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单词 on
释义

onn.2

Brit. /ɒn/, U.S. /ɔn/, /ɑn/, /oʊn/
Origin: A borrowing from Japanese. Etymon: Japanese on.
Etymology: < Japanese on favour, benefit, indebtedness, obligation, kindness (8th cent.; 1603 as uon in Vocabulario da Lingoa de Iapam) < Middle Chinese.The Japanese word is recorded earlier in an English context in the following:1830 W. H. Medhurst Japanese & Eng. Vocab. 202 in S. Kaiser Western Rediscovery of Japanese Lang. (1995) I. On, grace, favour.
Originally (in feudal Japan): a sense of deep gratitude and obligation felt towards one's parents, teachers, and superiors. Now (in present-day Japan): a sense of moral obligation on the recipient to reciprocate a favour; a debt of gratitude.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > gratitude > [noun] > debt of gratitude
obligement1611
endearment1628
obligation1632
indebtment1646
indebtedness1647
obligedness1656
fealty1867
on1946
1946 R. Benedict Chrysanthemum & Sword (1947) v. 99 The word for ‘obligations’ which covers a person's indebtedness from greatest to least is on... On is in all its uses a load, an indebtedness, a burden, which one carries as best one may.
1964 I. Fleming You only live Twice iv. 56 He's acquired an ON with regard to me. That's an obligation—almost as important in the Japanese way of life as ‘face’. When you have an ON, you're not very happy until you've discharged it honourably.
1991 Lang. in Society 20 364 Action with respect to deity as a benevolent superordinate gets us at once into the theory of on.
2000 T. Clancy Bear & Dragon vi. 102 The sense of on, the duty owed to his native land, far over and above that he pretended to owe to his parent culture.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

onv.

Brit. /ɒn/, U.S. /ɔn/, /ɑn/
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: on adv.
Etymology: < on adv.
†1. intransitive. U.S. regional. To go on; to move forward. Cf. on adv. 4b. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)]
wadeOE
agoOE
forthganga1000
forthgoOE
syeOE
kenc1275
to-stepc1275
vaunce1303
forthnima1325
passc1330
throc1330
forthpass1382
to pass forthc1384
to carry forthc1390
proceedc1392
to go alongc1400
to be forthwardc1430
get) groundc1436
to set onc1450
avauntc1460
pretend1481
to make way1490
advance?1507
to get forward1523
promove1570
to rid ground (also space)1572
to rid (the) way1581
progressa1586
to gather grounda1593
to make forth1594
to make on1597
to work up1603
perge1607
to work one's (also its) way1609
to pass on1611
to gain ground1625
to make its way1645
vadea1660
propagate1700
to gain one's way1777
further1789
to pull up1829
on1840
to make (up) ground1921
1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer II. ii. x. 27 I'll see the eend of it. So with that, I ups and ons.
1845 H. W. Herbert Warwick Woodlands 117 They'd overhauled him once and again, and tackled him, but there was only four on them, and so he beat them off like every time, and onned again.
2. intransitive. to on with: to place or put on. Cf. on adv. 2b. Now Scottish and English regional (northern).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)]
beginc1000
onginOE
aginOE
ginc1175
to go tillc1175
to take onc1175
comsea1225
fanga1225
to go toc1275
i-ginc1275
commencec1320
to get (also get down, go, go adown, set, set down) to workc1400
to lay to one's hand(sc1405
to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410
to set toc1425
standa1450
to make to1563
to fall to it1570
to start out1574
to fall to1577
to run upon ——1581
to break off1591
start1607
to set in1608
to set to one's hands1611
to put toa1616
to fall ona1625
in1633
to fall aboard1642
auspicatea1670
to set out1693
to enter (into) the fray1698
open1708
to start in1737
inchoate1767
to set off1774
go1780
start1785
to on with1843
to kick off1857
to start in on1859
to steam up1860
to push off1909
to cut loose1923
to get (also put) the show on the road1941
to get one's arse in gear1948
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > put on > put on as clothing
clothea1300
invest1596
superindue1678
to on with1843
1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. xix. 170 She bethought as how she'd render off her fat; and so she ons with the grate pot.
1892 P. H. Emerson Son of Fens 39 I on with the pan and fried the fish.
1899 E. W. Prevost Dickinson's Gloss. Words & Phrases Cumberland (new ed.) 231/2 Ah on's wi' my cwoat an' off teh wark.
1960 Forfar Dispatch 28 Jan. 8/5 I ons w'ee porridge pot.
3. transitive. Manx English. To further (a task or undertaking).
ΚΠ
1913 C. R. Shimmin Illiam Kodhere's Will iv. 48 I'm not one that is going to fight against Providence. We can't on these things.
1924 A. W. Moore Vocab. Anglo-Manx Dial. 130 I couldn't on it, i.e. I could not.
1934 W. W. Gill Manx Dial. 85 I'll borrow Crowe's raeper, to see can we on the job a bit.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

onadv.adj.n.1

Brit. /ɒn/, U.S. /ɔn/, /ɑn/
Forms: Old English– on, early Middle English onn ( Ormulum), Middle English one, Middle English onne, Middle English–1500s an; Scottish pre-1700 one, pre-1700 onn, pre-1700 onne, pre-1700 1700s– on.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: on prep.
Etymology: < on prep.In Old English frequently used as a separable particle; in English often representing an elliptical use of the preposition. In Older Scots commonly prefixed to verbal nouns and agent nouns (e.g. onbiggar , onbigging , etc.), and less frequently, as a separable particle (in e.g. onput , ontake , onwait ). For idiomatic use of on with verbs, see carry v., catch v., come v., get v., go v., hold v., keep v., look v., put v., send v.1, take v., etc.
A. adv.
1.
a. Into the position of being supported by the upper surface of something. Cf. sense A. 9b.spec. in the sense ‘on a fire or stove to boil or cook’, and hence ‘into an activated state’, merging with sense A. 11a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > [adverb]
oneOE
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvii. 125 Se [þe] wunde lacnigean wille giote win on.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 1070 Ealle þa utlaga..woldon into þam mynstre, & þa munecas wiðstoden þæt hi na mihton incumen, þa lægdon hi fyr on, & forbærndon ealle þa munece huses.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 158 Brutus sette on his flo; he wende to sceoten þat hea der.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1624 Sette he up ðat ston for muniging, And get on olige for tokning.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 8038 (MED) Here foure sonys..leyd on hond and helde þe bere.
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Passioun in Poems (1998) I. 36 Quhill to the rude thay gart him rax, Syn tyit him on with greit irne takkis.
a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) v. 433 A Romane..gat on that senghe That Bretownys bare.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 85 To-morne, on the morning, quhen thow sall on leip, Pryse at the parting, how that thow dois.
1665 C. Cotton Scarronnides 148 At last the place she set her feet on, Where Dido hung to dry, or sweeten.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1645 (1955) II. 386 Dashing the..whip-cord over their shoulders as hard as they could lay it on.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon 57 She sets the Kettle on, (Like burnish'd Gold the little Seether shone).
1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XV lxv. 37 They also set a glazed Westphalian ham on.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xvii. 31 Hurrah! Polly put the ket-tle on, we'll all have tea.
1891 Labour Commission Gloss. at Scrap-iron When the bottom of a puddling furnace requires renewing, malleable scrap-iron is put in and burned up till the bottom is covered with a coating of silica. This operation is termed ‘putting scraps on’.
1974 M. Ingate Sound of Weir xvii. 150 I'd better be getting the dinner on. We've only got sausages.
b. Into the position of being supported by some means of conveyance. Cf. sense A. 9a. Also with ellipsis of verb.
ΚΠ
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 365 You ride so near the Rumple, you'll let none get on behind.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey II. iii. viii. 110 He came forward with a smile on his face to receive an individual..who stepped on with great, though gracious dignity.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table viii. 204 Many people can ride on horseback who find it hard to get on and to get off without assistance.
1913 J. Muir Story of my Boyhood viii. 268 ‘He wants to see the engine running. Let him on’... He told me to jump on.
1925 G. Patullo in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1924 143 They boarded a first-class car. In a few minutes the train stopped at Phalerum and three gobs got on.
1992 Atlantic Mar. 110/2 The buses..bring you into close touch with the country..and casual travelers who climb on and off..at crossroads and waysides.
2.
a. Into the position of being attached to or covering a surface; esp. (of clothing) so as to cover (part of) the body. Cf sense A. 6.In early use frequently with do: cf. to do on at do v. Phrasal verbs 2; now usually with verbs of putting, placing, etc.Occasionally with ellipsis of verb of motion after an auxiliary (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > [adverb] > into position of being attached
oneOE
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. ii. 32 Haran geallan do wearmne on.
OE Fortunes of Men 87 Sum sceal wildne fugel wloncne atemian, heafoc on honda;..deþ he wyrplas on.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 852 Brutus hehte his beornes don on heora burnan.
1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 56 (MED) Ye den xal warn..breyeren..for to takyn on here hodis yt ben ordeyned of lyuere..and comen to and offere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20214 A neu smock scho did hiron [v.r. on she dude].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10419 (MED) Sco tok on hir cleþing o care [a1400 Trin. Cambr. Cloþes of deol she dud on þore].
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 226 (MED) He did on his maister clothyng, & putt on his ryng on hys fynger.
a1500 (a1400) Ipomedon (Chetham) (1889) 6573 (MED) He on his armore caste.
?c1500 Mary Magdalene (Digby) 1183 On xall my westment and myn aray.
1541 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1908) VIII. 21 For..silk to sew one the pasmentis.
1590 T. Lodge Rosalynde: Euphues Golden Legacie (Cassell) 93 And with that she slipped on her petticoat.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. ii. 68 Get on your Night-Gowne. View more context for this quotation
1656 T. Blount Glossographia sig. Qq2/1 An inhabitant of Bruxiels had his nose cut off in a cumbate, and a new one of another mans flesh set on in its sted.
1676 R. Wiseman Severall Chirurg. Treat. i. xviii. 85 The Trowze being made, I saw it laced on... The lower part of the Trowze was tacked to a Cotton Stocking he put on that Leg.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 311. ¶5 He immediately drew on his Boots.
1740 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) II. 113 Her jumps will go next Sunday, and I daresay she'll put them on.
1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 44 To make..delays, by frequent tryings on, and alterations of our hero's clothes.
1814 Way to win Her v. iii, in New Brit. Theatre II. 466 Mother is tying on her goloshoes.
1852 A. De Morgan Let. 27 Sept. in R. P. Graves Life Sir W. R. Hamilton (1889) III. 415 Nothing but two sheets of thin pasteboard..with three bits of book~covering cloth..pasted on, so as to open out wedgewise.
1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. i. vi. 58 A coat was laid on and polished; then another coat for increased blackness; and lastly a third.
1929 E. Bowen Last September xii. 142 Marda laughed and began screwing on the lids of her little pots.
1964 J. Mitchell White Father iv. 84 He dried, shivering, and pulled on his clothes.
1992 J. Torrington Swing Hammer Swing! vi. 51 Nora planked my shoes tae stop me from hitting the bookies. Had tae stick these on.
2001 I. McEwan Atonement 328 He rammed his hat on and hurried away.
b. With main verb implied. Usually with with (†mid) preceding a noun phrase (as object of the implied transitive verb). Cf. with prep. 9b and on v. 2.
†(a) In a declarative clause (usually with modal auxiliary). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 10540 Þer he alihte & his cnihtes alle and on mid heore burnen beornes sturne.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iii. 5242 Vp he stirte, & on his basenet..forþe anon he goth.
1590 Cobler of Caunterburie 3 Ile on with my night-cap and my spectacles.
1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley v. i I will home, On with my neatestrobes, perfume my beard, Eate cloues, Eringoes and drinke some aquauita.
1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd xvii. 174 I will on with my white Vailes, my wrought Gorgets, my gay Garments, my more pleasing Attire.
1753 S. Foote Englishman in Paris i. 20 I'll on with my Jemmys.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey II. iii. vi. 61 I'll doff my travelling cap, and on with the monk's cowl.
