Obs. [Ellipt. use of prec.]
1. a. On it; on or upon the surface.
1307. York Memo. Bk. (Surtees), I. 181. Lether with the here apon.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxiii. 6. An hors courser … vnder eche man vpon sittende neȝeth.
1547. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. 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.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vii. 57. A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell Stampt in gold, but that’s insculpt vpon.
b. On one’s person, as an article of apparel.
a. 1366. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 364. A chapelet, so semly oon, Ne werede neuer mayde vpon. Ibid. (c. 1386), Friar’s T., 84. He [sc. a gay yeoman] hadde vp-on a courtepy of grene.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 246. And sche … hir scherte dede upon And caste on hire a mantel clos.
1446. Lydg., Two Nightingale P., ii. 123. Whan Crist Ihesu was for mankynd dede And had vpon a garnement ful newe.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1301. His gloues, his gyrdell, the kynge had vpon.
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. v. 2. Desiring to be clothed vpon with our house, which is from heauen.
[1643. Caryl, Expos. Job, 1885. Those bodies of Saints … shall be cloathed upon with a house which is from Heaven.]
2. Into or to a position on a surface or object; so as to be put or placed on the thing in question.
1382. Wyclif, Num. xvii. 2. Of echon the name thow shalt vpon write [L. superscribes] to his ȝerde.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurgie, 219. Make it abrood upon a clooþ & leie it vpon hoot.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., VII. 106. Do donge vppon and vmbe on euery side.
1534. Tindale, Luke xx. 18. But on whosoever it faul vpon, it wyll grynde him to powder.
b. In a direction towards something indicated or specified.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 2. Þer for, if we wil, we mai calle bischoppis, locars up on.
1593–1611. [see LOOK v. 46].
3. On or upon that (in time or order); thereafter, thereupon. Esp. coupled with anon, near, soon.
See also HEREUPON, THEREUPON, WHEREUPON advs.
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.
c. 1440. Generydes, 1926. Thanne came the prince of Cesare sone vppon. Ibid., 6632. Kyng auferius fell seke anon vppon.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 12. So that they be sowen ere the begynnynge of Marche, or sone vpon.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 179. Ham. I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding. Hor. Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. vi. 14. The … Citizens Haue hent the gates, and very neere vpon The Duke is entring. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., IV. iii. 3. It is great morning, and the houre prefixt … Comes fast vpon.
4. By way of addition, increase, etc.
a. 1485. Fortescue, Wks. (1869), 487. Why will God put uppon newe turments ovir the travaile of the labour?
