A*bove" (#), prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. 199. See Over.]
1.
In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.
Fowl that may fly above the earth.
Gen. i. 20.
2.
Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach.
"Thy worth . . . is actions
above my gifts."
Marlowe.
I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.
Acts xxxvi. 13.
3.
Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)
above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other things.
Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.
© Webster 1913.
A*bove" (#), adv.
1.
In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.
2.
Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page.
"That was said
above."
Dryden.
3.
Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.
4.
More than; as, above five hundred were present.
Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations, the above reference, the above articles. -- Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from above."
Josh. iii. 13.
It is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above-described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written, above-given.
© Webster 1913.