† Up prep.¹

Obs. Forms: α. 1–2 uppan, 1–3 uppon (2 huppon), 2–3 uppen, vppen (2 upen, 4 vpen). β. 3–4 vppe, 2–3, 5 uppe (4 oppe), 2–4 upe, 3–6 vpe (4 ope). γ. 3–5 vp (4 op, 5 wp), 3–5 up. [OE. uppan, uppon (in earlier use on uppan ANUPPE prep.), = OFris. uppa (oppa), OS. uppan, f. upp UP adv.¹ Cf. OHG. ûfan, ûffan (MHG. uffen).

  By gradual loss of the ending (perhaps also by simple assimilation) the prep. finally acquired the same form as the adverbs. A similar reduction (or substitution of the adverbial form) appears in Du. and WFris. op, NFris, üp (üb), LG. up, G. auf.]

  I.  Denoting motion or direction.

  1.  So as to reach, or be on, by ascension.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 30. Þa ferdon hiʓ uppan Oliuetes dune.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1083. Sume of ðam cnihtan ferdon uppon þone uppflore.

c. 1205.  Lay., 26005. Heo … stiȝen up þan hulle.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4179. Þo he com vpe þe hul an hey.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 166. The Philosofre lepid vp the mule.

  b.  Denoting arrival upon (a coast, etc.) from sea.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13970. Heo droȝen heore scipen uppe þe lond.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 362. Þo he was iwar Þat such folc was ariued … vp his londe.

  2.  On or upon. (In various contexts.)

c. 960.  Rule St. Benet, lviii. (Schröer), 100. Sona swa he þæt ʓewrit uppan ðam altare lecge, beginne þis fers.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxi. 44. Se þe fylð uppan þysne stan, he byð tobrysed.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 35. [Þe] saule … ne mei abeoren alla þa sunne þe þe mon uppon hire deð.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 21. Þe holie gast wile cumen uppen þe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 6504. And þet deor he smat a-nan uppe þat hæued-bæn. Ibid., 13257. Þe crune he nom an honden; he setten heo vppe Costance.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 286. Slep go uppe þe ase þu lokest þeron [sc. holy reading].

c. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1625. Me may vppe [v.r. up one] smale sticke Me sette a wude in þe þikke.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3624. Þo þe niȝt vpe hom com.

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, lii. 3. God loked fram heuen vp mennes sones. Ibid., liv. 4. Drede of deþ fel vp me. Ibid., cxviii. 135. Liȝt þi face vp þi seruant.

1340.  Ayenb., 210. Ssete þe dore ope þe.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 203. For-þi loue we as leue bretheren shal and vche man laughe vp other.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 1. Rekene … which is the day of thi monthe & ley thi reule vp that same day.

14[?].  Cron. Eng. (Caxton) ccxxiii. 222. Thousandes fell to the ground eche vp other in to a hepe.

  b.  Denoting desire: After, for.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 51. Alle ȝe Adames children ðe bieð lustfull uppe newe wastmes.

  3.  a. In hostile encounter with or attack on; in active opposition to.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1086. Þa hæðenan men … herʓodan uppon þam Xpenan mannan.

c. 1205.  Lay., 10563. Carrais … bigon ræuinge uppen Basian þene kinge.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5054. Vor naȝt we abbeþ so ofte vpe hom ywonne þat lond. Ibid., 8987. Þe erl … bigan to rere worre vpe þe king of france.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 6680 (Kölbing). Þe king of þe hundred kniȝtes Com hem vp þo forþ riȝtes.

  b.  Against (as an accusation, penalty, etc.).

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1094. Hi … ealne þone bryce uppon þone cyng tealdon.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 51. Þermide [hie] brohten godes wraðe uppen hem. Ibid., 105. Werpeð þat gilt uppen ure drihten.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1683 (Cott.). Schille ich an utest uppen ow grede.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1466, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 148. Mo luþere dedene þe king bi-þouȝte ȝeot ope seint thomas.

a. 1325.  MS. Rawl. B. 520, fol. 54. That … Bissopes ȝeuen þe grete sentense ope alle þulke þat aȝen the foreseide chartres goz.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 159. Vp man for hus mysdedes þe mercement he taxeþ.

  II.  Denoting rest or location.

  4.  On or upon. (In various contexts.)

  α.  c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xlix. 32. He feold his fet uppan his bed.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John vi. 19. Þa ʓesawon hiʓ þone Hælend uppan þære sæ gan.

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 243. Cnihtscipe is mannes lif upen eorðe.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 147. Þa þe he hefde uppen his hefde þornene helm.

c. 1205.  Lay., 23985. Uppen þan gras-bedde his gost he bi-læfde.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 242. Ȝe beoð ouer þisse worldes seo, uppen þe brugge of heouene.

c. 1250.  Prov. Ælfred, 362, in O. E. Misc., 118. For he schal vppen eorþe dreori i-wurþe.

