon the Ocean and Mediterranean. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 221 A Tract of Land..seated upon some navigable River. 1747 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 87 Upon the heads of Joniady River. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 8 Arthur..Held court at old Caerleon upon Usk. †b. About; near; close on (a specified number, etc.). Obsolete.In later use only with close adj. 1d, near adv.² 1c, nigh adv. 8d. ΚΠ 1451 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 68 He left at his deth swech persones dedicate to God vp-on too þousand too hundred. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 99 He cessed not to..rowe til he cam nyghe the Ile vpon a bowe shotte. 1478 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 613 A steppe-modyr of hyrs whyche is vpon 1 yer of age. 1482 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 102 Ther wylbe in aull with blottes apon xxvij or xxviij sarplers wholl. 1534 Bible (Tyndale rev. Joye) Luke viii. 42 He had but a doughter only, apon a twelve yere of age. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxxij^v He had askryed a nomber of horsemen..vppon the poynct of syx thowsand. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. 177 There were upon two thousand & five hundred taken alive. 1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 226 To pay mee my allowance..as it was regulated upon three years since. 4. a. Denoting collateral position; esp. with side, hand, †half; beam (of a ship), point (of the compass); north, south, etc.; right, left; = on prep. 4.See also border v. 5, touch v. 19, verge v.¹ 2b. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in fact, actually in, of feata1400 in effectc1405 effectually1420 really?a1425 literallyc1429 (by) matter in deed1447 indeed1535 in fact1592 merely1596 de facto1602 essentially1604 in point of fact1628 upon1644 in point of event1650 effectively1652 in matter of fact1709 absolutelya1712 substantially1753 actually1762 positively1800 in actual fact1824 factually1852 as matter of fact1871 fair dinkum1891 dinkum1894 'smatter of fact1922 basically1927 (a) c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7929 Southsex..& Middelsex..marchen vpon Kent. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vi. 22 Mesopotamy also marchez apon þe desertes of Araby. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 354 For we [Scots] are so lodged vpon England, that we may..enter which way we lust. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 31 Wpon the coste of the Lenox lyes Argyle. 1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον ii. 92 That part..which butted upon the west. 1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 81 Their own Soldiers, and..their Associates, who did all neighbor neer upon them. 1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) i. 1 The upper part..is termed Hypochondrium, neighbouring upon the lower gristles of the Ribs. 1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar i. i. 2 Upon the skirts Of Arragon, our squander'd Troops he rallies. 1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson Hist. Reign Philip III v. 400 An island bordering upon Istria. 1842 R. I. Wilberforce Rutilius & Lucius 106 Behind they abutted upon the grounds of Milo. 1873 T. W. Higginson Oldport Days v. 115 The house was close upon the water. (b)?a1400 Morte Arth. 3795 We are with Sarazenes be-sett appone sere halfes!c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2070 Þe brode ȝateȝ [were] Vnbarred & born open vpon boþe halue.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 175 Schir Gylys de argente he set Vpon ane half, his renȝe to get.1565 A. Golding tr. Ovid Fyrst Fower Bks. Metamorphosis i. f. 1^v Twoo Zones doo cut the Heauen vpon the righter syde.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 291 I se the Firmament fair vpon ather syde.1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 70^v A riche grounde, leuell, and lying vpon the Sunne.1644 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Apr. (1913) 341 My Lord Ambassador beinge plac'd..upon his left hand about three Seates distante from him.1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 4 Upon what Point of the Compass the Object beareth from you.1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 5 When the Wind is upon any Point of the Compass between the South and the West.1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §76 A vessel steering to Foy will have the wind upon her beam.1823 F. Clissold Narr. Ascent Mont Blanc 11 [It] shelved down, upon our right, in one plane of smooth rock.in extended use.1656 Cromwell Speech in T. Burton Diary (1828) I. p. clxix It was never so upon the thriving hand.1718 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 362 May the kindgom of our Lord be upon the growing hand.1852 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 5) 252 To you, dear ass, upon the sire's side, To you, sir steed, I'm on the dam's allied. b. transferred. Indicating the side, part, cause, etc., espoused or supported by the agent. ΚΠ c1430 Chev. Assigne 219 ‘Go we forthe, fader,’ quod þe childe, ‘vpon goddes halfe!’ 1445 tr. Claudian's De Consulatu Stilichonis in Anglia (1905) 28 256 [They] seyen the duke of yorke hath god vpon his side. 1611 B. Jonson Catiline v. sig. M2 The least man, that falles vpon our party This day..Shall walke at pleasure, in the tents of rest. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) i. i. 34 Till she had kindled France and all the world, Vpon the right and party of her sonne. View more context for this quotation 1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 23 Famine and Pestilence, And Panic, shall wage war upon our side. c. Engaged in assailing, or about to attack. ΚΠ 1568 R. Grafton Chron. II. 291 The French men were so mingled among their enemies, that some time there was fiue men vpon one Gentleman. c1670 A. Wood Life (1891) I. 114 Captain Walter had six rebells upon him, and..fought it out so..gallantly that [etc.]. 1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 269 The Senate heard that Severus was just upon them. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 314 He saw five Men upon him. 1721 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 211 We are all undone, the roundheads are upon us. 1860 All Year Round 28 July 384 Certain manœuvres, which had just time to result.., when the squall was upon us. 1885 Manch. Examiner 10 June 4/7 The crisis..is upon us at last. †d. Having a tendency to be; verging towards; bordering on. Frequently with little. Obsolete.to run upon —— 2c at run v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΚΠ 1707 Ld. Raby in T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 43 He is..a little upon y^e dirty as all y^e Poles are. 1716 in London Gaz. No. 5438/4 Lost.., a large Brilliant.., a little upon the Blue. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 180 I think, he's a little upon the silly, or so. 1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 33 A Countenance much upon the Wheedler and the Devote. 5. a. Within the bounds or limits of; in; = on prep. 7 (Cf. quot. 1773 at upo' prep.) ΚΠ a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 4180 [He] karf..Doun riȝt þe viser wiþ is swerd And half þe her vpon is berd. 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 242 Seeke him out vpon The British partie. View more context for this quotation 1639 W. Laud Wks. (1853) V. 364 I find by the bishop's certificate, that he hath constantly resided upon his episcopal houses. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 449 His country seat, possessed and lived upon by his ancestors for several generations. 1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well II. ix. 232 Miss Clara..just sitting upon the wind of a door [= in a draught]. †b. Denoting ratio between two numbers, etc.; = per prep. 1, in prep. 9. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo i. xxxvi. 195 In regarde of lecage of tenne or fifteene vpon the hundreth. 1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 76 The Ascent..not being above one Foot perpendicular upon 20 Feet slope. 1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 78. 6. a. Denoting the day of an occurrence, regarded as a unit of time. Frequently also with night, morn, morrow, eve(n, time, †tide, †hour, occasion, etc. = on prep. 8.once upon a time: see once adv. 2b. ΚΠ 1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 37 Unto Kyngeston..Com S. Dunstan, opon a Sonenday. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 3 Now upon this tyde Men se the world..so diversed, That [etc.]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19810 Apon a dai at þe tid o non, An angel com. ?a1400 Arthur 539 And sone after vpon an owr He hurde of Mordred. 1424 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 36 Writen at Sarum apon þe seynt Michell euen. a1470 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 111 My wyf and y welbe with you uppon Ester. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job i. 6 Now vpon a tyme..the seruauntes of God came and stode before the Lorde. 1551 R. Robinson in tr. T. More Vtopia sig. ✠ii Vpon a tyme, when tidynges came [etc.]. 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 471 Once euery yeare vpon the same day of his Anniuerse. 1663 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 183 [They] were all brought before the mayor vpon the 28th of December. 1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 35 Would an Impartial Reader (to use Dr. Taylor's expression upon another occasion) say [etc.]? 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 164. ¶4 Upon the Day on which..their Marriage was to have been solemnized. 1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton III. 285 I wrote upon the instant, but..cannot recollect what I said. a1821 J. Keats Eve St. Mark 1 Upon a Sabbath-day it fell. 1868 Ld. Tennyson Lucretius 24 He..woke upon a morn That mock'd him. †b. In, at, or during (any period of time); in the course of; = on prep. 8b. Obsolete. ΚΠ (a) 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 314 [He] made upon the derke nyht..Gret fyr. 1427–9 Rolls of Parl. IV. 364 To make a Toure to be uppon day light a redy Bekyn. 1529 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 34 Thomas..directed..the hole recordys..vppon a yere past or more to vs..to examen the same. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8684 Wyth myche dole vppon dayes & on derke nightes, Sum walt into wodenes. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix Vpon the euening the fire..got into their pouder. a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. i. 34 Vpon the Heauy midle of the night. View more context for this quotation 1661 Act 13 Chas. II c. 9 §27 No man in or belonging to the Fleet shall sleep upon his Watch. 1673 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 247 Offences committed by them the same day upon the said election. 1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 86 Upon the honey'd middle of the night.] (b)1591 H. Unton Corr. (1847) 103 Upon nowe advertisement is come from the Kinge.1638 K. Digby in G. Digby & K. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 19 To tell you what upon the present..occurreth to me. †c. Within the space of (a specified period of time); = on prep. 8c. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 510 Be iournays qua ga hit may, fourty myle a-pon a day. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 704 Vp on a day he gat hym moore moneye Than þ^t the person gat in Monthes tweye. 1457–8 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 15 He sall warne thame to pass to the kings chapell..apone xl dais. 1459 Rolls of Parl. V. 369/2 A commaundement..to be redy to come..upon a day warnyng. ?a1585 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems vii. 35 Rome wes not biggit all vpon ane day. 1674 Reg. Privy Council Scott. 3rd Ser. IV. 299 [The lords] ordaines letters of horning upon 48 houres to be direct for that effect. d. At the point of; close on, touching on; = on prep. 8d.Usually with verbal noun or gerund: see group (a). upon the point of: see point n.¹ Phrases 1i. ΚΠ (a) c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 6 Haue mynd apon ȝoure endyng, of þe payns of helle. 1491 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 205/1 I am apone my saling and may nocht lang tary. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 423/1 I am upon my lieng downe, as a woman that is nere her tyme. 1604 T. Dekker & T. Middleton Honest Whore v. i. 4 Wife. Comes the duke this way. Pio. He's vpon comming mistris. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Emmati,..faded, vpon withering. 1670 A. Marvell Let. 10 Mar. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 103 I intended more but the post also is upon going. 1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 10 The King of Prussia is upon sending to the..Library all the..medals. 1774 O. Goldsmith Grecian Hist. I. vii. 247 The truce..was just upon expiring. 1842 C. Whitehead Richard Savage i. i I was just upon commending them to a lower place. elliptical.1899 Daily News 12 Sept. 4/7 The new..recreation garden..is just upon finished.(b)1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 As wee were vpon our departure.1626 N. Breton Fantasticks sig. D 3^v Few that are merry, but..wenches that are vpon the mariage.1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour v. i. sig. K2 Signor Adorni is return'd! now upon entrance.1666 A. Marvell Let. 1 Dec. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 47 The Smyrna fleet..is upon returne.c1680 E. Hickeringill Hist. Whiggism in Wks. (1716) I. 133 They did so many Irrational, Senseless, and Destructive Acts, that almost all lay at Stake..and was just upon the go.1722 A. Pope Corr. May (1956) II. 115 I'm told you are all upon removal very speedily.1775 S. J. Pratt Liberal Opinions (1783) IV. cxxxiii. 206 Our old rector will make a subject by and by;..he's certainly upon the go [= dying].1797 M. Robinson Walsingham IV. 318 The good fellow is upon the go; his life is not worth six weeks' purchase.1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) iv. ii. 116 Doge. How goes the night? Ber. F. Almost upon the dawn. †e. By or for (a specified time). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1510 Brasenose Coll. Doc. (MS.) A³ 43 To make me a Dublett and a Jacket upon Crystmasse next comyng. †f. For the extent or period of. Obsolete.Cf. upon a stretch at stretch n. 6a. ΚΠ 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xlix^v Which sickenes contynued vpon fyue monethes. 7. a. On the occasion of; = on prep. 9.In frequent use c1670–1825. Group (b) illustrates obsolete usages.See also occasion n.¹ Phrases 1b, sight n.¹ 4d, 6b, sudden n. 1b, suddenty n. 1b, view n. Phrases 2. ΚΠ (a) c1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine i. 981 Vp-on this hir letter hath she sent. 1492 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS Comm. App. Pt. IV: MSS Duke of Rutland (1888) I. 13 in Parl. Papers (C. 5614) LXIV. 1 To thentent that uppon convercacion we may shewe unto you our minde. 1515 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 79 The saide artificers seyne that by the grauntis made uppon their first corporacion it appereth that [etc.]. 1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Bv His maister, hangs him straighte vpponte. 1629 Vse of Law 3 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light If one kill another vpon a suddaine quarrell. 1662 C. Culpeper in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 152 (note) I haue some Quakers..in prison which I doe intend to let goe upon taking the Oath. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 74 The Banyans repairing to the Suburbs upon Tattoo. 1705 J. Collier Ess. Moral Subj.: Pt. III i. 13 Was ever..any Fencer, worth the naming, heard to groan upon a Hit? 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 369. ¶17 They..were cast into Hell upon their Disobedience. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 309 Upon comparing the various animals..with each other, we shall find [etc.]. 1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. iv. 450 They retired upon the brisk advancement of the grenadiers. 1841 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 101 Upon which they raised their heads, and answered as before. 1890 Ld. Esher in Law Times' Rep. 63 734/1 [He] shall be released from that obligation upon the Director undertaking the case. (b)1510 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 307/1 The slauchter..committit be him apoun subdante.1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 35/1 in Chron. I Cesar..writeth that immediatly vpon knowledge had..he woulde inuade Brytaine.1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 269 The Silly-how, that sometimes is found about the heads of children upon their birth. View more context for this quotation1707 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 63 Y^e sneaking Villains, like Worms upon a Rain, crawl'd out.1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. v. 89 Yet often upon a pinch, I was forced to work like a common Mariner.1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. i. iv. 72 Persons may be betrayed into wrong Behaviour upon Occasions of Surprize.1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 222 [Johnson:] He has no tenants..who will follow him to the field upon any emergency. b. Immediately after; following on. ΚΠ 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 71 Whan that he this tale herde, Hou upon that the king ansuerde With Hercules he moste feighte. 1496 Coventry Leet Bk. 573 And what persones þat be absent þat day vppon warnyng shall pay xij d. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxlviii. 177 [They] conquered..townes and castels one vpon the other by force. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. i. sig. Fiv So soone vpon supper.., Slepe maketh yll..digestion. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 381 I am content..to render it vpon his death vnto the Gentleman. View more context for this quotation 1615 J. Day Festivals 268 Whether the Fault were vnawares, or vpon advisement. 1645 Bp. J. Hall Remedy Discontentm. xv. 80 After he had upon ten years siege, taken the rich City. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 181/2 The bite or sting of a Scorpion is present Death if..[Swine] drink upon it. 1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. (ed. 3) ii. i. 199 I have wrote..not rashly, or by Chance, but upon thought. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xiii. 276 Immediately upon this fortunate supply they stood to the westward. 1780 Mirror No. 95 I left my own house immediately upon the discovery I made. 1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. xi. 215 Coming as it generally did upon a week's previous inactivity. View more context for this quotation 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 539 This plan had been dropped upon the detection of the Rye House Plot. 1883 Howells in Harper's Mag. Dec. 79 The silence which his friend has absent-mindedly let follow upon his last words. elliptical.1818 H. T. Colebrooke On Import Colonial Corn 183 The capital should at first be less productive if,..upon a balance, this become more fruitful. †c. As soon as. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1475 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 484 I woll vppon as I heer from yow come to yow in alle hast possible. †8. Denoting physical arrangement, order, etc., = in (masses, a row, etc.). Cf. on prep. 10. rare. ΚΠ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 892 Als he lep þe kok vn-til, He shof hem alle upon an hyl. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1474 For thinges that ben past, j knowe, And thinges that ben comeng vppon a rowe. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1991 The flode..Rose vppon rockes [= in high masses] as any ranke hylles. 1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng Restored 68 Nor [could] these have continued upon such a direct line, as still some of them seem to do. 9. a. In (a particular or specified manner, etc.); = on prep. 9.See also cross n. 29, head n.¹ Phrases 1m, loft n. 2a, sly n. 2, square adj. 12a, 12b. ΚΠ c1300 Havelok 468 Godard..tok þe maydnes bothe samen, Al-so it were up-on hiis gamen. 1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 25 Bot þat þise lowed men vpon Inglish tellis, Right story can me not ken, þe certeynte what spellis. a1400–50 Alexander 3300 Like to þis werke, Þat þis coppis opon kell~wyse knytt in þe woȝes. a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Biii Chanons can not counterfet but vpon thre. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 7359 There only was ordant of Ectors dethe, With all Soteltie to serche opon sere wise. 1568 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 828 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 153 The lordis leuch vpoun [a1525 Asloan apon] loft. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 1 It was vpon this fashion bequeathed me by will. View more context for this quotation 1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxxxii. sig. Y6 Though he doth forbeare to call for it, yet I beleeue, vpon the like, thou owest him. 1641 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. I. iii. 146 Charles de Lens..was slaine upon cold bloud. †b. upon new adv. = anew adv. 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > time > frequency > [adverb] > anew or again moeOE of newOE yetOE againOE newlyOE once morelOE anewc1305 newa1325 i-gainc1325 againwardc1380 upon new1399 freshlya1413 newlings1440 of the newc1449 afreshc1450 of (also on) fresh1490 for the newc1535 backwardly1552 over againa1568 over1598 de novo1627 all over1811 1399 J. Gower In Praise of Peace 315 Every dai it chaungeth uppon newe. 10. a. Occupied with; engaged in; employed on; = on prep. 12a.For further illustration of group (a) see guard n. 5a, patrol n. 1, sentry n.¹ 3, watch n. 6b. ΚΠ (a) a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 190 He was ever upon his bok, And to his lore tok gret kepe. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 217 Vp on this daunce, amonges othere men Daunced a Squier biforne Dorigen. 1478 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 19/1 Þe lordis..declarit þat þai wald nocht sit apoun na summondis quhil þe said xj day. 1612 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 608 The Electour Palatine is now at the Haghe upon his voyage into England. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 154 Those who carve in Brasse or Marble waxe old upon their workes. 1659 Vane in T. Burton Diary (1828) III. 171 Consider what it is we are upon, a Protector in the office of Chief Magistrate. 1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. i. xi. §146 When Mankind were but one People,..and were upon Building a City together. 1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 30 He designs to carry on the work, being now upon a III^d volume. 1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 14 Neither am I at present upon a wild speculative Project. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 317 They seem'd to be upon their own Affairs. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 163 Well, Jacob, what do you stare at! Pray mind what you're upon. 1784 in B. Ward Dawn Catholic Revival (1909) I. iv. 81 That they may be upon the mission all unius moris in Domino. 1859 C. Dickens Tale of Two Cities ii. i. 34 He was never absent..unless upon an errand. (b)1574 St. Avstens Manuell in Certaine Prayers S. Augustines Medit. sig. Piiij I will..stand vpon my gard, and with waking eyes will I sing in my hart.1647–8 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1917) 573 There was onely townesmen upon the guarde, and those expressed great joy to see Sir Hugh.1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 27 He was upon pursuit To take you somewhere hereabout.1681 Viscountess Campden Let. 25 Aug. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Duke of Rutland (1889) 56 in Parl. Papers (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 Lady Skidmore..was at Mr. Conisby's house upon a visette.a1716 R. South 12 Serm. (1717) VI. 378 No Man would spend the Night upon the Sentry, who [etc.]. b. Denoting state or condition. Cf. on prep. 12.See also behaviour n. 3, by n.² 2b, case n.¹ Phrases 1, content n.² 2, duty n. 5e, fret n.² 6, loan n.¹ 3, loose n.² 1, oath n. 1, parole n.¹ 1, trial n.¹ 12. The uses placed under (b) are obsolete. ΚΠ (a) c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 272/39 Ich am a man opon mi seruiz, and noman serui i-nelle Bote mi louerd. a1400–50 Alexander 42 He was wyse enoȝe wirdis to reken..of ledes opon lyfe. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. lxxvii. [lxxiii.] 229 All suche..were styll in theyr owne houses vpon a redynes. c1580 in Eng. Hist. Rev. July (1914) 517 You must kepe good wache by night and be upon your owne kepinge. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xi. 13 b The Caddy..keepeth the town vpon tribute vnder the king of Alger. 1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. iv. sig. H4 Their difference is neuer so much vpon the view, as then. 1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 35 Large Plains in Italy, wherein he might fight the Romans upon great advantage. 1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 95 It must with the Chissel be split upon a good Blood-Red-Heat in that place. 1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer i. i. 4 A Granadeer..absent upon Furlow. 1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. (1786) II. 373 He never missep hitting..the fleetest animals, though upon full speed. 1788 C. Reeve Exiles I. 181 Poor Albert..had been upon the fret ever since I left him. 1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband III. 86 The kettle was just upon the boil. 1823 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War I. 686 The fate of the continent was upon the hazard. (b)1425 Rolls of Parl. IV. 290 For lake of Parsons..children have deghed uncristend..and wymen opon chyld perechyd.1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Chron. xiii. B Yf ye come vpon disceate, and to be mine aduersaries [vpō in text].a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. i. 101 And now in madnes..Vpon malicious brauery [1623 knauerie], dost thou come To start my quiet? View more context for this quotation1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 45 Finding a Door upon the jar.a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 542 Lord Russel..was upon all the secret of his [sc. Rumsey's] going beyond sea.1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 266 I had left the Door upon the Jarr. c. Indicating a sphere of activity or existence.Partly with implication of locative sense: cf. 1b. ΚΠ 1487 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 159 Mony goyth now uppon the bursse at a xj^s iij^d ob. the nobull. 1589 ‘Pasquill of England’ Returne of Pasquill sig. Aij I little thought to meete thee so suddainly vpon the Exchange. 1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ ii. xv. 32 One may heare 7. or 8. sorts of tongues spoken upon their Bourses. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 48. ⁋4 I was curious to observe the Reception these Gentlemen met with upon Change. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 266. ⁋2 This Creature is what they call newly come upon the Town. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1763 I. 221 [Johnson:] A merchant upon the 'Change of London. 1822 W. Irving Bracebridge Hall vii. 59 A dashing young ensign, just come upon the town. 1838 D. Jerrold Men of Char. II. 255 Again was John Applejohn upon the world. 1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xi. 79 He found employment upon the Morning Post. d. With nouns denoting activity or progress.See also gallop n. 1, gog n.², hunt n.² 1b, listen n. 2, long run n. and adj., scramble n. 1, trot n.¹ 1d. ΚΠ 1645 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 176 Our horse, upon a Gallop without once drawing up. 1664 J. Wilson Cheats i. i. 2 I was out t'other Night upon the Randan. 1678 in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 50 Lord Rochester hath bin att the gates of death, and so penitent that he is upon an amendment. 1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband v. i. 78 You will every Day see hundreds as fast upon the Gallop, as she is. 1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 4 Every thing upon the waste. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 105 Grain of all kinds continues upon the advance. 1877 C. H. Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 505 The leaves are just upon the turn, and the fall of the year is close at hand. e. Denoting situation with a portion of time or space. ΚΠ 1632 T. Hawkins tr. P. Matthieu Vnhappy Prosperitie 76 His life was now almost wholly wasted, he is upon the last hour. 1680 R. L'Estrange tr. Erasmus 20 Select Colloquies xx. 258 Observing the Woman to Yawn, and just upon her last Stretch, he put [etc.]. 1694 Narbrough's Acct. Several Late Voy. 165 Before the Ship could Ware and bring to upon the other Tack, She struck. 1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 196 We being then upon our Starboard Tack. 11. a. Indicating the basis or reason of reliance, trust, etc.See also count v. 9, depend v.¹ 5, hang v. 13b (quot. 1817 at sense 7a), rely v.¹ 6, rest v.¹ 14a, to stand upon —— 1 at stand v. Phrasal verbs 2, stay v.² 2b, 3b, suspend v. 9, trist v. 1, trust v. 1. ΚΠ c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16724 & wha se lefeþþ upp onn himm Þatt mann iss all unndemedd. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 206 For þet stondunge is treowe trust of hardi bileaue up on godes strengðe. c1250 Prayer to Virgin 18 in Old Eng. Misc. 196 Al min hope is uppon þe. c1315 Shoreham v. 51 Four manere ioyen hy hedde here Of hyre sone so lef an dere, Wytnes opan þe godspelle. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. i. 117 Þei leueden vppon hym þat lyed in þis manere. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. vii. 2 Siria restede vp on Effraym. 1509 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 286/2 Ony proclamatioun..anent the intercommonyn and sitting apoun the Inglismenis assouerans. 1574 R. Scot Perfite Platforme of Hoppe Garden 2 I, for my part, relye not upon other mens opinions. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xx. 24 [He] resolued [= relied] vppon so smal an assuraunce of the Bascha. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 294 My life vpon her faith: honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leaue to thee. View more context for this quotation 1640 W. Laud Wks. (1853) III. 279 His Majesty's goodness was confident upon the fidelity of his subjects. 1767 B. Gooch Pract. Treat. Wounds I. 241 It is fallacious, and by no means to be depended upon, as a Criterion. 1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice I. vi. 6 Depend upon it,..I will visit them all. View more context for this quotation 1823 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War I. 715 They counted upon succour from San Juan's troops. 1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam xxxii. 51 Then one deep love doth supersede All other,..And rests upon the Life indeed. View more context for this quotation b. According to; in agreement or accordance with; on the model of. ΚΠ (a) 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 108 I not if that be Sompnolence, Bot upon youre conscience, Min holi fader, demeth ye. c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 105 Comaundinge hem vppon her legeaunce To come. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 66 To make amendys fully in trewe restitucyoun, vp-on þi powere. c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 515 Quat is þi rawunsun, opon ryȝte? Þe soth þou mon sayn. 1516 in Acta Parl. Scot. (1875) XII. 37/1 He..behavis him swa towart..ȝoure brothir..that apon Ressoune na man sall be discontentit of his gyding. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xviii. 20 b The king..was set at libertie, vpon an accord and alliaunce which hee made. 1664 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1912) 3rd Ser. 226 I inform'd my Lord..that vpon my certaine knowledge a greate number would meete..att such a house. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 54 Nothing remaining of it but only what is taken upon Chronicle. 1702 J. Vanbrugh False Friend i. i I find you much upon my taste in this matter. 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. xxvii. 120 Here Mr. Belford gives the substance of it upon his memory. 1867 J. R. Lowell Fitz Adam's Story 464 An honest cord [of wood] in Jethro still would fail By a good foot upon the Deacon's scale. (b)a1225 Leg. Kath. 994 Hwi schulde he forhohien to wurðen to þet þing Þet is iwend [= formed] upon him?1563 J. Shute First Groundes Archit. sig. Biv This piller [is]..made by the Ionians vpon the Simetrie of a strong man.1777 Ann. Reg. 1776 148 A rifle gun upon a new construction.1790 W. Wrighte Grotesque Archit. 11 The four minarets at the angles bring the plan upon a square of forty feet.1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §85 Upon these ideas I drew up..the following plan.1863 M. Howitt tr. F. Bremer Greece & Greeks I. viii. 264 The new constitution of Greece is formed very much upon that of France.1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xxii. 172 The Society papers..are to some extent modelled upon the Reviews. c. Indicating the ground, basis, occasion, or reason of an action, opinion, etc.; = on prep. 11.In very frequent use from c1525. In group (b) with allusion to literal uses (sense 1). ΚΠ (a) c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 169 A symple knycht may nocht lede a baroun..apon his sauf condyt. a1500 in C. T. Martin Chancery Proc. 15th Cent. in Archaeologia (1904) 59 4 Uppon untrue verydyte yoven in London ther lieth none atteynt. 1515 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 403/2 The slauchter..committit apoun forthocht felony. 1554–5 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 170 In a redines to serve vpon further warnynge. 1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft x. i. 177 Those witches, that make men beleeue they can prophesie vpon dreames. 1602 W. S. True Chron. Hist. Ld. Cromwell sig. F4 The great Lord Cromwell arreasted vpon treason. 1647–8 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1917) 569 How..Cholmeley came first to be imployed in the Parliament service, and upon what grounds hee quitt the same. 1697 K. Chetwood Life Virgil in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. *4^v He has solv'd more Phænomena of Nature upon sound Principles, than Aristotle in his Physics. 1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year* 14 Upon these Arguments my Brother chang'd my Resolutions again. 1747 W. Gould Acct. Eng. Ants Pref. Upon this Reason my Lord Bacon does not approve of the historical Method of writing in Philosophy. 1787 J. Whitaker Mary Queen of Scots Vindicated I. 62 They thus condemn the Queen..upon letters unauthenticated by the producers. 1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate Introd. Invernahyle obtained from the Chevalier his prisoner's freedom upon parole. 1846 Chambers's Jrnl. 31 Oct. 280/2 Upon the most insubstantial of pretexts. 1872 H. P. Liddon Some Elements Relig. i. 16 The most intellectual Gnostics were Sensualists; Sensualists upon a theory and with deliberation. (b)a1400–50 Alexander 4641 Pure is ȝoure tecches, Mare fonden opon foly þan ficchid on reson.1565 Sir R. Maitland in Maitland Folio MS. 23 Grund all thy doing vpon suthfastnes.1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 27 I..tould him I wuld bilde uppon him.1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 23 This is the major Proposition of his Syllogism, and if this fail, the Charge he builds upon it, must needs fall.1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶8 Our Modern celebrated Clubs are founded upon Eating and Drinking.1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. x. 207 He particularly built upon a very happy..autumn there this year. View more context for this quotation1844 A. Beresford-Hope Ess. 111 This..does give us very different ground to go upon.1878 J. P. Hopps Princ. Relig. iii. 13 Upon this great truth..we base all our hopes. †d. Of (a cause of death or illness). Obsolete. ΚΠ c1420 Brut 344 Mony a worthi man yn þat viage deid vpon þe Flix. 1510 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 73 Vppon the seid enprisonement the same John..deyed within xij howres. 1600 P. Holland tr. Florus Breviaries cxl, in tr. Livy Rom. Hist. 1264 Upon which fracture he died thirtie daies after. 1645 H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 163 Y^e Gentlewoman y^t had lived in it dead upon Grief. 1696 A. Telfair New Confut. Sadducism 10 Which frightned him so much, that he fell sick upon it immediately. e. Indicating means of subsistence or existence, or an article of food furnishing sustenance.Sometimes = ‘after having taken or consumed’: see (c). ΚΠ (a) 1457 J. Hardyng Chron. in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1912) 747 His lyfelode exceded noght all clere An hundreth marke to leue vpon in dede. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 98 We have loste our store of vytaylles, so that we have noo thynge to lyve upon. 1564 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 125 Aspshawe is a very poore man, and liveth apon his neibours. 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F8^v [They] are to be compelled to worke, and not to liue vpon other mens labours. 1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Dram. Pers. sig. Aiv Shift. A Thredbare Sharke. One that..liues vpon lendings. View more context for this quotation 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. v. 249 Monasteries..maintained vpon the common beneuolence of the citie. 1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 45 All liuing vpon Fishing. 1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 24. 161 A whimsical Fellow..liv'd upon setting Stones in Wrist-Buttons. 1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Sept. 3/1 The lady did not indeed say that she lived with her father and mother, but she lived upon them. 1885 Law Times Rep. 52 651/1 He earned nothing, and he lived upon some money of mine. (b)c1440 Pallad. on Husb. x. 76 Til May hit wol suffice vppon to feede.?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) Pref. sig. B j Suche two footed Moules and Todes whom..nature hath ordayned to..suck vpon the muck.1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. vi. 276 They liue vpon the flesh of Ostriches and camels.1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §94. 467/2 'Tis thought he surfeited upon Melons.1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 34 He..breakfasted upon toast and ale.1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. iii. 221 While Moths upon his rotting Carpets fed.1818 G. S. Faber Horæ Mosaicæ (ed. 2) II. 281 If the Dominical Supper be a feast upon a sacrifice.1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds ii. 26 The grass it fed upon.1885 Manch. Examiner 16 June 5/1 M. Henze fed his prize oxen upon silage.elliptical.1717 M. Prior Alma iii. 243 Was ever Tartar fierce or cruel, Upon the Strength of Water-Gruel.1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. v. 109 A young Horse may look pretty sleek upon Hay only.1895 G. Meredith Amazing Marriage I. i. 13 The clergyman,..renouncing strong drinks, because he found that he ‘cursed better upon water’.(c)1663 R. Boyle Some Considerations Usefulnesse Exper. Nat. Philos. ii. vi. 185 Though..[it] did make her sickish, especially, when she slept upon it.1829 W. Scott Jrnl. 5 July (1946) 91 So to roost upon a crust of bread and a glass of small beer, my usual supper. †f. At (an expense, cost, etc.). Obsolete. ΚΠ c1400 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3799 Al þe bachelerie..he nom in is compaynie..vp [v.rr. vp on, vppon] is coust. 1476 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 49/1 Þare to remain apoun þare awin expenss. a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) ii. xv. sig. p.vi Many shyps were made vpon the kynges cost. 1563 Ref. Privy Council Scotl. I. 239 To commande thame to warde, to remane thairin upon thair awne expense. 1577 M. Hanmer tr. Socrates Scholasticus vii. xxxiv, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 396 He had buylded vpon his owne costes and charges the sepulchres and tumbes. 1674 Reg. Privy Counc. Scot. IV. 278 A mudwall rowme..built upon his owne coast. 1711 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 124 Each company..was subsisted upon the cost of every captain for three months. g. Denoting security of a loan, etc. ΚΠ 1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) 121 The besant..was holden & gaged vpon an ymage. 1562 J. Heywood Fifth Hundred Epygrams (new ed.) xciii. in Wks. sig. Bbj^v No man will one peny lende upon it. 1611 Bible (King James) Neh. v. 4 Wee haue borrowed money..vpon our lands and vine~ yards. View more context for this quotation 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 7 Moneys lent upon Goods at very easie Interest. 1707 London Gaz. No. 4333/8 They will..Lend Money upon Tallies or other good Securities, at 5 l. per Cent. 1766 Ld. Kames Remarkable Decisions Court of Session 1730–52 40 The money is secured..upon land. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1765 I. 268 [Johnson:] Security being taken upon the property. 1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 407 He assigns 1000 marks..to his son's wife, secured upon the Swiss possessions of his house. 1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. iv. 42 If [a banker]..issues notes upon no property at all, the issue is fraudulent. 1885 Act 48 & 49 Victoria c. 54 §11 Any mortgage or charge duly created..upon the profits of any benefice. †h. On condition of. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1516 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 422/2 The kingis grace dischargis thaim apone thair remaining in ward for the said errour. