above

prep., adv., adj., & n.
—prep.
1 over; on the top of; higher (vertically, up a slope or stream etc.) than; over the surface of (head above water; above the din).
2 more than (above twenty people; above average).
3 higher in rank, position, importance, etc., than (above all).
4 a too great or good for (above one's station; is not above cheating at cards). b beyond the reach of; not affected by (above my understanding; above suspicion).
5 archaic to an earlier time than (not traced above the third century).
—adv.
1 at or to a higher point; overhead (the floor above; the clouds above).
2 a upstairs (lives above). b upstream.
3 (of a text reference) further back on a page or in a book (as noted above).
4 on the upper side (looks similar above and below).
5 in addition (over and above).
6 rhet. in heaven (Lord above!).
—adj. mentioned earlier; preceding (the above argument).
—n. (prec. by the) what is mentioned above (the above shows).
Phrases and idioms:
above-board adj. & adv. without concealment; fair or fairly; open or openly. above ground alive. above one's head see HEAD. above oneself conceited, arrogant.
Etymology: A(2) + OE bufan f. be = BY + ufan above