(b) As an imperative (frequently addressed to oneself). on with (something): put on, don.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > put on
to do oneOE
graitha1375
puta1382
to take on1389
to let falla1400
takea1400
to put on?a1425
endow1484
addressa1522
to get on1549
to draw on1565
don1567
to pull on1578
dight1590
sumpterc1595
to get into ——1600
on with1600
array1611
mount1785
to cast on1801
endoss1805
endue1814
ship1829
1600 T. Dekker Shomakers Holiday sig. E4v Mistresse smugge vp your lookes, on with your best apparell.
1613 H. Peacham Nuptiall Hymnes i, in Period of Mourning sig. E Leaue off those rimy Periwigs, And on with your more seemely haire.
a1627 T. Middleton Women beware Women ii. ii, in 2 New Playes (1657) 117 On with her chain of Pearl, her ruby Bracelets, Lay ready all her tricks, and Jiggam-bobs.
1679 J. Fletcher Monsieur Thomas iv. vi 401 On with my muffler.
1715 C. Bullock Slip iii All's sure and safe, on with your Vizzard, Sir.
1756 E. Ware Compleat & Humorous Acct. of All Remarkable Clubs & Soc. 228 Then on with your Night-Caps, and tie up your Legs, A Begging let's go for the Smelts and the Megs.
1800 C. Anstey Contentment 11 On with your plumed crests, and plates of brass.
1813 Cowley's Day in Turkey (new ed.) v. i. 306 Set it just here. Now on with its beautiful covering.
1893 F. E. Weatherly tr. R. Leoncavallo Pagliacci ii. 35 On with the motley, the paint and the powder, The people pay thee, and want their laugh, you know.
1992 J. Burchill Sex & Sensibility (1992) 243 Chin up, on with the Body Shop slap and make sure the cameras get your good side.
3. In the direction of or towards something specified or understood. Chiefly in phrasal verbs, as look on: see to look on 1a at look v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΚΠ
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) xxviii. 32 Syn ðine suna & ðine dohtra geseald oðrum folce, ðær ðu on locige [L. videntibus oculis tuis].
4.
a. Onward or forward in space, time, or condition. Frequently in set phrasal verbs (esp. expressing motion), as bring on (see to bring on 1 at bring v. Phrasal verbs 1), follow on (see to follow on at follow v. Phrasal verbs 1), etc. Sometimes repeated for emphasis, as on and on (but see also sense A. 5b).
ΚΠ
OE Andreas (1932) 1334 Hie wæron reowe, ræsdon on sona gifrum grapum.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7717 He wollde..Vss..brinngenn onn. To follȝhenn þeȝȝre bisne.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1751 He toc and wente and folwede on, And ðhogt in mod iacob to slon.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 5987 (MED) Wend on þann, siþen ȝe wil ga.
a1400 Siege Jerusalem (Laud) (1932) 52 (MED) Nathan..An heye setteþ þe sayl ouer þe wode water, & with a dromound on þe deep drof on faste.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. clv. 136 Or half a yere be go an.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. vi. 18 The burn on spait..dryvis on swyftly stokkis, treis and stanys.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) 7627 [He] Ane epistill send to king Carataic Rycht suddantlie one with ane messinger.
?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 375 And ay on be the brek of day.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. iii. liv. 124 They passe on through the cittie.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xxi. 256 From that day on, Centaurs and men are foes.
a1703 J. Pomfret Fortunate Complaint 44 He..pack-horse like, jogs on beneath his load.
1733 A. Pope Of Use of Riches 8 Corruption..Shall deluge all; and Av'rice creeping on, Spread like a low-born Mist, and blot the Sun.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. ii. vii. 255 Do they get on in the world?
1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 83/2 [The police officer] possesses the power..of ordering them to ‘move on’.
1881 R. C. Praed Policy & Passion II. 258 They would ride on and on through the many-vistaed forest.
1914 M. Sinclair Three Sisters xxii. 95 I saw you stampeding on in front of me.
1948 Time 5 July 44/1 Since atomic fuel would have over two million times as much energy as gasoline, a ‘nuclear-powered’ plane could fly on and on.
1988 S. Donald Prickly Heat in K. Harwood First Run (1989) vi. 35 The crowd get to their feet to roar him on.
2000 J. Cummings World Food: Thailand 15 The monk may offer a few words of blessing in return, then slowly and mindfully move on.
b. With verb of motion understood, usually after an auxiliary. Now archaic. Cf. on v. 2.
ΚΠ
a1450 York Plays (1885) 277 I will on stiffely in þis stounde Vnto ser Pilate wiffe pertely and putte me in prese.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 297 Sche on vpon a suift horse, and sa chaipet.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. iv. 2 Or shall we on without Apologie. View more context for this quotation
?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 375 And ay on be the brek of day.
1627 R. Sanderson Serm. I. 284 Unless God kept him back, he must on.
1712 J. Warder True Amazons 100 Yet on they must.
1855 C. Kingsley Plays & Puritans 181 But no; he must on for honour's sake.
1901 Daily Chron. 15 Oct. 5/4 But the horses have had their breather, and we must on.
c. As an imperative: go on, advance. Frequently repeated for emphasis.
ΚΠ
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 1077 On, in Pluto name! & all ys owre!
1633 C. Aleyn Battailes Crescey & Poictiers (ed. 2) 42 But Alanson pretending that their course, Was hindred by them, cryes, on, on, my friends.
1739 H. Baker & J. Miller Blunderer III. iv. 99 On, on, Blunderbuss, you'll do your own Business effectually.
1796 M. G. Lewis Monk I. iii. 216 ‘On! on!’ replied I; ‘I hear the trampling of horses coming from the town.’
1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. xxxiii. 366 Charge, Chester, charge! On, Stanley, on!
1865 A. L. Gordon Visual Smoke in Poems iv On! on! to the cannon's mouth they stride, With never a swerve nor a shy.
1904 J. Parkinson Lays Love & War 44 Shout the tekbir loud and long: On! swords of Islam.
1989 Coastweek (Mombasa) 21 July 14/5 Once the correct route is found shouts of ‘on on’ are made and everybody then follow this route.
d. Gone onward or ahead; further forward or in advance (in space, time, or condition). Now frequently with preceding noun phrase expressing the distance covered, time elapsed, etc.later on: see later adv. early on: see early adv. Phrases 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adverb]
beforeeOE
aforeOE
toforec1330
forthwitha1400
forwitha1400
forouth1487
ahead1578
foremostly1607
on1792
forward1838
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > [adverb] > further on or advanced (in time)
onwardc1425
on1872
1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 370 O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie.
1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf ix*, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 201 I wad..be on and awa' to Mucklestane wi' the first skreigh o' morning.
1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxi. 301 It was now well on in the afternoon.
1886 E. E. Bowen Harrow Songs 1 Forty years on, when afar and asunder Parted are those who are singing today.
1936 H. Belloc Battle Ground xi. 226 That deep trench wherein Jordan runs..to the Dead Sea, a week's long journey on.
1964 E. Bowen Little Girls i. i. 13 Roses were on enough into their second blooming to be squandering petals over cushions of pansies.
1989 M. Norman These Good Men vi. 177 From that moment on, doggone it if I didn't see a motivation in Joey I had never seen before.
2001 Kenyon Rev. & Stand Spring 156 Our discovery of neutron stars..remains a fascinating and active field more than thirty years on.
e. slang. Under the influence of drink or (originally U.S.) drugs. Cf. sense A. 9c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [adverb] > on the way to being drunk
on1802
undera1936
1802 Naval Chron. 7 273 The Amelia's men being a little on, could not bear being thwarted.
1871 Austral. Town & Country Jrnl. (Sydney) 18 Feb. 20/1 Perks, poor fellow, was well—yes, a trifle ‘on’.
1894 W. H. Wilkins & H. Vivian Green Bay Tree I. 99 Pimlico, who was now slightly ‘on’..was shouted down.
1912 F. M. Hueffer Panel ii. ii. 197 ‘And look here, you say I was drunk...’ ‘Well, Olympia,’ the major said... ‘I was, of course, a little bit on, but I'm glad you see that the circumstances demanded it in your honour.’
1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions i. v. 197 She's high right now, can't you see it? She's been on for three days.
1970 K. E. C. Graves Third Chance 27 I won't serve anyone who's getting a bit on.
f. Cricket. Ahead of the opposing side; in the lead by a specified number of runs.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > umpiring and scoring > [adverb] > in advance of other side
on1836
1836 New Sporting Mag. Oct. 360 When Mr. Morrice, their last wicket, went in, Harrow was eight runs on.
1884 James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Ann. ii. ii. 61 Notts were 392 on with four wickets still to fall.
1903 A. C. MacLaren in H. G. Hutchinson Cricket ix. 283 At the drawing of stumps our opponents had four wickets still to fall, and were 30 runs on.
g. Betting. Of odds: in favour of a win for a particular horse, etc. Cf. against prep. 2f.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > [adverb] > in favour
on1901
1901 Daily Chron. 20 July 9/1 The triple-crown winner stood a sound 6 to 4 on chance.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvi. [Eumaeus] 602 Bettings 5 to 4 on Zinfandel, 20 to 1 Throwaway (off).
1964 A. Wykes Gambling viii. 197 If the odds are 2 to 1 on and you bet $2, your total payout would be $3—your $2 stake money plus your $1 win.
1979 M. Seth-Smith & R. Mortimer Derby 200 iii. 97 His price was the unrewarding one of 7-2 on.
5.
a. With onward movement or action; continuously. Chiefly forming phrasal verbs with the sense ‘to continue to do’ the action being specified by the verb, as to speak on, hold on, work on, wait on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adverb]
forthOE
onOE
society > occupation and work > working > [verb (transitive)] > be occupied with
work onOE
servec1330
lie1546
exercisea1616
travel1682
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]
weenOE
weenc1000
thinklOE
lookc1225
hopec1330
trusta1387
wait onc1390
supposea1393
to wait after ——1393
to look after ——c1400
thinkc1480
attend1483
suppone1490
expect1535
to expect for1538
aspect1548
respect1549
look1560
ween1589
attend1591
propose1594
await1608
to presume on, upon, or of1608
to look forwards1637
prospect1652
to look for ——a1677
augur1678
anticipate1749
to look to ——1782
spect1839
contemplate1841–8
to look forward1848
eye1979
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (reflexive)]
were993
keepc1175
skere1390
wait onc1390
shroud14..
mantlec1475
fend1865
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > lie in wait for
keepc1000
waitc1200
aspya1250
awaita1250
wait onc1390
to wait on ——1390
forestall1413
belay1470
to lay fora1513
waylay1513
forelay1548
ambush1555
counterwait1562
to lie for1611
set1670
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 456 Se biscop..nyste butan hi sungon þone lofsang forð on.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11260 Ȝiff þu takesst onn att an. & tellesst forþ..Þa riseþþ upp þin tale anan.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 433 (MED) He heold on to herien his heaðene maumez.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 15784 Ȝe habbeoð..iherd..huhe wulle taken on & Oswi..al fordon.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2003 (MED) ‘Nay, certes,’ seide þemperour, ‘þer-fore, seie on sone.’
c1390 G. Chaucer Cook's Tale 4353 Now telle on, gentil Roger, by thy name.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 356 (MED) In savynge of oure lawys now telle on.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. K.iii With right good wyll, say on: lo, I thee here.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Sept. 55 Now say on Diggon.
1665 R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales Chaucer 148 Go on with your Tale.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year In some places no account at all was kept [of the number of deaths], but they worked on, the clerks and the sextons..not knowing what number they carried.
a1797 E. Burke Fourth Let. Peace Regicide Directory France in Writings & Speeches (1991) IX. 60 Speculate on, good my Lord!
1820 G. Flagg Let. 6 Oct. in Flagg Corr. (1986) 25 If you should wish to hear some large stories about the western Country read on.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) IV. xx. 235 The regent waited on, and the event came.
1891 D. Russell Secret of River I. xiii. 289 He sent me money regular, to keep on the house.
1999 P. Anderson Operation Luna xi. 90 We snatched what we'd brownbagged while we worked on.
2002 Time Out 2 Jan. 33/2 If you've had your fill of shopping, do not read on.
b. on and on: at length; again and again, continually, eternally; now frequently depreciatively, esp. with verbs indicating speech: interminably, incessantly.