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. v. 36 Vpon my Blessing I command thee goe. View more context for this quotation 1626 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 199 Maister Lappage doth..promise that hee will continew his ministry..upon true payment and receivinge the afforesaid allowance. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §5 If it were suitable to Gods nature to promise life to man upon obedience. †i. Out of; with; by the use of. Obsolete. rare. ΚΠ 1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 42 He did not make the wife vppon the same claie, whereof he made man. 1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 17 That his Letter be Cast upon good Mettal, that it may last the longer. j. In many phrases, as upon..accord, on (also †upon) account of), upon composition, upon condition, upon design, upon distrust, upon envy, upon foot, upon fraud, upon head, upon lease, upon matter, upon purpose, upon score, upon shame, upon suspicion, upon trust, upon whole, for which see the nouns. 12. At the risk or with the certainty of incurring or suffering (a pain, penalty, etc.); on peril of; = on prep. 16.See also pain n.¹ 1b, penalty n. 1. ΚΠ c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 1570 That he shuld fast goon Vpon the peyn to be blynde. c1420 Contin. Brut 384 Þe King commaunded to..late hem passe yn pees, vpon deth. c1420 Contin. Brut 385 [He] chargyd ham, vpon her lyf, to kepe wel the toun and þe Castell. 1480 W. Caxton Descr. Brit. 9 Walsshmen shold not passe that dyche with wepen vpon a grete payne. 1540 Acts Privy Council (1837) VII. 21 To temperate his tongue hereafter upon adventure of further punishement. a1554 W. Cholmeley Request & Suite (1853) 19 Commaundyng..the Aldermen, upon the losse of their auctoritie and office,..to see [etc.]. 1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. A4 With threats, Vppon a penaltie inioynd to come. View more context for this quotation 1603 R. Parsons 2nd Pt. Treat. Conuersions in Treat. Three Conuersions Eng. I. xii. 625 The Duke protesteth the contrary (vpon his death). 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 126 I have,..upon severe punishment, inhibited the translation of my Alcheron. 1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 439 He order'd every man upon the pain of death to bring in all the money he had. 13. Indicating that which forms the basis of revenue, profit, fines, taxation, lending, etc.; = on prep. 17.See also retire v. 4c(b) (quot. 1806 at sense 2b), tax n.¹ 1. ΚΠ 1466 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 4/2 [He] sall..resaue þe soume of mone aucht till him vppoun þe said annuel. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 43 Preamble So that the seid Erle upon his seid leasses.., do reserve asmuch rentis..as be nowe usuell. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Neh. v. 3 Let vs borowe money of the kinge vpon vsury. 1544 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 217 They so offending to be payned opon a certen some of money. ?1677 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1699) 272 Such a part of the full value of their Commodities, as may possibly be lost upon the sale of them. 1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth I. 333 Five hundred Pounds upon the brown Bay still. 1798 Hull Advertiser 24 Mar. 2/3 Insurance upon..outhouses, and upon unthreshed stock therein. 1845 R. W. Hamilton Inst. Pop. Educ. x. 278 How can the State raise the amount? Is it not to be raised upon the people? 1892 Law Times 94 104/1 A commission of over 60 per cent. upon the sums received. II. Of motion or direction towards a position, thing or person, state, etc. 14. a. Upward so as to place or be on a surface, point, etc. Cf. on prep. 18. ΚΠ c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11959 Þe deofell brohhte iesu crist. Wiþþ utenn o þe temmple. Vpp onn an sæte. upp o þe rof. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1942 He lep up on a stede lith. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3899 Moyses ðor made a wirme of bras, And henget hege up-on a saft. a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 2318 Vpon his palfrai lep Catoun. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ix. xxx. 384 They came vpon sir launcelot sodenly and vnnethe he myght putte vpon hym his helme. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xvi. xv. 684 Therfore starte vpon thy hors. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 471 In gret hy thair hors hint thai, And stert apon thame sturdely. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Joel ii. 9 They shal clymme vp vpon the houses. 1627 M. Drayton Nimphidia in Battaile Agincourt 120 Flye Cranion her Chariottere, Vpon the Coach-box getting. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 130 He leapes upon his Mule. 1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Pears Mount them one upon another Steeplewise. 1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iii. 57 To uplift the woman's fall'n divinity Upon an even pedestal with man. 1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters xxi. 446 A large loligo..had thrown itself high and dry upon the beach. b. To or towards a position on a surface, etc.; = on prep. 18.Group (b) corresponds to sense 1c; group (c) illustrates non-physical uses. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > high position > position upon > on or upon [preposition] oneOE anuppeOE uponc1175 (a) c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14667 Sniþ itt alls itt wære an shep. & leȝȝ itt upp onn allterr. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3949 Vp-on hise asse his sadel he dede. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3186 On an gold gad ðe name god Is grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8895 Vnwarli sco sett hir don Apon þis ilk tre. c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §7. 21 Ley thi label vp-on the same degree of the sonne. c1400 St. Alexius (Cotton) 257 They hylde water wppon hys hede. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 921 Som drope of pitee..Vp on vs wrecched wommen lat thow falle. c1430 Two Cookery Bks. 42 Þan take fayre pecez of Brede..vppe~on þe Eyroun. 1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. iii. sig. H3 Her head sunk down vpon her brest. a1655 T. T. de Mayerne Archimagirus Anglo-Gallicus (1658) lxxxiv. 58 Lay this froth upon your sullibub as high as you can. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 140 The various God..draws a Rock upon his dark Abode. View more context for this quotation 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. If a Perpendicular be let fall upon the Base of an oblique angled Triangle. 1808 W. Scott Marmion ii. i. 78 Upon the gale she stooped her side. 1844 J. Jack Hist. St. Monance xi. 74 The skipper placed upon the table a large wooden caup or platter. 1870 R. Anderson Hist. Missions Amer. Board IV. xxvi. 63 The mob rushed forward and trampled spitefully upon it. elliptical.c1450 Mirk's Festial i. 5 Sle, sle, opon þe broche, rost hote.(b)1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 952 Syttyþ dowun vppon ȝoure knees.c1400 26 Pol. Poems 149/233 I set me doune apon my kne.1486 Bk. St. Albans b iv b Softe and layserly fall oppon yowre kneys.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Mark xv. 19 [They] fell vpon the kne, & worshipped him.a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 209 The said preist..kneillit doune wpoun his knie.a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 289 Come on, away, apart vpon our knees. View more context for this quotation1837 F. Palgrave Merchant & Friar (1844) 176 The Chancellor, dropping off the Woolsack upon his bended knees.1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby ‘Up-end yourself,’ get upon your legs.(c)c1325 Spec. Gy Warw. 995 And anon god putte his fuisoun Vp-on hire mele.a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xxv. 3 Vp on whom shyneth not the liȝt of hym?1461 Rolls of Parl. V. 463/2 Takyng upon hym..the Coroune and name of Kyng.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. vi. D The Lorde make his face to shyne vpon the [vpō in text].1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. vi. 210 Whereby they had put themselves..upon great difficulties.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 The Nymphs, Companions of th' unhappy Maid, This punishment upon thy Crimes have laid. View more context for this quotation1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VIII. xxi. 99 I fell in love all at once..—it burst upon me..like a bomb.1768 J. Boswell Let. 8 Feb. (1924) I. 145 I am thrown upon the wide world again.1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 79 The magnitudes, being doubled upon themselves, increase so, that [etc.].1816 Ld. Byron Prisoner of Chillon x A light broke in upon my brain. c. Denoting incidence, seizure, hold, etc.; = on prep. 14b. ΚΠ a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2339 Ðo cam iosep swilc rewðe up-on, He dede halle ut ðe toðere gon. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. cxv Ripe & igadered ere corrupcioune oþer rostinge falle vpon whete. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 748/2 I take holde apon one, jempoygne. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxiv. 3 The paynes of hell gat holde vpon me. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. iii. 18 She is a tre of life to them that laye holde vpon her. 1546 in R. G. Marsden Sel. Pleas Court Admiralty (1894) I. 148 The sayde Leonard Sumpter..toke and seased uppon the same as lawfull wayff and thynge forsaken. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vii. 303 The Venetian Factor seased vpon all. 1665 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1912) 3rd Ser. 240 There was a full congregation of quakers and the like seised vppon by Sir Francis Clarke sunday last. 1880 J. Payne New Poems 259 A deadly terror got A sudden hold upon her. 1892 H. Lane Differ. Rheum. Dis. (ed. 2) 67 It seems to have taken a firm hold upon the public. d. Of the incidence of a blow, stroke, etc.; = on prep. 14c. ΚΠ c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2734 He..smot him so up-on þe crune, Þat [etc.]. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 2368 Þan hastiliche þe ost ichon Opon Segyn þat smiten anon. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lx. 516 Sir Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the helme. 1507 in Leadam Star Chamber Cases (Selden) 253 He sawe..Irton being hurt vppon the hed. 1562 Aberd. Kirk Session Rec. (Spalding Club) 6 To be puneist with ane palm vpone the hand for ilk falt. 1594 1st Pt. Raigne Selimus 1447 Dart Thy smouldring flame Vpon the head of cursed Acomat. 