  β.  a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 239. Alse fele unþeawes alse [he] hade upe him and sennenn.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 93. Ðe asse þe ure helende uppe set.

c. 1250.  in O. E. Misc., 164. Moni of þisse riche Þat … rideþ uppe stede and uppen [v.r. uppon] palefrai.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6559. Vppe a chaere he sat adoun al vpe þe se sonde.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, II. 176. Ase þou þoledest, lord, for me Ope caluaryes doune.

1340.  Ayenb., 180. Þe wedercoc þet is ope þe steple.

  γ.  a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 494. Euerich vp oþer rideþ.

c. 1275.  Lay., 25758. Noht hii ne funde cwic vp þan hulle.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6299. King edmond … lenede vp is sseld.

c. 1300.  K. Horn, 1344 (Laud MS.). Op þe scheld was drawe A crowch of ihesu cristes lawe.

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, xlvi. 8. God shal sitten vp his holy sege.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 12. Þe toure vp þe toft. Ibid., IX. 99. Lesyng of tyme … Is moste yhated vp erthe of hem þat beth in heuene.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 184. Thay mete wyth kynge Gurgnynce vp the See.

1470–85.  Malory, Arth., IX. xli. 408. What sygnefyeth this kynge and this quene, and that knyght standynge vp bothe their hedes?

  b.  So as to be suspended from or supported on.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 41. Uppon þan treon he him sceawede þe wrecche saulen a-honge.

c. 1205.  Lay., 26475. Alle heo sculleð heongien heȝe uppen treouwe. Ibid. (c. 1275), 5863. Of ȝoure hors a-liþteþ and vp ȝoure feot stondeþ.

c. 1280.  Christ on Cross, 23, in E. E. P. (1862), 21. Man bi-hold what ic for þe þolid up þe rode tre.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7734. He wolde him sulf vp is fot … Liȝtliche ssete.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2809. Þe hert & þe hind … ferden ferst on foure fet & seþþe vp tweyne.

c. 1485.  Digby Myst. (1882), I. 273. This ferdell of gere I ley vp my bakke.

  c.  In transferred or figurative uses.

  α, β.  c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 31. Ðat liht of his ansiene is ȝemarked riht uppen us. Ibid., 21. Bereð min ȝoc uppe ȝeu.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5032. Þo vel he in siknesse & sorwe vpen oþer.

a. 1325.  MS. Rawl. B. 520, fol. 48 b. Þat he … vsurpede some fraunchises ore occupiede ope þe kinge ore his predecessours.

c. 1340.  Ayenb., 54. Þo þet habbeþ þe lhordssip ope þe bodyes.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 861. Whan a wolf wanteþ his fode,… he ne fundeþ no flech to feden him vppe.

  γ.  c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2320. Vp quam ðu it findes witterlike.

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, xl. 3. Our Lord be to hym helpe up þe charge of his sorowe. Ibid., xlvi. 8. God shal regne vp men.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Cor. xi. 21. Vp vnnobley [L secundum ignobilitatem].

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 129. Ther-for god … granted hym mervellous victori vp his enemys…, Namly vp the morthes.

  5.  a. Up(pe) land, = UPONLAND adv.

c. 1000[?].  Ags. Letter, in Engl. Stud., VIII. 62. Þu byst uppan lande mid wimmannum oftor þonne ic beo.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1086. To ælcen cyrcean uppe land.

c. 1250.  Owl & Night., 733. Preostes vpe londe singeþ.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 698 (Kölbing). Al þe men … Boþe vp lond & in cite.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshman, v. Prol. 44. Well he noted the madde enormyte, Enuy,… Whiche reygne in cytes; therfore he ledde his lyfe Up londe in vyllage.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. x. 25. They came unto a Citie farre vp land.

  b.  On the bank or brink of; close beside.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7. He wonede … at æðelen are chirechen, vppen Seuarne staþe. Ibid., 28544. Uppe þere Tambre heo tuhte to-somne.

1340.  Ayenb., 251. Ope þo welle þe herte resteþ efter þe trauayl of guode workes. Ibid. He him zette and restede ope þe welle.

14[?].  in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden), 96. The kyng made a grete justysse be-syde Kyngys towne uppe Temys.

  6.  a. On or upon, in respect of belief, etc.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 11. Cursed be þe man þe leueð upen hwate. Ibid., 93. Þo forsineȝede þe hauen al here þonc uppen eorðliche richeise.

a. 1240.  in O. E. Hom., I. 213. Þu … lettest me al iwurden wið þeo þet ich truste uppon.

a. 1300.  X Commandments, 23, in E. E. P. (1862), 16. Hi … þat liuiþ op goddis mo þan one.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 922. So frendely, and so wel y-grounded, Vp al resoun so wel y-founded.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 88. Up trust of absolucioun.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. X. 333. Vp trist of ȝoure tresour tryennels to haue.

