orig. phr. Forms: 3–7 alowe, 4 aloȝ, a-logh, a-loughe, (5 north. a-lawe), 6 alowe, 5– alow. [A prep.1 + LOW a. Cf. on high, afar.] Contrasted with aloft.
1. Of position: Low down, below.
c. 1260. E. E. Poems (1862), 14. Hit nas no wonder þoȝ ȝo wep · for hir swet child alowe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 234. His mouth … Rather þan his lykam a-low [v.r. aloȝ].
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vii. The corps is layde in earth alowe.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 324. A lowe, even by the ground.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xviii. (1632), 903. The Queene her selfe sate alone alow on the rushes.
a. 1733. North, Lives of Norths (1826), II. 344. The reason given for the sun’s absence a-low.
1867. J. Ingelow, Lily & Lute, II. 146. Floating of the film aloft, Fluttering of the leaves alow.
2. Of direction: Downwards, towards the ground.
a. 1423. James I., Kings Q., II. xvi. As I beheld, and kest myn eyen alawe.
a. 1528. Skelton, Image Hypoc., I. 91. They may not stoop alowe.
1700. Dryden, Cymon & Iph., 370. Toss’d and retoss’d, aloft and then alow.
3. Naut. In or into the lower part of a vessel, i.e., the deck as opposed to the rigging, the cabin or hold as opposed to the deck.
1509. Barclay, Ship of Fooles (1570), 177. Within this ship a lowe or els a hye.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., 65/2. Downe, downe alow, into the hold.
1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I. 268. With studding sails alow and aloft.
4. fig. In low condition or estate.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 222. Why somme be alowe [v.r. alouȝ] and somme alofte.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. xxviii. 43. Thou shalt come downe alowe and lye euer beneth.
† 5. In a low voice, quietly: opposed to aloud.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. Poems, B. 670. Þou laȝed a-loȝ.
1482. Monk of Evesham (1869), 23. Sykyng alow in his breste.
† B. prep. ellipt. for alow in or on. Obs. rare.
1533. Tindale, Answ. Frith, in Southey, Bk. Ch., 112 (R.). Creep alow the ground.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., II. xii. Alow the vale a hermit she did find.