ΚΠ
1631 W. Watts tr. St. Augustine Confessions iv. xv. 197 But went nuddling on and on towards those fancies which have no being.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 42 God does as truly abide, after the way of his everlasting nowness, as other things do after the guise of their timesom running on and on, without being himself timesom, like them.
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy (ed. 2) IX. x. 40 The story went on—and on—it had episodes in it—it came back, and went on—and on again; there was no end of it.
1849 H. D. Thoreau Week Concord & Merrimack Rivers 132 Think you that sitting hens are troubled with ennui these long summer days, sitting on and on in the crevice of a hay-loft, without active employment?
1883 T. Hardy in Longman's Mag. Mar. 576 The other man, nothing loth, raised the mug to his lips, and drank on, and on, and on.
1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime x. 145 I told him it would upset me but he went on and on.
1989 Wall St. Jrnl. 22 Sept. a12/5 Under GATT procedures the controversies drag on and on.
2001 Daily Tel. 27 Sept. 21/3 Every day consumers face hidden costs on roaming and text messsages, lack of choice.., SIM locking—the list goes on and on.
c. colloquial. to be on about: to keep talking about, to harp on, to speak or write about (a subject). to be on at (also to be on to): to nag or berate (a person). to keep on: to persist in speaking or questioning, to nag at a person. to go on about: see to go on 5b at go v. Phrasal verbs 1. to go on at: see to go on 5b at go v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > irritate [verb (transitive)]
gremec893
grillc897
teenOE
mispay?c1225
agrillec1275
oftenec1275
tarya1300
tarc1300
atenec1320
enchafec1374
to-tarc1384
stingc1386
chafe?a1400
pokec1400
irec1420
ertc1440
rehete1447
nettlec1450
bog1546
tickle1548
touch1581
urge1593
aggravate1598
irritate1598
dishumour1600
to wind up1602
to pick at ——1603
outhumour1607
vex1625
bloody1633
efferate1653
rankle1659
spleen1689
splenetize1700
rile1724
roil1742
to put out1796
to touch (also get, catch, etc.) (a person) on the raw1823
roughen1837
acerbate1845
to stroke against the hair, the wrong way (of the hair)1846
nag1849
to rub (a person, etc.) up the wrong way1859
frump1862
rattle1865
to set up any one's bristles1873
urticate1873
needle1874
draw1876
to rough up1877
to stick pins into1879
to get on ——1880
to make (someone) tiredc1883
razoo1890
to get under a person's skin1896
to get a person's goat1905
to be on at1907
to get a person's nanny1909
cag1919
to get a person's nanny-goat1928
cagmag1932
peeve1934
tick-off1934
to get on a person's tits1945
to piss off1946
bug1947
to get up a person's nose1951
tee1955
bum1970
tick1975
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > transformation > expressing relation in mapping [preposition]
to be on about1907
into1949
the mind > language > speech > repetition > repeat [verb (intransitive)] > dwell on something
to harp upon, on (of), a, one, the same (etc.) string?1531
to sing the same (or one) song1551
chant1572
ding1582
to go on1863
to keep on1907
riff1952
the mind > language > speech > repetition > repeat [verb (transitive)] > dwell upon or harp on about
to be on about1907
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > transformation > [adjective] > having specific correspondence > of mapping into or onto
to be on about1907
on to1942
into1949
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > complain about [verb (transitive)] > irritate with
nag1849
to be on at1907
cagmag1932
niggle1997
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > ill nature in woman or shrewishness > behave like shrew [verb (transitive)] > nag or scold (a person)
to be on at1907
1907 N.E.D. at Ply v.2 To keep on at (a person) with questions, petitions, arguments, etc.
a1909 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree (1912) ii. ii. 72 And there's this here man never letting us have a bit o' peace; but keeping on about being good and upright till 'tis carried to such a pitch as I never see the like afore nor since!
1909 Westm. Gaz. 22 Sept. 8/2 Yesterday morning complainant was ‘on’ to him again about his religion.
1936 R. Lehmann Weather in Streets viii. 348 Marda's always asking me why I don't get a divorce... Last year she was always on about it.
1966 Listener 22 Dec. 939/1 A reflection that brings us back to atmosphere and art forms, which I was on about some weeks ago.
1980 B. Pym Few Green Leaves (1981) xxiv. 176 Miss Lee had been on at him to get in touch with the people who were supposed to be looking after it.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze vii. 70 You keep on at me about this any longer and it's no.
6. In the position of being attached to or covering a surface, esp. the body, as clothing, hair, etc.The use in quot. 1645 is assigned by N.E.D. to sense A. 9b, but this appears to have arisen later. It has also been interpreted as ‘performing on the stage’ (cf. quot. 1793 at sense A. 10a), which may have been Milton's intention, though this specific meaning is not attested so early.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > attachment > [adverb]
on?a1200
toc1425
hereto1559
thereat1566
?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Harl. 6258B) cxxii. 105 Cnuca þa wurt mid smerewe..leȝe to þare wunde, yt heo & feormed, ȝif þar waet hories on byð.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 778 He hefde brunie on.
c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 618 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 237 (MED) None oþur cloþes nadde he on.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 1635 (MED) Þe he hadde on his gode wede, Þe squier brouȝte him a good stede.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1187 Largesse hadde on a robe fresh.
c1480 (a1400) St. Juliana 12 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 424 He gert dispoile hir..of al þe clathis scho one had.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 191 Thei..hadde on hattes of stile.
1560 Let. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1598) I. 307 If you send 100 of them [sc. seal skins] tawed with the haire on, they will bee solde, or else not.
1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome ii. f. 26 To weare a linnen Ephod on.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iv. ii. 125 O let me thinke on Hastings and be gone To Brecnock while my fearefull head is on. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. i. 24 You crow Cock, with your combe on . View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 36 Then to the well-trod stage anon, If Jonsons learned Sock be on.
1666 S. Pepys Diary 12 Nov. (1972) VII. 367 His Skeleton [is here seen] with the flesh on; but all tough and dry like a spongy dry leather, or touchwood all upon his bones.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 129. ¶9 He had a clean Shirt on.
1713 J. Addison Guardian No. 112 When my Wings are on, [I] can go above a hundred Yards at a Hop, Step and Jump.
1747 Ld. Malmesbury Lett. (1860) i. 68 The Prince had on a crimson damask, laced with silver, very rich and handsome.
1813 T. Dibdin Metrical Hist. Eng. II. xii. 198 (note) He received the donors with his hat on, while seated under the half-tester of a wretched bed.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam vi. 7 A riband or a rose; For he will see them on to-night.
1887 ‘M. Wetheral’ Two North-country Maids xxv. 174 Her pretty buff cotton gown, which was clean on that morning.
1902 W. S. Maugham Mrs. Craddock v. 46 Your idea of a happy life is always to do the disagreeable thing; mine is to gather the roses—with the gloves on, so that the thorns should not prick me.
1936 R. Lehmann Weather in Streets ii. 173 My red silk dressing-gown on, tied tightly.
1973 J. Wilson Truth or Dare ix. 106 She'd change the sheets of course although they were clean on yesterday.
2001 C. Cooke Bostons 158 He walked right up to the lake as if he planned to walk right into the water with his twills and his wool shirt on.
7. With verbs of attacking, hitting, etc., indicating the commencement of an assault, etc. Now only in to lay on: see to lay on 2 at lay v.1 Phrasal verbs.
ΚΠ
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 452 (MED) [Juliana] bigon to beaten þen belial of helle..& heo leide on se luðerliche þet wa wes him o liue.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 970 Ȝit he fauȝt þere he stod & leide on as he were wod.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 3 Kings xvi. 10 Þanne zamry, fallynge on, smot & sloowȝ hym þe seuene & twentiþe ȝeer of Asa, kyng of Jude.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 2300 (MED) Wy, þresch on, þou þro mon, þou þretez to longe.
a1475 (?a1350) Seege Troye (Harl.) (1927) 1065q (MED) They leydon on with Axis of stele And faught togeder hardy an wele.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 113 Thay set stoutlie onn, doubteng na danger.
8. Towards or approaching in space, time, or condition. Chiefly in set phrasal verbs, as come on (see to come on 1a(a) at come v. Phrasal verbs 1, to come on 1b at Phrasal verbs 1), draw on (see to draw on 1 at draw v. Phrasal verbs 1), etc.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xxi. 15 Fro the face of the swerd stondende on [L. gladii imminentis].
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiv. 865 (MED) The Nyht drowgh On ful faste.
?1520 Hendred's Pylgrymage of Man Kynd xvi. l. 8 And as I tell you mankynde is than. Of yeres full .iiij. score and tenne Febylytie man than faste cometh on. He waxeth croked vnneth go he canne.
1568 T. Drant tr. Gregory of Nazianzus Epigr. & Sentences sig. Eiiiv So soden coursinge cares come on, With suche posthast they speade.
1656 R. Fletcher Poems in Ex Otio Negotium 215 The Thracian Dranst which with joy interr Their Dead,..But mourn still at their birth, to think upon Those choaking cares of earth are coming on.
1684 A. Behn Poems Several Occasions 81 Was Summer then so long a coming on, That you must make an Artificial one?
1704 London Gaz. No. 4054/1 The great use of their Gallies in towing on or off their great Ships.
1821 M. Graham Jrnl. 2 Dec. in Captain's Wife (1993) 141 Here, in a dining-room of Nature's own making..we eat and remain until the evening calm comes on.
1882 Harper's Mag. Mar. 538/2 We meet flat-boats coming on, piled up with bales of hay and wood.
1894 Ld. Wolseley Life Marlborough II. lxv. 195 How dreadful are the words ‘Go on!’ to the man who longs to mingle in the fray, and shout ‘Come on!’ instead.
1940 K. Dos Passos Let. 6 Dec. in G. Murphy et al. Lett. from Lost Generation (1991) 258 [We] found ourselves as dusk drew on wallowing in the mire on all fours.
1987 G. Carter & J. Hough Dream Season i. 2 I think of all the kids in all the alleys as spring comes on.
1998 K. Desai Hullabaloo in Guava Orchard (1999) xxv. 203 He felt the muscle in him relax, and as time drew on he felt strangely calm.
2001 Independent 26 May ii. 5/3 In the end, before either of us came on, the cyclist settled for a V sign and finger contest, then rode away to mow down someone else.
9. In the position of being in contact with and supported by the upper surface of something.
a. With reference to a means of conveyance. Cf. on prep. 1d.
ΚΠ
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) viii. l. 4796 His hors til hym þai broucht in hi: Þai walde he had beyn on lichtly.
1850 ‘H. Hieover’ Pract. Horsemanship ii. 13 The one [mode] is, by putting him on ass, pony, galloway, and horse, each in succession, as a boy, and allowing him to tumble about till he learns to stick on.
1905 E. M. Forster Where Angels fear to Tread viii. 271 All the luggage was on, and still Harriet had not appeared.
1993 Super Bike Jan. 50/2 I turned hard left to scrub speed and just about stayed on.
b. In general uses.spec. with the sense ‘on a fire or stove’, and hence (merging with sense A. 11b) ‘subject to the operation of a cooking appliance’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > [adverb] > cooking
onc1825
c1825 J. Walker Factory Lad I. iii. 8 Interior of Allen's House—Fire place, with saucepan on.
1843 C. Mathews Var. Writings 75 To be riding about like a lobster in a stew-pan with the lid on, in that horrid box of Tishy Drudge's.
1851 W. Flagg Let. 8 June in Flagg Corr. (1986) 155 We have not yet covered our Cribs but the rafters are on.
1883 W. Aitken Lays of Line 135 The fire's black oot, and the parrich no on.
1905 B. Ward Catholic London xiii. 192 The work was begun in the spring of 1817, and by the following winter the roof was on.