1462.  Paston Lett., II. 114. Up trust that the same John Paston shuld founde there a college.

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

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5137. Ac vpe godes wille it is, wanne it ssal be. Ibid., 5657. He … vpe is poer destruede … cristendom.

c. 1300.  K. Horn, 456 (Laud MS.). And helpe þou me to knicte Oppe þine myȝte.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. ix. 29. Vp ȝour feith be it don to ȝou. Ibid. (1388), 2 Sam. xxii. 2. The Lord schal ȝelde to me vp my riȝtfulnesse.

  c.  By (chance, guess, etc.).

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2722. So brod was þe see þat sayle hem bihoued holliche al a niȝt & vp happe wel more.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 421. I nam nouȝte shryuen … tweies in two ȝere and þanne vp gesse I schryue me.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 375. But vp hap þu art a clerke or a religious man.

a. 1508.  Gest Robyn Hode, 49. Wayte after some vnkuth gest Vp chaunce ye may them mete.

  d.  In comment on or explication of; concerning.

1340.  Ayenb., 187. Ase zayþ a glose ope the sautere.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 113. Þre daies to-gederes we ȝeoden, Disputynge vp dowel daye after oþere.

c. 1400.  Three Kings Cologne, 39. After þe glose þat is made vp þis tixt.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 123. Wp whych matyer, Arystotle answerid in this maner. Ibid., 202. Vp this texte Saynte Austyn sayth thus.

  7.  a. On or upon (oath, condition, etc.).

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1095. Forþam se cyng him naþer nolde ne ʓislas syllan, ne uppon trywðan ʓeunnon þæt he … cumon moste.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 11. Ic habbe … uppe mine lahfulnesse ofte him behet, þat ic næure eft him neȝelæste.

13[?].  K. Alis. (W.) 228. ‘Dame,’ he saide, ‘beo thou nought loth, Y am y-come to telle up oth.’

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 750 (Fairf.). I telle hyt the vp a condicioun.

c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 411. Vp suche forward … I wil do þerto alle þat in me is.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 175. The tyraunt hit grauntid vp that covnantte.

  b.  Upon pain or under penalty of; on.

  Freq. c. 1380–c. 1430, esp. with pain, peril.

  (a)  c. 1205.  Lay., 500. Þat come to hirede,… vppen lif & uppen leomen al þes londes folc.

13[?].  Coer de L., 3875. He … bad hys folk, up lyff and leme, Noo good off hem for to neme.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2378. Helpes hastily, hende men i hote, vp ȝour liues!

c. 1435.  Eng. Conq. Ireland, 120. He…, vp mansynge, forbed lered & lewed, that non [etc.].

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 38. A confortatife And remedye I shal make, up my life.

  (b)  c. 1205.  Lay., 5118. Al comen to Lundene uppe wit of feowerti punden.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 24. Þat þei ben holden to vp peyne of lesynge of here lordischipe.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 563. And ye shul seen, vp peril of my lyf,… That [etc.].

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 128. Neiþer graue ne vngraue of gold ne of suluer, Vp forfeture of þe fee.

14[?].  Cron. Eng. (Caxton) ccxxi. 213. That they shold smyte of syr edmondes heede … vp payne of lyf and lymme.

1474.  Cov. Leet Bk., 389. Vp þe peyn of vj s. viij d. at euery defalt.

  8.  More than; above.

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, I. 8. Y shal be made whyȝte vp snowe. Ibid., li. 3. Þou louedest malice up blisfolhede.

1340.  Ayenb., 39. Þer byeþ zuo uele oþre maneres…, þet long þing hit were to zigge, ac zome byeþ y-contined, ope þan þet byeþ yzed.

  III.  In respect of time.

  9.  After (a specified time). Cf. OVER prep. 16.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John x. 11, marg. On sunnan dæʓ feowertyne nyht uppan eastron.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1095. Uppon Eastron on sancte Ambrosius mæsse niht, þæt is .ii. no. Apr. [etc.]. Ibid., an. 1103. On morʓen uppon sancte Laurentius mæsse dæʓ.

c. 1205.  Lay., 6405. Þa hit wes muchel uppe non, þe king þene duc ouer-com. Ibid., 22309. Seouen niht uppen Æstre. Ibid. (c. 1275), 2632. Vppen ona stunde þe sipes i-maked were.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1123, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 138. Þene moruwe ope seint lucus day, tiwesdai it was þo [sc. 19 Oct.], he departede fram þe kingus court.

  10.  At; upon (a stated time).

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 123. Ȝif mann ware … uppen his deaðe, and be prest ne mihte habben.

c. 1290.  Beket, 825, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 130. Alle … seide þo þat … ope þe pointe he was to beon i-cast In prisone.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, V. 151. Ope þe heȝe eȝtynde day He order-ȝede þe gywen lay.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1153. Here woful spirit from his propre place, Right with þe word, alwey vp poynt to pace.