1611 Bible (King James) Exod. vii. 17 Behold, I will smite with the rod..vpon the waters. View more context for this quotation 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶11 His Neighbour may give him a Kick upon the Shins. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War i. xxi, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 732 Many..have stood amazed..when they saw him..shoot the arrow upon the mark. 1813 W. Scott Rokeby vi. 313 One stroke, upon the castle bell, To Oswald rung his dying knell. 1844 E. B. Barrett Drama of Exile 64 in Poems I This is the Eden lost By Lucifer!..this the sword..That smote upon the forehead. 1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. viii. 187 The cruel cat falling at every step upon their..bleeding shoulders. e. In phrases of the type harm upon harm, torment upon torment, denoting cumulative addition or repetition; = on prep. 18e. ΚΠ c1320 tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 865 Þey wounded here, and heped harm vp on harmes. c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 346 And so servauntis upon servantis weren char[g]ious to þis hous. c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iv. 1336 He had torment opon torment. ?1529 S. Fish Supplicacyon for Beggers sig. A7 The capteyns of his kingdome..haue heped to him benefice vpon benefice. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 86 Why thou losse vpon losse. View more context for this quotation 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 229 Huddleing iest vpon iest, with such impossible conueiance vpon me. View more context for this quotation 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 152 Which heaped vpon them Anathema vpon Anathema. 1699 J. Evelyn Acetaria App. sig. P4 Cover the Bottom of the Jar with some Dill,..then a Bed of Nuts; and so stratum upon stratum. 1864 C. Kingsley Roman & Teuton v. 137 Dietrich had had to write letter upon letter. 1882 ‘Ouida’ In Maremma I. 90 Centuries upon centuries of carnage..have laid the land bare. 1884 C. F. Woolson in Harper's Mag. Feb. 371 Millions upon millions of violets. f. On (a voyage, expedition, mission, etc.); = on prep. 18d. ΚΠ 1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 648 Or I myhte make my passage To gynnen vp-on my pylgrymage. c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 12 The kyng procedyng forthe upon his way, kome to the Condyte. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 148 When the vnhappy king..did set forth Vpon his Irish expedition. View more context for this quotation 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 55. ¶1 A young Fellow..sent upon a long Voyage. 1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 324 To encourage our South Sea Company..to go upon some Discovery that way. 1817 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. II. xvii. 77 The rufescent ants do not leave their nests to go upon these expeditions..till [etc.]. 1839 P. J. Bailey Festus 232 As on they sped upon their starward course. 15. Into contact or collision with, esp. by way of attack; against; = on prep. 19a.See also to come upon —— 1a at come v. Phrasal verbs 2, to fall upon —— 1a at fall v. Phrasal verbs 2, fly v.¹ 8b, to go upon —— 1a at go v. Phrasal verbs 2, lay v.¹ 32a, to set upon —— 1 at set v.¹ Phrasal verbs 1. ΚΠ a1300 Cursor Mundi 24461 Me-thoght moght it [v.r. i] apon him rine,..I suld ha ben all hale. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 1996* Þou schalt ȝif þe first asaut Opon þe Almaundes. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf.) Dido. 1327 On a nyght sleping he let hir lye, And staal a-wey vpon [v.r. vnto] his companye. c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 444 Russhande wpone the altare. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 56 Whan Vter saugh..the Danes assembled, he sette vpon hem as vigorously or more. c1500 Melusine (1895) lix. 348 Go we vpon our enemyes to helpe & socoure our frendes. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xvii. 35 And whan he wolde haue bene vpon me, I toke him by his beerde. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xix. 22 The Turkes.., vpon whom they of the Castle..gaue an assault. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 48 I stumbled..vpon a great dung mixen. 1631 E. Pellham Gods Power 2 Wee eight men..were bound for this Greenland aforesaid, to make a voyage upon Whales or Sea-horse. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 299. ¶2 He drew his Sword upon me before he was Nine Years old. 1782 W. Cowper Loss Royal George 20 She ran upon no rock. 1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod iii. i. 130 The two combatants..were thereby prevented from running their horses upon each other. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. ix. 231 [They] run plump upon one of the masters as they emerge into the High street. elliptical.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 56 The kynge seide to his peple, ‘Now vpon hem in all that we may.’1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Sam. xviii. 14 Not so, I wil vpon him before thy face.1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iv. iii. 343 Aduaunce your standars, and vpon them Lords. View more context for this quotation1821 Ld. Byron Sardanapalus iv. i. 136 Upon them! (Trumpet sounds again.)figurative.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Bel & Dragon 30 Now whan y^e kynge sawe, that they russhed in so sore vpon him,..he deliuered Daniel vnto them.1887 ‘L. Carroll’ Game of Logic i. 36 Let them Rush upon their Fate! 16. In the direction of; towards; = on prep. 20. a. In respect of looking, etc.See also cast v. 7, front v.¹ 1, gape v. 3, gaze v. 1b, glare v. 2, laugh v. 2, look v. 1, pore v. 1, to see on —— at see v. Phrasal verbs 2, smile v. 2a, squint v. 2. ΚΠ ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 47 To kasten canh echnen vp on an ȝeung wimmon. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2661 Ðor-quiles he seweden [= looked] him up-on. Mani dede bleph un-don. c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 5024 Þair bodys sal alle unsemely be,..and ugly, opon to se. 14.. in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 144 Dame ypocryte loke vp-on a boke. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 219 He caste his eye vp on Emelya. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 John i. 1 That which..we have loked apon, and oure hondes have handled. 1581 Earl Morton in Calr. Scott. Pap. VI. 14 I was purposed to have..turned my backe upon Scotland while I had sene further. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 38 Arthur looked vpon me, and I laughed vpon him. 1710 J. Strype Hist. E. Grindal i. vii. 70 These Unsuccesses were justly looked upon to proceed from the punishing Hand of Heaven. 1790 J. Bruce Trav. Source Nile I. 5 We pointed our prow directly..upon Alexandria. 1799 W. Wordsworth Two April Mornings 19 Matthew..fixing still his eye Upon the eastern mountain-top. 1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) II. 357 The fears of some, the hopes of others, and the attention of all, were now turned upon the young emperor. 1874 F. W. Farrar Life Christ I. 472 He turned His back for a time upon His native land. 1884 M. Oliphant Sir Tom iv Her gray eyes absolutely flamed upon him. b. In respect of movement, etc. ΚΠ ?a1400 Morte Arth. 262 Thow countez no caas, ne castes no forthire, Bot hurles furthe appone heuede, as thi herte thynkes. 1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xv Our sauyour criste..apperyd to his disciples..and after .viij. dayes..he come vpon theym ayen. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 6258 If any stert vpon stray, strike hym to dethe! 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 11 [We] were driuen to lee-ward a hundred leagues vpon the Coast of Brazil. 1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride To Rdr. sig. A2 Unless you point directly upon his Vice. 1716 London Gaz. No. 5455/3 Our Fleet..bore down upon them. 1828 in G. Concanen Rep. Rowe v. Brenton (1830) 28 To sink a shaft upon the lode. 1829 W. F. Napier Hist. War Peninsula II. 142 The hospitals..of Salamanca being evacuated upon Lamego, that town was crowded. 17. †a. In or into (pieces); = on prep. 17b. ΚΠ c1400 Sege Jerusalem 699 Twey apys..Þat renten þe rawe flesche vpon rede peces. b. Into, as by penetration; = on prep. 17a. ΚΠ 1738 T. Herring in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 137 The sea, which here indents upon the country. 18. Unto, to (a person): in reference to descent or (Scottish) marriage; = on prep. 22. ΚΠ 1492 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 254/2 His faider..maryit him apoun his sister dochter incontrare his band. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. iv. vii. f. 42/2 The eldest of hir dochteris wes maryid apon..Marius. 1629 Vse of Law 37 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light If this inheritance descend vpon a woman. 1667 Duchess of Newcastle Life Duke of Newcastle ii. 93 A good Estate in the West, which afterwards descended upon my Lord. 1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish i. 11 My marriage upon my own cousin, Miss Betty Lanshaw. 1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xxi. 254 She was married..upon my Uncle Robin. 19. Into, to, or on (some action, occupation, course, or condition); = on prep. 23. ΚΠ 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 30 Thanne upon dissencioun Thei felle. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15580 Alle þe apostels þan bi-gan to fal a-pon a gret. 1435 Contract Fotheringhay Church (1841) 29 During all the sayd werke the seid Will. Horwode shall nether set mo nor fewer Free-Masons..thereupon. 1483 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 103 The said schiref put apone the said inquest..persons quhilk war suspect of the law. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xxxiiii^v A Quest of .xii. knyghtes of Mydd[lesex], sworne vpon a Iurye. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 29 b For..we naturallie runne upon things which are forbidden us. 1607 T. Rogers Faith, Doctr., & Relig. Pref. sig. ¶4 Wee set vpon the building of Gods house. 1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 2 My Purpose is not here to fall vpon that Question. 1658 R. Allestree Pract. Christian Graces; or, Whole Duty of Man xiv. §22. 300 It puts the child upon shifts, and tricks. 1709 J. Strype Ann. Reformation xxi. 240 Some while..after the entrance of Queen Elizabeth upon her government. 1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 1 (1753) I The..Perplexity of being forced upon Choice. 