1955 E. Coxhead Figure in Mist ii. 69 ‘I left the potatoes on,’ she muttered, and fled into the house.
1960 B. Crump Good Keen Man 76 When all the boards were on we covered the whole structure with malthoid and tacked it into place.
2000 A. Hussein Émigré Journeys iv. 38 A little earthen cup half-full of daal with a lid on.
c. U.S. slang. to be on: to be addicted to, or regularly taking, a drug or drugs. Cf. on prep. 12f. Cf. sense A. 4e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > effects of drugs > be under influence of drugs [verb (intransitive)]
to have a heat on1912
buzz1927
to be on1938
to string out1967
tweak1981
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > drug addiction or craving > be addicted to drugs [verb (intransitive)]
to be on1938
1938 Amer. Speech 13 188/2 To be on, to be addicted or actively indulging the [drugs] habit.
1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues xiv. 137 When I was on, I was on and nobody gave me any trouble. No cops, no treasury agents, nobody. I got into trouble when I tried to get off.
10.
a. Of a person: engaged in some function or course of action; performing on the stage or sports field; on duty; listed as being thus engaged.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [adverb]
ona1542
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) lxxxvii. 20 Now thus, now than, Now of, now an, Vncertyn as the dyse.
1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 203 We are wavering and loose, off and on, and no hold to be taken of us.
1793 J. Beresford in W. Roberts Looker-on No. 51. 408 Then to the Playhouses anon, If Quick or Bannister be on.
1823 L. L. Cameron Cleanliness next to Godliness 3 ‘I try to keep things tolerably decent, but it's a hard matter..I am always on’, replied Alice.
1864 S. M. Weld Diary 3 Nov. in War Diary & Lett. (1912) viii. 385 Sergeant White was on as officer of the day.
1883 G. R. Sims Lifeboat 12 She was on at the Lane last winter—She played in the pantomime.
1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 141 Supposing a slow bowler has been ‘on’ for some time.
1936 N. Streatfeild Ballet Shoes xvi. 253 Think how awful to come to the theatre every night wondering if you'd have to go on.
1976 Sc. Daily Express 27 Dec. 12/6 With Miller on for Parlane, Rangers continued to push forward.
1989 A. Lorenz Fighting Chance iii. 85 A weekender did not have a regular weekday for his eight-hour shift. Instead, his weekday on changed every week.
2018 https://select.timeslive.co.za (S. Afr.) 4 May No one has to contribute or account for themselves or ever be ‘on’. Nothing is asked of anyone but the simple, non-instrumental pleasure of their companionship.
b. colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). Behaving as if on stage or on camera, behaving as if giving a performance; performing or functioning at one's best; on excellent form.This may occasionally represent, esp. in sporting contexts, a shortening of on form: cf. form n. 16a and on-form adj. at on- prefix 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > carrying out > [adverb] > performing well
on1948
1948 A. Gardner in P. Martin Hollywood without Make-up 41 I tried hard to make the marriage work... I was Mickey's greatest audience. He was ‘on’ all the time.
1969 Listener 8 May 651/2 Form is elusive. If a footballer is ‘on’, and the ball is running for him, there is the anxiety that this may not last.
1976 in Webster's Sports Dict. 289/1 He was on and couldn't miss a shot.
1995 News Jrnl. (Wilmington, Delaware) 9 Aug. d3/3 Smith is one of those people who are perpetually ‘on’. Even she describes herself as having a ‘personality like the Energizer bunny’.
11.
a. Into action or operation; so as to function; so as to be activated or brought about, esp. in bring on: see to bring on 2a at bring v. Phrasal verbs 1.come on: see to come on 2 at come v. Phrasal verbs 1. fang on: see fang v.1 5b. put on: see to put on 2c at put v. Phrasal verbs 1, to put on 7d at put v. Phrasal verbs 1. take on: see to take on 1 at take v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > [adverb]
outa1387
on1572
on (a) float1749
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 107 Dame,..kendill on ane fire.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 236 Quha can hir quyte sic ane mater on bring.
1629 in D. Forbes & C. Innes Acct. Familie Innes (1864) 218 The parliment goes one heir the tantie off this monthe.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 233 Converse with Adam..and such discourse bring on, As may advise him of his happie state. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dennis Plot & no Plot Advt. to Rdr. The Scenes..gradually advance that Action, and bring on the Catastrophe.
1753 J. Warton Eclogues & Georgics of Virgil I. viii. 134 Bright Lucifer arise! bring on the day.
1781 G. Cockings Amer. War vi. 166 (note) Gen. Clinton..pushed the army forward to relieve Verplanks, and recover Stoney Point, and bring on a general action.
1817 W. Combe Dance of Life (Prologue) 5 Through childhood's fair, unconscious hour, To the first dawnings of the power, When Reason beams, with genial ray, To bring on intellectual day.
1873 A. Anderson Song of Labour 167 Her faither declares That this same trick o' hers 'ill bring on his grey hairs.
1892 Chambers's Jrnl. 4 June 367/1 We turned our lanterns full on.
1902 W. S. Maugham Mrs. Craddock vii. 68 The feelings of the audience having been sufficiently harrowed, the comic relief was turned on. The funny man made jokes.
1932 E. Bowen To North xiii. 137 Emmeline strolled off into the bathroom and turned her bath on.
2001 Science 2 Nov. 983/1 Both learning and drug exposure..initiate cascades of molecular signals that turn on genes, and change behavior.
b. In action or operation; taking place, in progress; functioning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [adverb]
on1830
up1838
the world > action or operation > [adverb] > in action or operation
aboutc1325
afoot?1585
abroach1611
on1830
a1616 W. Shakespeare King Lear (1623) ii. ii. 342 So will you wish on me, when the rash moode is on.]
1830 Examiner 76/1 Several commissions being ‘on’ at the same time.
1873 W. Black Princess of Thule ii. 20 There was a considerable sea on.
1902 N.E.D. at On adv. Is the gas on? The water was not on.
1929 F. N. Hart Hide in Dark i. 27 It's despicable to tell a murder story with the lights on.
1973 ‘E. McBain’ Hail to Chief iv. 55 The television set was on, but the volume control was apparently broken.
1988 Sci. Amer Jan. 41/3 If the cell was ‘on’, the polarization of the light was such that the polarizing film reflected the light.
c. Of an event or action: arranged; going to happen or to be carried through to completion; of a film, show, etc.: intended to be shown, performed, etc. to have nothing on: to have no engagements, business, etc.
ΚΠ
1841 E. C. Gaskell Let. 23 Dec. (1966) 46 Yesterday this plan seemed quite given up—today..it's on again—if all goes on well.
1908 R. W. Chambers Firing Line iv. 46 If you and Virginia have nothing better on I'll dine with you tonight.
1938 D. Runyon Furthermore vii. 129 I have nothing on of importance at the moment.
1982 J. Barnes Before She met Me v. 77 I've seen..one of those films I go to three times this week... I buy all those papers which tell you what's on.
2001 FHM Feb. 65/3 They remain glued to the box even when there's nothing on except pro-celebrity chess.
d. Australian colloquial. it's on (for young and old): used to describe (the commencement of) a battle, brawl, riotous party, free-for-all, etc.
ΚΠ
1945 ‘Master-Sarg’ Yank discovers Austral. 17 ‘Its on’ means that a battle or something else has started.
1955 J. Morrison Black Cargo 77 A day come when some of our blokes in Sydney just put their coats on and walked off the job. It was on then for young and old.
1971 D. Martin Hughie (1972) xi. 106 He almost forgot about it until the evening of Sunday when the party was due and when, in Harry's words, it was on for young and old.
1984 Sunday Independent (Perth, Austral.) 19 Feb. 63 As always seems to happen someone in the lineup just ‘can't wait’ and takes off before everyone else..and then it's on for young and old.
12.
a. Originally Nautical. With preceding noun, as stern on, broadside on, face on, etc.: with the broadside, stern, etc., directed towards something, esp. the point of contact. Cf. end n. 20a(a), head-on adv., side-on adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > opposite position > [adverb] > facing
counter1615
on1789
frontingly1859
1789 T. Clements Jrnl. 24 Dec. in Last Voy. Guardian (1990) 40 The ship was going almost stern on, at the rate of about six knotts an hour.
1800 A. Duncan Mariner's Chron. (1804) II. 82 I desired them not to come broadside-to, but stern-on.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xv. 136 We drifted down, broadside on, and went smash into the Lagoda.
1856 Leisure H. V. 332/1 He lost his hold, and fell face on into the water.
1884 Standard 19 May 4 The vessels struck one another stem on.
1919 C. P. Thompson Cocktails 250 It was Neill's plan to gain height and keep nose-on to the stunter's tail to lessen the chance of being spotted.
1969 Jrnl. Inst. Navigation 22 287 This does not always lead to a collision.., while if collision does occur one vessel is likely to be struck by the other almost broadside on.
1989 Times 9 Nov. 14/5 We might be looking at the system slightly more edge-on than face-on.
2000 J. B. Dwyer Wire The World vi. 85 As a heavy snow began falling, the ship swung around, broadside on.
b. Nautical. Directed towards something; in (a) line with. stand on: see to stand on 3 at stand v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > quality or fact of being in a line (with) > in (a) line with [preposition]
in direct ofa1500
on1804
the world > space > direction > [adverb] > to or towards some thing or place
uponc1475
up1513
down along1525
towards1590
on1804
downlong1863
againwards1876
to1889
1804 Ld. Nelson Apr. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) V. 520 The mark for being clear of the Malora North End, is the Guard-House on the Beach..on with the last hillock of the nearest ridge of mountains.
1874 F. G. D. Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vii. 222 She will be steered with sufficient accuracy if her gunwale..be kept ‘on with’ the outer ends of the oars of the leader.
1937 Life 16 Aug. 37/2 (caption) Your right foot presses on rudder pedal, swinging rudder and plane to the right. You see the horizon tilting up to right as you keep the nose dead ‘on’.
1973 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 7 July 11/2 Even when I provided a 12-bore with a stock of the right length she could not cope with its weight and the clays were out of range before the gun was ‘on’.
1990 T. Cunliffe Easy on Helm x. 80 If you approach at a similar angle to craft like your own, you won't go far wrong. Just remember to pick a transit behind the buoy and keep it ‘on’.
13. colloquial. In a state of agreement, understanding, willingness, availability, etc.
a. Having agreed to a bet, bargain, etc., on (something). Now esp. in you're on: the bet or bargain is agreed.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > [adverb] > having bet on
on1812
the mind > language > speech > agreement > it's agreed [phrase]
it's (or that's) a whack1860
you're on1933
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 23 They declared themselves off, a thing unknown in sporting, after they had been on.
1883 Standard 18 June 2/4 The scratching of Winchester has been a rare blow to those who were determined..to be ‘on’ early.
1929 J. Galsworthy Exiled i All these gentlemen are on [to the extent of] a pound with me both ways.
1933 Sun (Baltimore) 25 Apr. 18/7 ‘I'll bet you a lobster dinner and all the champagne we can drink, if legal, that the dam will be filled by February 1,’ said Mr. Smith... ‘You're on,’ said Mr. Crozier.
1961 J. Seymour Fat of Land i. 19 ‘I'll let you have the two cottages..for ten pounds a year.’ ‘You are on,’ I said.
1992 J. Torrington Swing Hammer Swing! xxi. 187 ‘We'll go halfers for the booze, right?’ ‘You're on,’ I said.
b. In favour or eager.
(a) to be on for: to be willing or eager to participate in (the activity named).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > be willing [verb (intransitive)] > be eager
tickle1542
to leap ata1616
to leap to be or do (something)a1616
to be on for1847
eager1860
1847 W. Carleton Valentine McClutchy xxviii. 444 And so good night to you, I'm—I'm on for a neat bit of business—that's all.
1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Real Charlotte III. xxxv. 32 ‘And are you still on for it?’ said Lambert...‘for if you are, now's your time.’
1947 N. Lindsay Halfway to Anywhere 181 Are you on for getting properly stonkered on beer?
1957 R. Lawler Summer of 17th Doll ii. i. 66 Real ear-basher he is, always on for a yap.
1995 GQ Jan. 60/2 Which of the following women would you have a one-night stand with if they were on for it?
2000 V. Routledge in J. Adams et al. Girls' Night In 401 She would make a perfect case study [for a beautician], being well on for a total transformation.
(b) to be on (usually in first person singular): to be in favour; to be willing to participate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > be inclined [verb (intransitive)]
inclinea1413
willc1443
please?1467
regard?1542
fantasy1548
depend1586
to be bent1626
point1638
bias1656
to be on1886
1886 E. E. Kidder On Stage (typescript) ii. ii. 17 Brown. Kick take this next door, to Miss Pomona Pommery, and give it to her with Mr. Brown's compliments. Remember with Mr. Brown's compliments. Kick. I'm on!
1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xiv. 145 If there is going to be a fight..I'm on.
1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin xiv. 270 ‘What about a glass of sherry to celebrate the auspicious occasion?’ ‘I'm on, Peter,..but I really think it's up to me to pay for it.’
1969 V. Gielgud Necessary End i. 15 I'm on—if you want to play the equivalent of Twenty Questions.
1995 A. Warner Morvern Callar (1996) 10 Oh well, I'm on. See yous both the night.
c. on with: engaged to; in a (sexual) relationship with. Now chiefly Australian.
ΚΠ
1862 C. S. Calverley Verses & Transl. (1904) 80 I think, take all together, John, I won't be on with you.
1891 L. B. Walford Mischief of Monica III. 62 ‘I thought he was on with Daisy’, burst forth her son.
1903 Truth (Sydney) 8 Mar. 3/5 Thousands of grande dames will be only too anxious to be ‘on with’ the man who could win the..love of a Crown Princess.
1955 A. Powell Acceptance World (1977) iv. 138 You were the first to suggest something was ‘on’ between them.
1972 Southerly iv. 281 Soon after she was on with David Murray, Nina arranged a dinner party.
d. U.S. In a state of knowledge or awareness regarding something. Cf. on to prep. 7.
ΚΠ
1865 in Comments on Etymol. (1981) Oct. 38 ‘Hist! What is that,’ said I, there is a noise outside—‘cheese it. I believe there is some one “on”’.
1885 Santa Fé Weekly New Mexican 9 July 2/2 He hoped to sell the cavalry a large lot of supplies, but Major Van Horn was ‘on’.
1900 G. Ade Fables in Slang 68 The Preacher didn't know what all This meant,..but you can rest easy that the Pew-Holders were On in a minute.
1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves xviii. 245 ‘This morning young Bingo went and jumped off the dock.’ I saw that he wasn't quite on. ‘I was speaking metaphorically,’ I explained.
1934 J. M. Cain Postman always rings Twice i. 4 I saw he was on, and quit talking about the guy in the Cadillac.
1973 R. Stout Please Pass Guilt (1974) xviii. 164 Wolfe, turning and seeing Saul, was on as quick as I had been. He said..‘What?’
e. Acceptable; played according to the rules of a game (originally esp. in Snooker); conforming to a standard of behaviour, etc.; practicable, feasible. Frequently in negative contexts, esp. in it's (just) not on.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > expressions of disapproval [phrase]
shamea1352
I like that1720
to go up (also down) one1909
it's (just) not on1935
a bit off1966
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > impossibility > desire the impossible [phrase] > absence of possibility
you won't catch me1698
not a cat (in hell)'s chance1796
pigs might fly1840
there is (also was, etc.) no way (that)1908
not a hope (also chance) in hell1923
it's (just) not on1935
pigs have wings1936
that'll (also that will) be the day1941
not on your Nelly1959
1935 in E. Partridge Dict. Slang (1937) 587/2 The majority of amateur [snooker] players..wildly attempt shots that are not ‘on’.
1954 Billiards & Snooker (‘Know the Game’ Ser.) 25 To be ‘on’ a ball means it is the ball the player must ‘lawfully’ play at... Each time a player fails to score (i.e., pot the ball ‘on’) his opponent takes his place at the table.
1957 Economist 19 Oct. 200/1 This proposal is no longer ‘on’.
1968 R. V. Beste Repeat Instruct. xvi. 174 ‘I'd like to dump the last two together next time.’ ‘That's not on,’ King told him tersely. ‘..Stick to procedure.’
1975 Guardian 20 Jan. 4/3 Reductions in the standard of living were not on.
2000 Pract. Parenting Apr. 25/3 Tell your child firmly that the habit's not on, but act calmly, even if you don't feel it.
f. Of an item of food: on the menu; available. Cf. off adv. 2e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > meal > menu > [adverb]
off1902
on1949
1949 ‘M. Innes’ Journeying Boy xx. 248 Champ is off and eggs are on.
1963 ‘L. Bruce’ Crack of Doom vi. 53 Are you going to have lunch in the hotel? They've got sheeps' hearts on today.
1984 M. A. Jarman Dancing nightly in Tavern 25 Hey buddy, what's on at the soup kitchen today?
14. Cricket. Towards the on-side. See on-side n. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [adverb] > side
on?1817
?1817 W. Lambert Cricketers' Guide (ed. 3) ii. 30 The face of the bat should be played square, and not one edge before the other, except a wide ball, when hit off or on.
1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field vii. 154 Reader. do you ever make this square hit On?
1882 Daily Tel. 24 June This he shortly followed up by driving C. T. Studd on for 2.
15. Baseball. Of a player: on (to) a base.
ΚΠ
1920 N.Y. Times 4 Aug. 12/3 There were two down and no one on when Babe came up in the third.
1927 M. Charnley Secrets of Baseball viii. 109 If there was nobody on, and all he had to do was shoot the horsehide to the first baseman to make the putout, he was all right.
1955 A. Hand Day in Bleachers vii. 86 Now Doby came out of the dugout and squatted in the little chalked circle near home plate. He would bat next, if Avila got on.
1994 D. Halberstam October 1964 (1995) xxv. 314 There was one out with two on when Keane went to Barney Schultz.
16. Angling. In the position of being caught on a fishing hook; (also) in a state of eagerness to feed.
ΚΠ
1928 E. Hemingway Let. 7 June (2015) III. 393 After he had this one [sc. a fish] on 40 minutes I bet..he would lose it.
1962 Times 6 Jan. 11/2 This reversal of the relative position of fisherman and fish is seldom difficult to accomplish if carried out immediately the fish is ‘on’.
1977 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 July c11 Waiting a few moments after the strike is difficult for many anglers, but patience can be the difference between a fish on and a fish gone.
1987 Sea Angling Handbk. Spring 74/3 When the fish are ‘on’ who needs colours or gadgets?
1999 Angling Times 16 June 9/3 Every time I catapulted a pouch-full of bait the water erupted and a fish was on like it was feeding time at the zoo.
B. adj.
1. Cricket. Relating to or designating that side of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batter's feet are pointed, esp. that part in front of the batter's wicket; (of a ball, stroke, etc.) directed towards this side. Opposed to off adv. 2b. Cf. on-side n. and adj.2
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [adjective] > side
off1773
on1836
1836 New Sporting Mag. July 195 The mode of handling the bat, for ‘On hitting’ must be similar to what is requisite for ‘Off hitting’.
1853 F. Gale Public School Matches 59 If there is one ball which Swiper hits harder than any other, it is an on long hop rather wide to the leg.
1898 K. S. Ranjitsinhji With Stoddart's Team (ed. 4) vi. 112 Iredale..got out to Hearne in attempting a huge ‘on’ hit.
1904 F. C. Holland Cricket 16 The on strokes are not so often used as the off strokes.
1992 Daily Tel. 24 July 30/4 Crawley mis-hit an on-drive, five short of his fourth championship century of the season.
2. Corresponding to the state (of an electrical device) of being on ( A. 11b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > device to open or close circuit > [adjective] > turning on or off
off1899
on1899
on-off1931
1899 J. Pigg Railway ‘Block’ Signalling vii. 364 When the arm is in the ‘on’ position, the mercury connects the two plates and completes the circuit.
1924 Wireless World 19 Mar. 772/2 This sort of switch is called a double-pole single-way switch, because it controls two circuits with one operation and has only one ‘on’ position.
1962 E. G. Davies in G. A. T. Burdett Automatic Control Handbk. iii. 2 The isolator is hand operated and provided with distinct on and off positions.
1990 On Sat 8 July 109/2 The relay is stuck in the on position.
3. Physiology. Of, relating to, or exhibiting the electrical activity that occurs briefly in some optic nerve fibres in vertebrates when light first reaches the retina.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > action of nervous system > [adjective] > electrical phenomena
electromotive1800
neuroelectric1843
bioelectric1849
rheoscopic1851
anelectrotonic1862
monophasic1888
off1903
on1903
bioelectrical1910
neuroelectrical1914
rheobasic1917
myoelectric1955
myoelectrical1970
1903 F. Gotch in Jrnl. Physiol. 29 393 The first portion is the rise due to the sudden illumination; this I propose for brevity to term the ON effect.
1937 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. 27 302 In the human eye the ‘on effect’ may occupy a time of the order of 0·1 sec.
1972 H. Tamar Princ. Sensory Physiol. iv. 153/2 Some 5 per cent of all color-responsive ganglion cells seem really to have receptive fields with centers which are either ‘on’ or ‘off’ to one color.
2002 Encycl. Brit. Online 10 Sept. at Eye, human Some [areas of the retina] may be found giving an on-response to red in the centre of the field and an off-response to green in the surrounding area.
C. n.1 Cricket.
a. = on-side n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > side
leg side?1801
offside1816
leg1833
on-side1833
off1836
on1836
long on1843
long off1854
1836 New Sporting Mag. 11 193 Thus if the bat be brought forward in a straight line to meet the ball moving in the same line, the ball will be struck directly to the bowler. It is on this principle, that more to the on or off, so will it be returned.
1881 Daily News 9 July 2 He then drove Moncreiffe to the on for four.
1912 Australasian 2 Mar. 481/2 Then he lifted the ‘Bosie’ bowler high to the on.
1927 G. A. Terrill Out in Glare v. 89 Cope brought a man to the on, fairly close in. Then he bowled another ball which..invited a hit to leg.
1988 Cricketer Aug. 19/2 Bradman hit only one four in front of the wicket on the off, but 14 to the on by means of drives and his celebrated pull.
b. on-theory n. now historical = leg theory n. at leg n. Compounds 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > [noun] > theories
off-theory1883
leg theory1894
on-theory1896
1896 Badminton Mag. Sept. 280 A few bowlers have an ‘on-theory’.
1900 W. J. Ford Cricketer on Cricket x. 118 George Giffen..could bowl ‘off-theory’ or ‘on-theory’..with equal skill.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

onprep.