1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret i. 8 I advised him to pull off his spurs before he went upon action. 1813 Examiner 17 May 320/1 It put the Church upon the alert. 1847 Wordsw. in Mem. (1851) I. 14 When at school, I..was put upon reading the first six books of Euclid. 20. a. Indicating the person or thing that action, feeling, etc., is directed towards or against, or that is influenced or affected by it; = on prep. 24.Construed with many verbs, as attend, await, bear, bespit, bestow, breathe, call, charge, etc. See also fie int. 1, 2, out int. 2, shame n. Phrases 9b. ΚΠ c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 6119 Þe birrþ þin rihhte swinnkess winn Vpp onn ȝuw alle nittenn. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1750 Þa bedess. þatt te laferrd crist. Forr hise þeowwess biddeþþ Vpp onn hiss faderr heofenn king. a1225 Leg. Kath. 130 Ah se sone ha..wende hare wiheles, upon ham seoluen. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 3167 Þe king ek in is syde is herte up on him caste. c1320 Cast. Love. 1482 Þat muche wo vs brouȝte vppon. c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 106 He hadde greuously synned vpon him. 1473 J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 8 The Kynge..losyde his gonnys of his ordynaunce uppone them. c1500 Melusine (1895) lix. 360 Be ye he that wyl take the trybute vpon my Fortresse? 1533 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1905) VI. 156 To Johne Drummondis childer wirkand upoune the hagbute stokkis. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xviii. 21 We will not leaue the following on vpon our purpose. 1633 S. Marmion Fine Compan. (1875) i. iii. 114 They can doe no more good upon me, than a young pittifull Lover upon a mistress that has the sullens. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. v. 206 He..had made their places be conferred upon men void of counsel. 1680 Laws Nevis (1740) iii. 6 If the said Offenders are not able to pay..then to be compelled to work it out upon the Forts. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Antiq. Jews xvi. iv, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 514 The father may have a suspicion upon all his sons. 1796 Ann. Reg., St. Papers 297 The constitution..is sacredly obligatory upon all. 1805 tr. A. Lafontaine Hermann & Emilia I. 261 Nothing is more detestable than to offer one's self upon a young man. 1850 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1857) 3rd Ser. 7 Persecution is that which affixes penalties upon views held, instead of upon life led. 1896 Peterson Mag. Jan. 102/2 The intruded-upon young lady turned her back upon him. b. Denoting the object of regard, desire, etc.; = on prep. 20b.See also dote v.¹ 2a, eager adj. 1, keen adj. 6b, mad adj. 5, to run upon —— 2c at run v. Phrasal verbs 2, set v.¹ 37. ΚΠ c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7604 Opon þat meyden he wax al mad. 1382 J. Wyclif Psalms xxxix. [xl.] 17 Ful out ioȝe thei, and glade vpon me, alle that sechen thee. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 267 He schal haue miche gretter affeccioun vpon the seid freend. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lvi. 508 Louers..soo mad and soo soted vpon wymmen. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 169 The king..was covatous wpoun money. 1598 R. Barckley Disc. Felicitie of Man i. 51 A young man..that was..enamoured vpon an Image of marble. 1612 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. I. i. iv. 307 In this case, Moses should haue bene..cast downe..; yet how hote is hee vpon iustice. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 106. ¶3 When he is pleasant upon any of them, all his Family are in good Humour. 1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 619 O'Connell is bent upon the disruption of the British empire. †c. Among (a number of sharers, etc.). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1492–3 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 323 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 Distributers of the same upon the commynes. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xv. 26 To make a certayne distribucion apon the poore sanctes. 1598 R. Dallington View of Fraunce sig. K 3 Hee diuideth the Lands vpon his horsemen, to each his portion. d. Indicating the person by whom a cheque, draft, order, etc., is payable, or the bank on which it is drawn; = on prep. 24c.See also cheque n. 3, draught n. 35, draw v. 91. ΚΠ 1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 226 Mr. Fox hauing giuen mee a note upon Mr. Shaw to pay me my allowance. a1722 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 12 The bill upon his wife for £200. 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 255 He shows me a Bill upon me, drawn by my Wife. 1798 in Ushaw Mag. Dec. (1913) 287 An order upon Mr. Wright for £12 as the price of the book sent you. 1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 736 It may be quite as well..to draw upon the bank. 21. a. Indicating a person or thing towards whom or which hostile or adverse action or language is directed; against; = on prep. 26.See also (a) blow v.¹ 30, complain v. 6b,to cry out 2 at cry v. Phrasal verbs 1, design n. 2a, lie v.² 1b, peach v. 2b,rage v. 2c, rail v.⁵ 1a, steal v.¹ 5e; (b) to go upon —— 1a at go v. Phrasal verbs 2,to make upon —— at make v.¹ Phrasal verbs 2,seek v. 17. ΚΠ (a) c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 415 Þatt fand mann nan þing upp on hemm To wreȝenn. ne to tælenn. a1225 Leg. Kath. 2204 Þa Porphire iseh feole, Þet me seide hit upon,..dreien to deaðe. c1275 Passion Our Lord 241 in Old Eng. Misc. 44 A ueole kunne wise hi lowen him vp-on. c1430 J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 151 He cryethe affter peasse, compleynnythe vppon þe werres sore. c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 12 Þis abbatis..forgaff þaim at þai had saide vppon hur. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. x He declareth howe greuously he is complained vpon vnto the Duke. 1642 W. Laud Diary 2 Dec. They were sufficiently railed upon in the streets. 1651 H. More Second Lash of Alazanomastix in Enthusiasmus Triumphatus (1656) 253 I now forgive thee heartily for all thy abuses upon me. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 385 The Court carried every question.., tho' with..a protestation made upon every step that was carried. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish War v. xiii, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. 914 He also jested upon him. 1753 J. Collier Art Tormenting (1811) ii. ii. 130 Nor need you be apprehensive of the others telling tales upon you. 1861 F. Temple Serm. 274 The unhappy man who has not courage to tell upon himself. 1891 Law Times 90 441/2 The judges..must accept criticism upon their order. (b)c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7155 Forr þatt he wennde þatt tatt follc. Vpp onn himm cumenn wære..forr to niþþrenn himm.c1230 Hali Meid. 17 Leccherie..secheð earst upon hire, nebbe to nebbe.c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 65 Was non so bold..Þat durste upon his menie bringhe Hunger.c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 537 The peple roos vp-on hym on a nyght.1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 106 Ich am wratthe,..wol gladliche smyte Boþe with ston and with staf, and stele vp-on myn enemy.a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 4875 Euermore hij beþ werrende, And vpon oþer conquerrende.1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 5 They bring assailours uppon this lande.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin ii. 24 The hethen assembled a grete oste vpon hem.1518 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 137 Afterwardes they sought vpon hym at hys boothe with ij clubbys.1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Esdras i. 27 I am not sent..to fight agaynst y^e, for my warre is upon Euphrates.1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. C4 It shal be my charge To raise the towne vpon him.(c)1476 in T. Thomson Acts Lords Auditors (1839) 55/2 Elene Tulloch..wes marijt þe tim þat þe said det wes recouerit apon hir.1482 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 85 To see the hurtes and harms he dyd yow uppon your goodes.1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 28 He is to haue great care..that his soldiers grow not licencious vpon their poore hosts.1647 in Crawford Proclam. (1910) II. 55/1 Robberies committed by the tories and rebels upon the protestants.1678 N. Wanley Wonders Little World v. i. §98. 468/1 Encroachments upon his Dominions.1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 176 The most eligible station on that coast for cruising upon the enemy.1754 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 102. ⁋2 A Design upon one another's Pockets..was introductory of another Crime.1772 in Eng. Hist. Rev. Jan. (1915) 30 He places a number of..sepoys upon them and their families.1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 448/2 The disadvantages are..unreliability in stays.., hardness upon helms. b. On or against (a person), by way of vengeance or the like. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5862 Þat suerd apon hus tak na wrak. c1400 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iii. viii. 55 They alwey hauen sought vengeaunce.., to be wroken vppon tho that ought haue mysliked them. 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur x. lv. 506 Soone we shold haue ben reuenged vpon the fals knyghtes. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Iiiii Josue commaunded the sonne to stande styll in one place, vnto he were reuenged vpon his ennemies. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Isa. i. D I must ease me of myne enemies, and a venge me vpon them. 1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine ii. v. 86 Reuenge my death vpon his traiterous head. 1860 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops Canterbury I. vii. 377 Edwy had the power to avenge himself upon Dunstan. elliptical.c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) i. 322 A shamefull deth I aske vpon herowde.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lviii. 10 God letteth me se my desyre vpon myne enemies. c. So as to close in or confine. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 4 Kings iv. 5 The woman wente, and closede the dore vpon hir silf and vpon hir children. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Num. xvi. E They wente downe quycke in to the hell..And the earth closed vpon them [vpō in text]. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxix. 15 That..the pitte shut not hir mouth vpon me. 1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 5) 580 The Lord..himselfe shut the doore of the Arke upon Noah. 1701 H. Prideaux Direct. Church-wardens (1712) 10 If they shall meet..with the Doors lock'd, barred, or bolted upon them. 1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xlviii. 555 Softly turning the key upon him as they went out. 22. a. With respect or regard to; in reference to; touching, concerning; as to; = on prep. 25.See also agree v. 8a, compliment v. 3, conclude v. 13, consult v. 1, insist v. 3, lot n. 1, matter n.¹ 5c, pride v. 3, treat v. 2a, value v. 8. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxii. 11 A litil weep vp on the deade, for he restede. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 110 I finde upon Surquiderie, How that..Be olde daies was a King [etc.]. c1400 Contin. Brut 321 In þe whiche parlement was treted..how he myȝte best oppon his wrong be avenged. 1439 Cases bef. King's Council (Selden) 105 The Kyngis counsaillours examined the persones..upon the ryot. 1484 Surtees Misc. (1888) 43 Surmising none othere upon hyme. 1515 in I. S. Leadam Select Cases Star Chamber (1911) II. 85 Two seuerall Writtes..to theym directed to enquere and examyn vpon certen Interrogatoriez. 1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health xc. 81 If you will not be at cost vppon spices, you may make a verie sweete water thus. 1609 Bible (Douay) I. 1 Kings xxx. 6 The soule of everie man was bitterly affected upon their sonnes, and daughters. 1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xiii. 227 Having such good Success upon Brass, I improv'd the Invention so, as to make it serve for Wood also. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 150. ⁋4 I could name Two, who..fell out and parted Beds upon the boiling of a Leg of Mutton. 1760 Imposters Detected iii. vii [She] was not in the least vain or proud upon the encomiums..from every mouth. 1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 9 Opinions and practices..completely at variance upon the subject of mashing. 1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 209 I shall set you at ease..upon that point. 1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 921 This case raises a novel point upon which there is no authority. b. Denoting the object to or towards which mental activity is directed; = on prep. 25b.See also consider v. 11b, meditate v. 1a, min v.² 4b, mind n.¹ 6 (quot. 1589 at sense 10c), put v. 16b, reflect v. 8a, remember v.¹ 7b, to run upon —— 2b at run v. Phrasal verbs 2, study v. 12, 5, think v.² 3a, treat v. 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > thought > product of thinking, thought > matter of thought > indicating object of thought [preposition] onOE upona1300 a1300 Sarmun xxxvi, in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 5 And þench þos wordis her ispoke; for-ȝite ham noȝt ac þench apan. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 14 To studie upon the worldes lore Sufficeth now withoute more. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 112 In hir wirschip wald i bigyn A lastand warc apon to myn. a1400 Isumbras 427 Sir Ysambrace hym umbithoghte Appone a horse that coles broghte. 1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 34 A remembraunce to thinke vpon me. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 49 The moste remembraunce that I shall haue, shall be vpon yow, and on yowre nedes. 1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. vii. 28 The multitude were in admiration vpon his doctrine. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Tim. iv. 15 Meditate vpon these things. View more context for this quotation 1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa II. i. viii. 418 Did you reflect upon it with an vnprejudicate opinion. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 263 I ask'd him what it was he study'd upon. 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 82 But now the Admiration was turn'd upon another Question. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi. 319 It has a closin'-in heid-piece concern that min's me..upon a mutch that my wife hed ance. 1899 W. J. Locke White Dove 3 S—— was at last able to reflect upon the entire unexpectedness of his presence. c. Denoting the subject of speech or writing; = on prep. 25c.Frequently with verbs, as rave, talk, write; amplify v. 3c(b), criticize v. 2a, distinguish v. 8c, to speak unto —— at speak v. Phrasal verbs 1. ΚΠ (a) a1390 Wycliffite Bible (1850) IV. 303 An other [prologue] vpon Romayns. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 65 Laodomie his lusti wif..Upon a thing wherof sche dradde A lettre..sende him. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. Preface My Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycle. 1533 J. Frith Bk. answeringe Mores Let. sig. Eiij^v The mynde and exposition of the olde Doctours vpon the wordes of Chrystes maundye. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. O.iii (heading) Vpon the deceas of w. Ch. a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. i. 22 We would spend it in some words vpon that Businesse. View more context for this quotation 1697 D. Defoe Ess. Projects Pref. I wou'd not adventure to appear in Print upon that Subject. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 114. ⁋1 Our Discourse chanced to be upon the Subject of Death. 1758 J. Boswell Let. 16 Dec. (1924) I. 6 From 1 to 2, [I] attend a college upon Roman Antiquities. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 66 A series of animadversions..published upon it in a provincial paper. 1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XVI xlvii. 87 She..Made epigrams..Upon her friends. 1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xii. 133 He engaged the goodwife..with some compliments upon the rizzoring of our haddocks. (b)1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) xxxi. 53 Now I shalle telle yow vpon this matere of a good lady.?1529 Proper Dyaloge Gentillman & Husbandman sig. C vi Saynct Austyne sayeth vppon the Psalter, the clargy occupyeth the secular lordshyppe secularly.1574 R. Bristow Briefe Treat. Plaine Wayes x. f. 47^v Upon these two, Christ.. and his Church, ronneth al the Scriptures.1581 Fulke in Confer. (1583) iii. sig. Q ij b I wil not vouchsafe to replie vpon this answere.1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 143 But hee repaied him with this re-allusion vppon the name.1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 14. ⁋1 My Design of observing upon Things.1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xxvi. 166 I..am the less sollicitous..to amplify upon the contents of either.(c)1481 in Blades W. Caxton (1882) 231 The polytyque book..whiche that Tullius wrote vpon the disputacons [etc.].c1600 W. Fowler Wks. (S.T.S.) 9 A Fvneral Sonet, written vpon the death of..Elizabeth Dowglas.1709 J. Addison Tatler No. 163. ⁋3 The Sonnet..was written upon a Lady.1776 S. Johnson in Boswell Life Johnson (1904) I. 647 A man who has never been engaged in trade himself may undoubtedly write well upon trade.1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship To Rdr. p. v Had they spent as much time in riding upon turnips, as they have in writing upon them. III. In other senses. †23. From (a person or persons), esp. by means of hostile attack; = on prep. 27. Obsolete. (Cf. 21)Const. with verbs, as make, nim, recover, take, win; also conquer v. 2b, gain v.² 4. ΚΠ 1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 22 Uppon Saynt Edmunde Northfolk he nam. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 291 Egbertus..took Chestre uppon þe Britouns. 1412–20 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy iii. 3423 Troyens han wonne a-geyn her londe Vp-on Grekis. 1483 in Acta Dom. Conc. II. Introd. 114 Quhilk some was recoverit be..Dure apone the said Schir Johne. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) 527 A ryche shyp, the whiche was wonne vpon the sowdans men. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 194 They wanne dayly and yerely vpon the sayd Turkes, so that they had..much of the landes. 1643 W. Prynne Doome of Cowardize 6 At last by such forcible assaults the said Towne was taken upon the said Robert. 1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. i. 2 Whatsoever the Popes of Rome gained upon us. 1660 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1920) IV. 187 The prizes made by the Ostenders upon the Kings subjects. 1742 G. Leoni tr. A. Palladio Architecture II. 66 The Spoils made upon Pyrrhus King of Epirus. †24. In respect of; = on prep. 5. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 32 He is blosme opon bleo, brihtest vnder bis. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 2034 (MED) He lis here vte, cum se þu sal, Nakid apon his limes all. 25. On (a musical instrument). ΚΠ c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 110 Ther herd I pleyen vpon an harpe..Orpheus ful craftely. 1524 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 499/1 Playing apoun organis in the Kingis chapell. 1552 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 89 I haue provided one to plaie vppon a kettell drom. 1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie Ded. Able to play vpon an oaten pipe. 1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 68 No more skill..than a Pig playing upon the Organs. 1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. 149 A great many of 'em..can toot, toot, toot, it upon a Pipe. 1842 Ld. Tennyson Locksley Hall in Poems (new ed.) II. 92 When you want me, sound upon the bugle horn. a1845 S. Smith Elem. Sketches Moral Philos. (1850) 175 Any air..performed upon such an instrument as the bagpipe. 1876 J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. ii. 380 Discoursing laments upon the Bagpipes. 26. Denoting advance from or improvement on some standard, etc.See also improve v.² 6b, improvement n. 6c, refine v. 9. ΚΠ 1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura iv. 50 Which afterwards Sebastiano Serli refining upon, compos'd the better part of that excellent book of his. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 44. ¶6 The French have therefore refin'd too much upon Horace's Rule. 1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. iii. 301 An improvement was made upon this doctrine. 1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 197 Mr. Collins has improved greatly upon his last year's exhibition. 1859 W. E. Gladstone in Q. Rev. Oct. 480 If he continues to advance upon himself as he has advanced heretofore. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adv.1307prep.c1175
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