Brit. /ɒn/, U.S. /ɔn/, /ɑn/
Forms: Old English (rare)–1700s an (chiefly before a vowel or h-), Old English– on, late Old English–early Middle English æn, late Old English–1700s one, early Middle English hon, Middle English aan, Middle English and (transmission error), Middle English ane, Middle English onne, Middle English oon, Middle English vn (transmission error), Middle English 1500s un (transmission error), Middle English–1500s o, Middle English– 1500s onn, 1500s–1700s (1800s– regional) o'; English regional 1700s– o, 1800s– an, 1800s– en (Yorkshire), 1800s– un (Isle of Wight); Scottish pre-1700 o, pre-1700 onn, pre-1700 onne, pre-1700 1700s– on, pre-1700 1700s– one, 1700s– o'.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian an , on , Old Dutch ana , an (Middle Dutch ane , an , aen , Dutch aan ), Old Saxon an (Middle Low German an ), Old High German ana , an (Middle High German ane , an , German an ), Old Icelandic á , Old Swedish å , Old Danish aa (Danish (regional) aa ), Gothic ana < the same Indo-European base as Younger Avestan ana upon, along, ancient Greek ἀνά on, upon, up. Compare a prep.1The original West Germanic an was sometimes retained in Old English, but the regular stressless form was on . Before 1200, unstressed on before a consonant was worn down to o or a . This form often coalesced with the following word, especially when forming an adverbial expression with it (e.g. o live ‘in life’, written as olive ), or preceding the , this , that (e.g. oþe ‘on the’); see also a prep.1 When the following word began with a vowel or h , the enclitic form was frequently an , as an-edge (compare edge n.), an-end adv., an-hand (compare hand n. Phrases 1i(a)), an haste (compare haste n. Phrases 1), an-high (compare high adj. and n.2 Phrases 3); see also anaunter adv., an-earth adv. The form a (rarely an ) survives only when its connection with on is no longer felt, and usually in combination, as ashore , or in special constructions as set a going . The regular preposition and adverb is on . On was formerly frequent in constructions in which a- is now or was subsequently usual: e.g. on back , on brede (compare abreid adv., brede n.2), on broach , on broad , on dregh (compare adreigh adv., dreich n.), on far , on ferren (compare aferrom adv., ferren adv.), on fresh , on head , on live , on loft , on long , on loud , on low , on light , on new , on part , on right , on round , on room , on side , on stray , on sunder , on thirst , on wide , on wry . These were usually written as two words, but have often been hyphenated by modern editors, in imitation of forms in a- . The variant o became rare after 1400. But in the late 16th and the 17th, and 18th centuries the preposition was often used colloquially, and in the dramatists, reduced to o' (e.g. (especially) o' the ‘on the’ (compare i' th' : see in prep.), also o' my life (Shakespeare), o' my conscience (Sheridan), etc.), a form still found in Scottish and northern English regional usage. In o' nights and similar expressions it is often interpreted as meaning ‘of’ (compare the phrase of a night ). The form onne (or one ) in early Middle English (at which period the spelling indicated a disyllable) appears to have final -e on the analogy of inne , adverb denoting rest within a place, originally contrasted with inn , adverb denoting motion towards a place. It is frequently but not exclusively used when the preposition stands in a position other than that immediately before its noun phrase complement. On expresses primarily the relation of contact with or proximity to the surface of something, and so that of being supported or upheld by it; also from the earliest times expressing motion to or towards such a position; these two senses being distinguished (as with in prep.) by the case of the word affected, the former taking, in Old English, the dative (rarely the instrumental) for earlier locative, the latter the accusative or case of motion towards. But the Old English point of view often differed from the modern, so that the accusative was often used where we would expect the dative, and vice versa. In temporal constructions, Old English used both dative and accusative cases. In Middle English, the distinction of case disappeared, but on continued in both uses, the sense being generally indicated by the accompanying verb (e.g. to lie on, to lay on), though not infrequently with ambiguity, to remedy which the sense of motion began in the 16th cent. to be indicated in case of need by the collocation on to (see on to prep.). From the earliest times in the Germanic languages on has been used in reference not merely to the upper surface or top of a thing, but to the front of any surface (this being the modern German and Dutch use of an , aan , e.g. German an der Tür at the door, an die Tür to the door); this was also the use in Old English. But here on received a notable extension of sense, by being used to include also the notion of ‘in’, almost to the elimination of the preposition in from West Saxon and the dialects influenced by it (see in prep.). So in early southern Middle English, on still included the sphere of both ‘on’ and ‘in’ (sense 7); but in was gradually restored; not, however, without the survival of many traces of the former prevalence of on ; thence also a difficulty, in some of the transferred senses, in determining whether the starting point was ‘on’ or ‘in’. Eventually, not only was this extension in the direction of ‘in’ given up, but the language has shown a growing tendency to restrict on to the upper or at least the supporting surface (= French sur ), so as to correspond in use to German auf rather than an ; this comes out strongly also in the extended uses in which on indicates the basis or foundation of action, feeling, etc. In Old English, when the upper surface was specially in view, ofer was sometimes used; the notion was also expressed by uppan (which continued in use throughout the Middle English period: see up prep.1) and, from early Middle English onwards, by the compound upon prep. These changes in the sense-territory covered at different times by on make the historical and logical order of the senses difficult; and the following arrangement is in many respects arbitrary. Even the primary division into senses implying position and those implying motion or direction is difficult to carry out in the figurative uses, in some of which the point of view has gradually changed since they first arose, so that what was originally felt to express a direction of the mind towards something is now felt as a static attitude or mental state. On is used in the construction of many verbs, besides those mentioned under the senses below, e.g. call; depend; attend, wait; follow; believe, rely; prevail; insist; also after the direct object, in beget, bestow, confer; lavish, spend, waste; force, impose; plume, pride, value oneself; or as a second construction, e.g. to condole, consult, with a person on something. See these verbs.
I. Of position.
* Of local position outside of, but in contact with or close to, a surface. Primarily of physical things, but also of non-physical things treated as having extension.Also in many phrases (originally expressing physical situation, but later becoming more or less figurative in sense, as an expression of what is done or implied in such a position), such as on the bench, on the boards, on the books, on the cards, on the carpet, on 'Change, on the fence, on the field, on foot, on hand, on one's hands, on one's own hook, on one's knees, on one's legs, on the market, on the nail, on the parish, on the rack, on the shelf, on the spot, on the streets, on the stump, on tenterhooks, on the throne, on the turf, on the way, on the wing, on the world: see the nouns. Phrases originally literal, when thus used figuratively, sometimes serve as models for others which never were literal, e.g. on a level, on an equality, on a par.
1.
a. Above and in contact with; at rest on the upper surface of; above and supported by; = upon prep. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > belonging to or localized in a place [preposition]
ineOE
ofeOE
oneOE
atOE
from1399
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. iv. 274 Þa gemette he sume gerisne stowe in Hibernia mynster on to timbrenne.
OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xxi. 5 Sedens super assinam et pullum filium subiugalem : sittende on [OE Lindisf. ofer, OE West Saxon Gospels: Corpus Cambr. uppan] eosule & on folan sunu þære teoma.
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) v. xvii. 460 Wilfrið..on domsetle sittende wæs.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. G) l. 40 Feire þu were imerked heie on þine heafde [mid þ]en holie ele.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 74 Curre is kene on his ahne mixne.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 1 Ðe leun stant on hille.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 14 A citee putt on a hill may nat be hid.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 370 A fair burgeys To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 13435 Iohn þe godspeller, Þat lai on [a1400 Vesp. o] iesu brest at super.
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 259 On, super.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 803 A fawcon gentyll stood on hys helme on hy.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 12 The birds chaunt melodie on euerie bush. View more context for this quotation
1656 S. Holland Don Zara iii. ii. 145 He sat a long time on his horse back in a profound study.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 116 Scum that on the molten Silver swims. View more context for this quotation
1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. F. Dedekind Grobianus 235 A roasted Harslet on the Table stood.
1819 Metropolis (ed. 2) III. 183 The supper on table ten minutes after our arrival.
1823 Ld. Byron Island iv. iv. 61 They rested on their paddles.
1894 J. Knight D. Garrick x. 168 Garrick..found himself on the horns of a dilemma.
1915 H. Begbie Cage ii. 41 The grandmother in a straight-backed chair, the child on a stool at her feet.
1954 D. Abse Ash on Young Man's Sleeve 54 I stood on the ship at the dock in Preston, waiting for the tide.
1980 V. S. Pritchett Edge of Cliff 114 His long nose, on which the glasses never sat straight.
2001 Sun 27 Jan. (Football section) 3/2 The best nosh..at Leicester's training ground was beans on toast.
b. With reference to (the) earth, land, ocean, sea, water, etc., or to any geographical feature (as a common, moor, heath, plateau, etc.) viewed as a surface; = upon prep. 1b.With earth, field, road, street, way, etc., usage varies, or has varied, between on and in, according to how each is viewed; cf. in prep., and see the individual words.Also used with reference to the level or storey of a building (as on the first floor, etc.), in the senses ‘located at or within; occupying all or part of’.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > [preposition] > located on or occupying floor or storey
oneOE
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvi. 103 Krisð, ða he on eorðan wæs.
eOE Metrical Dialogue of Solomon & Saturn (Corpus Cambr. 422) ii. 292 Yldo beoð on eorðan æghwæs cræftig.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1122 Þær æfter wæron feole scip men on sæ.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5577 Himm reoweþþ þatt he dwelleþþ her. Swa swiþe lannge onn eorþe.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10336 Helyas..&..Helyseow..Þurrh drihhtin ȝede upp o þe flumm Alls itt onn eorþe. wære.
a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 184 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 63 Ne miste foulore þing neuer on erþe go.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 340 Tu wuldest seien..gef þu it soge wan it flet, ðat it were a neilond ðat sete one ðe se sond.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 307 Quaþ roulond, þar he stod on grounde, ‘Selpe me gode’.
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. i. 7 (MED) Þe moste partie of þis peple þat passiþ on þis erþe.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 67 He may wende many ways, bathe on þe see and on þe land.
a1500 (?c1440) J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep (Lansd.) 168 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 546 (MED) Now a-mong flours..Now bathe in rivers..For storme & shour as drie as on the lond.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 254v In battaill on the sea.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 47 Sche vas on the feildis for hyr recreatione.
1593 in D. Beveridge Culross & Talliallan (1885) I. 131 That the land flesche-market be also haldin on the Sand Hevin.
1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Sixteen Satyrs 283 Whose parts oth stage he lately play'd.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 161. ⁋5 The lodgers on the first floor had stipulated that [etc.].
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 3 More painful..than all the journies I ever made on land.
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess ii. 71 Behind the door, a calour heather bed Flat o' the floor, of stanes an' fail, was made.
1797 Ld. Nelson 7 Dec. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) III. 188 Captain Troubridge on shore is superior to Captains afloat.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. ii, in Poems 72 On Life's tempestuous Sea.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 539 During his residence on the Continent.
1891 T. Hardy Group of Noble Dames i. i. 3 Eastward, one window on the upper floor was open.
1898 Cent. Mag. Mar. 796/1 He..occasionally took a short stroll on the street.
1925 Brit. Weekly 9 July 331/3 Boats on the lake were well patronised, and the railodok cars were partly full.
1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids xi. 205 On the higher ground there was still little taint in the fresh air.
1982 W. Golding Moving Target (1984) 4 The clumps of trees that stand so elegantly here and there on the downs.
2001 Telewest Cable Guide Jan. 25/1 Working on the sea off Plettenberg Bay, east of Cape Town..seemed like a great gig.
2001 Christian Sci. Monitor 28 Dec. 23/1 The building had a play-acting theater on the third floor.
c. Supported by (one's feet, legs, etc.); being in contact with the ground by means of (a specified part or parts of the body); = upon prep. 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > supported by [preposition]
toc890
oneOE
upona1272
against1447
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. xiv. 73 Hie hiene meðigne on cneowum sittende metten.
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxxxiv. 154 Gif mon þung ete..stande on heafde.
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) iii. 14 God cwæð to ðære næddran:..ðu gæst on ðinum breoste.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 15998 Þe king læi on cneouwen.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1766 William & þe mayde, þat were white beres, gon forþ..on here foure fet.
a1456 (a1402) J. Trevisa tr. Gospel of Nicodemus (BL Add.) f. 106 (MED) Þey..fonde hem..knelyng on hure kneen.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 299 (MED) She was so..brethles that on hire feet myght she not stonde.
a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 206 Cry mercy on thy kneis.
1595 T. Bedingfield tr. N. Machiavelli Florentine Hist. i. 12 Constrained to come to Rome on barefoote.
1600 C. Middleton Legend Duke of Glocester §169. 1011 The Duke as willing to resigne, As they were to desire it, on his knees Yeeldes vp his charge.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes i. §29. 44 Creeping..on their bare knees.
1662 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) III. 616 Ve wer al on our kneyis..looking on the Divell.
1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 235 [He] entered my chamber on tiptoe.
1798 C. Stearns Woman Of Honor i. vii. 19 Let a young gentleman always stand firmly on his feet to make a bow.
1829 T. B. Macaulay in Edinb. Rev. Jan. 366 That he should..talk about being on his legs.
1849 E. B. Eastwick Dry Leaves 4 A pony standing on his hind legs like a petitioning poodle.
1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus xii. 150 Leander went down on all fours on the hearth-rug.
1932 J. G. Neihardt Black Elk Speaks ix. 118 There was a dead Indian lying there on his face, and someone said: ‘Scalp that Ree’!
1954 E. Dominy Teach Yourself Judo vi. 63 In ‘randori’ which is free practice you never find an opponent who is willing to lie passively on his back.
1988 J. Trollope Choir i. 1 He began to walk rapidly, on tiptoe, across the back of the nave towards the north transept.
2000 M. Chabon Amazing Adventures Kavalier & Clay 116 She was lying passed out on her belly.
d. So as to be transported by; using as a means of locomotion or conveyance; = upon prep. 1d.With reference to enclosed vehicles in is often used. Use of on with reference to ships, apparently originally U.S., is now well established elsewhere.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxvi. 108 Ða cild ridað on hiora stafum.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Hi ridone on swarte hors & on swarte bucces.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1140 Scæ fleh & iæde on fote to Walingford.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 89 [He]..bed hem bringen a wig one te riden.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 253 An horsen & an foten.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 347 (MED) Þe beste knicth Þat euere micte leden uth here, Or stede onne ride, or handlen spere.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 385 (MED) Þemperour..on his blonk rides.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 38 (MED) Be this desert, no man may go on horsbak.
c1450 (a1400) Chevalere Assigne 288 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale Middle Eng. Metrical Romances (1930) 870 (MED) What beeste is þis..þat I shall on houe?
1539 Bible (Great) 1 Sam. xxv. 20 As she rode on her asse.
1620 in D. G. Barron Court Bk. Urie (1892) 33 For ilk laid of peits on hors with creillis, xl. s.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 145 When his Head,..Wash'd by the Waters, was on Hebrus born. View more context for this quotation
1704 C. Darby Psalms lxvi. 97 We passed through the flood on foot, And there we sung his praise.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. viii. 218 Mackaws..wheeling and playing on the wing.
1823 S. H. Long Exped. I. 69 Being unaccustomed to travelling on foot, they were much fatigued.
1856 E. B. Kelly Autobiogr. xii. 94 The captain and all on the ship had been very much alarmed for their safety.
1886 Cent. Mag. July 471/2 I should go away on the first train.
1928 Daily Mail 6 Aug. 10/7 A daring act on motor-cycles..was followed by a cameo of the war.
1962 I. Murdoch Unofficial Rose ii. ii. 31 He had..once passed her unobserved on an ascending escalator while she descended on the other side.
1995 Minnesota Monthly Jan. 53/1 To get inside, by car or on foot, you must pass a uniformed security guard who controls an electronic gate.
2000 T. Robbins Fierce Invalids 5 Switters was one of four men..who traveled on horseback at the head of the procession.
e. With or as with the hands touching (a bible, etc.), in making an oath; using or invoking as the basis of an oath, affirmation, etc.; = upon prep. 1e.In Old English the dative was used with a material object touched, the accusative with an ideal object or absent person or thing being appealed to.
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eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 876 Him þa aþas sworon on þam halgan beage.
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. vi. 95 He him geswor on his goda noman þæt he..wolde..þæt ærende abeodan.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 20 Witodlice seþe swereþ on weofude, he swereð on [OE Lindisf. in] him & on eallum þam þe him ofer synt.
OE Homily: Larspell (Corpus Cambr. 419) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 232 Ic eow halsige..on ealle godes halgan and on þa cyrcan, þe ge to gelyfað.
OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxii. 10 Ealle þa ðe on hine aðas sweriað [L. qui jurant in eo].
lOE Laws of Æðelred II (Rochester) iii. ii. §1. 228 Gange ælc man to gewitnesse þe he durre on þam haligdome swerian, þe him man on hand sylð.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 He..aðes swor on halidom..þet he scolde begeton hem ðone mynstre of Burch.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2311 Þat dide [he] hem o boke swere.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 110 (MED) He suore þat on þe boke.
1447 Copiale Prioratus Sanctiandree (1930) 197 The said Willȝeam is oblist till ws on the hali ewangelis that [etc.].
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. clx. [clvi.] 442 Let hym go on goddes name whider it shall please hym.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. E.iiv And, on my faith, me thinke it good reason To change purpose.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 952 Thay swoir on thair swordis swyftlie all thre.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iv. sig. I4v No other, on my trust. For your more surety Here is that Letter too. View more context for this quotation
1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre ii. ii. 18 in Wks. II Hell's a kind of cold cellar to 't, a very fine vault, o' my conscience!
1691 Rabshakeh Vapulans 5 Well—on my Faith, he feagues these Black-coat Sparks.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. vii. 210 ‘Never believe me, if yonder be not our Parson Adams..’ ‘On my word, and so he is.’ View more context for this quotation
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 14 On my conscience, I believe [it].
1785 tr. C. Fleury Hist. Great Brit. V. v. i. §1. 238 All these hostages took a solemn oath on the gospels.
1850 G. P. R. James Headsman III. vi. 357 O' Heaven's sake, thy glass of kirschwasser!
1856 Bouvier's Law Dict. U.S.A. (ed. 6) I. 589 In courts of equity peers..answer on their honor only.
1871 Scribner's Monthly Oct. 630 I believe on my soul, what I suspected before, that you stole that daguerrotype.
1935 G. Greene Basement Room & Other Stories 59 But I won't go to Mrs Henne-Falcon's party. I swear on the Bible I won't.
1993 I. Watson Inquisitor (new ed.) vii. 101 Harq wouldn't. He swore on his honour.
2001 N.Y. Times 23 Dec. iv. 5/1 Both parties in Washington swore on all that is holy not to touch the..federal budget surplus.
f. Having membership of (a body), employed or engaged as one of (a staff, panel, team, etc.).
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1794 Sessions Papers Central Criminal Court Jan. 341/1 There are very few gentlemen here on the jury but what know what a swag is.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 205 Scarcely ever had he been on a grand jury.
1885 Times (Weekly ed.) 27 Feb. 2/4 A captain on the General Staff.
1914 Christian Sci. Monitor 3 Aug. 1/4 He was on the Harvard debating team in 1893 when it met Yale.
1952 M. Laski Village iv. 77 I don't want to stay on a magazine like that all my life. What I really want is to get on to Vogue.
1977 Irish Press 29 Sept. 13/1 Michael Keane..is back on the Kerry team for Sunday's All-Ireland Under 21 Football final.
1985 T. C. Boyle Greasy Lake & Other Stories 121 She was secretary for Lunar Affairs, with two hundred JPL eggheads, selenologists, and former astronauts on her staff.
2001 Navy News Sept. 11/1 He spent three years on the team of the Second Sea Lord's Officer Study Group.
2.
a. In contact with, upon the surface of (but not specifically on top of); covering or enclosing (used with reference to clothing, shoes, etc., or any wrapping or cover, such as the cover of a book); = upon prep. 2. Also figurative.on board: see board n. 12c, 14.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxi. 153 Ealle ða hearga Israhela folces wæron atiefrede on ðæm wage.
OE Crist III 1114 Þær blod ond wæter bu tu ætsomne ut bicwoman fore eagna gesyhð, rinnan fore rincum, þa he on rode wæs.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Me henged bi the þumbes, other bi the hefed, & hengen bryniges on her fet.
a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 5 (MED) Ihesu cristes blode..was i-sched o ðere rode.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 257 Alle heo sculden hongien on heȝe treowen.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 318 Ðe spinnere..weveð..o rof er on ouese.
1372 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 78 (MED) His her was hor on heuede.
c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 51 (MED) Take þe roote of an herbe þat groweþ vpon houses and on walles.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 202 He sate at his soupere alone gnawyng on a lymme of a large man.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 70 (MED) Leeues of malowis and oonly þe stalkis þat þe leeues growen on.
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 185 And hard on burd vnto the blomyt medis..Arrivit sche.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A3 On his brest a bloodie Crosse he bore.
1598 T. Bastard Chrestoleros v. xxx. 122 The gooldsmith guildeth siluer, tinn or brasse, The painter paints on wood.
1621 H. Ainsworth Annot. Five Bks. Moses & Bk. Psalmes Exod. xiii. 9 These foure sections..written on parchment, folden up they..tyed to the forehead.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. Pref. 5 One of the first Books Printed on Paper, (that of Tully being on Vellom).
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 110 On Shrubs they brouze. View more context for this quotation
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. i. 10 By good luck, I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they could not pierce.
1780 J. Woodforde Diary 26 Aug. (1924) I. 290 Bad news on the papers—60..ships taken by the French and Spanish Fleets.
1790 T. Pennant Of London 392 Three leopards passant, guardant, and two angels the supporters, cut on stone.
1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 67 Isabella on its music hung.
1840 F. Whishaw Railways Great Brit. & Ireland 391 The distances are marked from either end of the line on stone standards.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 361 With eight wounds on his body.
1879 M. Pattison Milton iv. 47 Milton consented to put down his thoughts on paper.
1895 Bookman Oct. 12/1 A small volume..printed on one side only.
1900 Times 6 Jan. 14/5 The genuine Dorset native always says, ‘I see'd it on the paper’, or ‘I read it on the paper’.
1938 Motion Pict. Sound Engin. (Acad. Motion Pict. Arts & Sci.) v. 69 The electrical energy necessary for recording either on film or on disc.
1977 Rolling Stone 19 May 96/2 The Betamax enables you to record (on tape) your favourite TV programs for replaying later.
1989 M. Piesman Unorthodox Pract. xxi. 156 People sat on the floor staring alternately at the dog and at a Day-Glo poster on the ceiling.
2002 More! 3 Apr. 60/3 The girls in the office can't wait to get hold of the centrefold picture so they can put it on the wall.
b. Around, with respect to (an axis, pivot, centre of revolution, etc.); = upon prep. 2d.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxix. 129 On wænes eaxe hwearfiaþ þa hweol and sio eax stint stille.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. C) l. 43 Wurmes..windeþ on þin ærmes.
?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 504 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 225 A cercle þat turnys ine hevene One some ane of þe planetes sevene.
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 194 Since he..makes that the Axell for all his Commendations to Moove on.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 165 The Earth..With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps On her soft Axle. View more context for this quotation
1713 E. Young Poem on Last Day i. 10 The blisful Earth, who late At leisure on her Axle rowl'd in State.
1752 H. Fielding Amelia III. ix. vii. 283 Instead..of attempting to follow her, he turned on his Heel, and addressed his Discourse to another Lady.
1762 W. Falconer Shipwreck iii. 47 On brazen hinges, turn'd the silver doors.
1832 Proposed Regulations Cavalry iii. 55 A Line is ordered to ‘Change Front’ on a flank.
1847 Infantry Man. (1854) 63 The sections are wheeling on their pivot men.
1868 J. N. Lockyer Elem. Lessons Astron. (1879) iii. x. 56 All the planets rotate, or turn on their axes, in the same direction.
1882 Harper's Mag. June 12 A..cart about twelve feet long, with two wheels revolving on a low axle placed underneath the sledge.
1939 E. D. Laborde tr. E. de Martonne Shorter Physical Geogr. (rev. ed.) 3 An ‘ellipsoid of revolution,’ that is, a solid produced by an ellipse rotating on its short axis.
1986 A. S. Romer & T. S. Parsons Vertebr. Body (ed. 6) vii. 216 The foot could be readily rotated on the shin in reptiles and early amphibians.
2002 N.Y. Times Mag. 11 Apr. e1/1 You can twist the screen on its axis, so that it's facing away from you.
c. Attached to (a chain, lead, etc.), esp. by way of restraint.
ΚΠ
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 114 Alswa as halichirche þet is schip cleoped. schal ancrin on þe ancre. þet heo hit swa holde þet þe deofles þuffes..ne hit ouerwarpe.
a1450 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe ii. §23 42 A plomet hangyng on a lyne, heygher than thin heved.
1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies 34 Certaine copper mynt called Caixa..in the middle whereof is a hole to hang it on a string.
1668 Rivals iii. 35 We represent a Morrice..Whose Coutrements hang heavy on my purse string.
1888 W. Williams Princ. & Pract. Vet. Med. (ed. 5) 577 A brewer's yard dog, always on the chain.
1948 D. Welch Brave & Cruel 163 Micki..clawed the air like a mad gorilla on a chain.
1978 I. Murdoch Sea i. 58 James sometimes offered me a ride, and Uncle Abel (also a horseman) wanted to take me out on a leading rein.
2002 Dreamwatch Sept. 40/1 I used to walk my rabbit around the house on a leash, because I wanted a dog so badly!
d. Above or against a background of (a contrasting colour). In early use frequently in Heraldry. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > colour relationships > [preposition] > contrasting colour
on1572
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldic tincture > [preposition] > above or against background of contrasting colour
on1572
1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie ii. f. 34 v The fourth beareth Azure, on a Bende Argent..a Lyon Sable.
1613 A. Cunningham Songs i. 3 Pure and fresh colour'd are her cheeks, Like crimson on a creamy rose.
1675 Mistaken Husband iv. iv. 40 Next marcht his Hearse beset with Funeral Scutcheons (Azure on a Fez Argent).
1751 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 7) Ermines is used by some English writers for the reverse of ermine, i.e. for white spots on a black field.
1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 10 Apr. in French & Ital. Notebks. (1980) iii. 161 A statelier dome..shining on the back-ground of the night of time.
1890 J. R. Lowell Writings iv. 216 A scutcheon this, a helm-surmounted shield, Three griffins argent on a sable field.
1929 E. Bowen Last Sept. i. viii. 88 On the bright sky, opposite, Mr. Montmorency's pale face hung like an apparition's.
1973 ‘E. McBain’ Let's hear It vi. 75 The headline is ‘Red On Red’... The idea is to get this big red feeling.
1996 Pract. Gardening June 106/2 (advt.) Any plant name printed white on black.
2001 Elle Mar. 258/2 The Coors beer logo is printed in black on a white bias-cut skirt.
e. Named in (a list, etc.).There is some overlap with sense 1f.
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1712 E. Budgell Spectator No. 313. ¶17 [One] endeavoured to raise himself on the Civil List, and the other..on the Military.
1760 C. Johnstone Chrysal I. ii. viii. 193 So clerk, you may enter him on the list, for next sessions.
1811 Sporting Mag. 38 8 There is not a pugilist on the list whom Belcher could not spoil by a sort of gifted science.
1885 Analyst 10 123 About everything on the list which might be used to adulterate or be substituted for butter, gave iodine numbers so far removed from that for genuine butter that no difficulty would occur.
1903 Electr. World & Engineer 11 Apr. 597 The socialistic spirit..that would have every man on the pay roll of the State or the municipality.
1973 Sat. Rev. Society (U.S.) May 68/2 Ask to be put on the mailing list for Selected U.S. Government Publications.
2001 N.Y. Times ii. 8/3 There are too many musical options today, and jazz is not high on the list.
f. Usually with a personal pronoun, indicating the possessor of some (permanent or temporary) attribute. Frequently with to have.
(a) Originally and chiefly Irish English. Indicating the person experiencing a mental or physical state, or possessing a trait of personality.
ΚΠ
1747 E. Synge Let. 16 May (1996) 20 I thought the weather too cold for you to go out with the remains of your little cough on you.
1762 J. Boswell Jrnl. 13 Dec. in London Jrnl. (1950) 82 I feel a surprising change to the better on myself since I came to London.
1924 S. O'Casey Juno & Paycock 229 What was on me at all that I did not cut a scourge in the wood to put manners and decency on you the time you were not hardened as you are.
1985 G. Kendall White Wing (1986) x. 129 The hunger was on him, forcing him in to report.
1999 C. Creedon Passion Play xxv. 224 He's a big culchie head on him, and a sorta English accent.
(b) colloquial. Indicating possession of a characteristic physical feature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > [preposition] > indicating possession of characteristic feature
on1869
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad 434 One brute..had a neck on him like a bowsprit.
1896 G. Ade Artie ix. 81 She had a face on her that'd fade flowers.
1939 I. Baird Waste Heritage xxiii. 324 The Hindu had the most perfect body Matt had ever seen on a man.
1985 ‘J. Higgins’ Confessional (1986) 9 The white devil's face on him beneath the brim of the old felt hat.
2001 FourFourTwo Oct. 8/4 If Owen has got a face on him like a tub of axle grease, then leave the bugger alone.
(c) Carried with or about the person of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > [preposition] > on or about one's person
on1907
1907 J. Conrad Secret Agent xii. 418 You have no other money on you?
1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase xxvi. 352 Do you happen to have a railway time-table on you?
1976 S. Wales Echo 27 Nov. 3/5 She couldn't have gone far, she only had about £1 on her.
1998 A. Martin Bilton xxi. 196 Got a pen on you? Take this down.
3. Indicating the instrument or medium of an action or process.
a. Using as a musical instrument, playing; = upon prep. 25.Now also (originally U.S. colloquial) without verb of playing or a following determiner.
ΚΠ
eOE Junius Psalter xxxii. 2 Confitemini domino in cythara in psalterio decem chordarum psallite ei : ondettað dryhtne on cytran on hearpan tien strenga singað him.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 236 Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote.
c1410 G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Harl. 7334) 92 And al aboue þer lay a gay Sawtrye On which he made a nightes melodye.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 115 Mynstrallez playand on diuerse instrumentes of music.
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 11201 (MED) Somwhyle..I..pleye on dyuers Instrumentys.
?1527 J. Skelton Agaynste Comely Coystrowne He lumbryth on a lewde lewte roty bully Joy. Rumbyll downe tumbyll downe hey go now now.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. xvi. 16 A cunning player on an harpe. View more context for this quotation
1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xxx. 198 A..player on that instrument which is called a windbroach.
1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem i. 41 And some he sees on the Triangles: Some on the Harp.
1767 Play-bill, Theatre Royal (Covent Garden) 16 May At the end of Act I., Miss Brickler will sing a favourite song from ‘Judith’, accompanied by Mr. Dibdin, on a new instrument, called Piano Forte.
1789 R. Colville Poet. Wks. 97 (title of poem) To the elegant Seraphina, performing on the piano forte, at a private concert.
1817 T. D. Cowdell Nova Scotia Minstrel 121 (note) Addressed to a young married Lady, who played exquisitely well on the Piano.
1842 T. B. Macaulay Frederic the Great in Ess. (1887) 695 He..performed skilfully on the flute.
1903 Daily Chron. 23 Nov. 5/1 Much better adapted..to a soloist—whether performing on larynx, violin or piano.
1934 Down Beat Aug. 4/2 Oscar Eiler remains on cello... Hunter Kahler replaced George Frewit on piano... Milt. Chalifoux is still on drums, as is Ralph Mazza on guitar and violin.
1988 M. Charney Hamlet's Fictions i. iii. 43 Does she accompany herself on the lute, a notoriously difficult instrument to play?
2002 Mojo Feb. 28/2 Earl Scruggs on banjo, Lester Flatt on guitar, Chubby Wise on fiddle and Birch Monroe on bass.
b. Indicating the machine, equipment, tool, etc., used in a process or activity.
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1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Serge A Woollen cross'd Stuff, manufactured on a Loom with four Treddles, after the Manner of Rateens, and other cross'd Stuffs.
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 171 It..thus forms what is called a slubbing or roving—a soft thread to be thereafter spun, on the mule-jenny, into yarn fit for the loom.
1935 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 39 1041 Control of this airplane when operating on one engine was carefully studied with the result that it can be flown ‘hands off’.
1964 G. Lyall Most Dangerous Game (1966) iv. 33 I'd gotten the impression..that you'd learnt to shoot on military small arms.
1990 Match Fishing Feb. 23/1 I..was visited by..anglers..all fishing in a different part of the swim, using a different method and on a selection of baits.
2002 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Feb. 135/3 And so this isn't just any lamé—it was made on machines that haven't been used in 50 years.
c. Using as a medium of communication, by means of (the telephone, radio, etc.); broadcast by or as part of (a particular channel, programme, etc.) or at (a particular telephone number, frequency, wavelength, etc.).on the air: see air n.1 2b.
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1882 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) Telephonist, a person versed in telephony, or who operates on the telephone.
1929 R. Fry Let. 5 Feb. (1972) II. 636 I have still two ‘talks’ hanging over me—one at the Athenaeum Club and one on the wireless.
1969 D. E. Westlake Up your Banners xviii. 124 The beautician hollered from the living room, ‘Leona, come quick! You're on the TV!’
1977 Custom Car Nov. 11/3 Anyone with that kind of money contact Richard on Berkhampstead 71619.
1997 Bangkok Post 26 Feb. i. 11/5 Why is it that the only DJ on FM 95.5 bold enough to play ‘free music’ and hard rock is allowed only four hours a week?
2001 C. Glazebrook Madolescents 90 She's still gassing on the phone.
4. Expressing position with reference to a place or thing, esp. with side, hand, front, back, rear, compass points, and other words indicating a particular side (of two); = upon prep. 4.In Old English the following noun took the accusative and the sense was understood as ‘looking towards’ the left, the north, etc. With many nouns (as hand, part, side, behalf) this sense has developed particular transferred uses, for which see the entries for these words. Similarly in elliptical constructions with certain adjectives, as on the contrary, the defensive, etc.on hand, on high: see hand n. Phrases 1i(a), high adj. and n.2 Phrases 3.
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the world > space > relative position > high position > position upon > on or upon [preposition]
oneOE
anuppeOE
uponc1175
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 8 Þonne on ðæm norþdæle, þæt is Asia on þa swiþran healfe.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvii. 38 Ða wæron ahangen mid him twegen sceaþan an on þa swiðran healfe [OE Lindisf. to suiðre halfe] & oðer on þa wynstran.
OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xliv. 11 Þær stent cwen þe on þa swyðran hand.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1122 Hi sægon on norð east fir micel & brad wið þonne eorðe.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 Ðis gear æfter Cristesmesse on an Moneniht æt þe forme slæp wæs se heouene o ðe norð half eall swilc hit wære bærnende fir.
a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily In Die Sancto Pentecosten (Lamb. 487) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 91 Crist..sit on [OE Royal æt] his feder riht alfe.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 218 (MED) Gij..on hir fader half..hir grett.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 1662 (MED) The rede See..Which stod upriht on either side.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 13038 (MED) On oþer side was hir ful wa.
1411 Rolls of Parl. III. 650/1 This is the ordenance..made betwen William..on that oon partie and Robert..on that other partie.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. ix. sig. a.viv Whan they were mette, there was no mekenes but stoute wordes on bothe sydes.
a1513 J. Irland Meroure of Wyssdome (1965) II. 142 The gait on the kar hand was fair.
1558 Queen Elizabeth I in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1824) I. App. i. 389 Not doubting on their part, but they will observe the duty.
1600 in R. Pitcairn Criminal Trials Scotl. (1833) II. i. 185 I trow it sall kyth to be ane plane Treassoun, one my lordis pairt.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. ii. 64 The Cape de las Agullas hath Sea on both sides near it.
1671 H. M. tr. Erasmus Colloquies 7 I am glad on your behalf.
1747 tr. Mem. Nutrebian Court I. 221 It was agreed on all hands.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. v. 49 The Indians, lying on the back of the Portuguese settlements.
1772 W. O'Brien Cross Purposes i. ii. 16 Though he lives on this side Temple-Bar [he] is as ignorant of good company as if he had never removed from Thames-Street.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. xxiv. 349 Thucydides..does not venture to state the numbers on either side.
1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes Scotl. 233 Rin owre o' that side.
1883 Law Times Rep. 49 332 Bearing about three or four points on the starboard bow of the Clan Sinclair.
1920 R. Macaulay Potterism i. ii. 21 Gideon was a Russian Jew on his father's side.
1962 R. Hardy Act of Destruction i. iii. 16 He farmed on the fringe of the Mirembe forest.
1989 Scotl. on Sunday 28 May 30 The British delegation is trying to sabotage this prudent move. Whose side are they on?
2002 Time 20 May 38/1 The end of the siege..brought relief to officials on both sides.
†5. Indicating something (esp. a part of the body) to which a condition or quality relates: in respect of; = in prep. 42a, of prep. 44. Obsolete (in later use English regional).
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxii. 72 Þeah [þu wære eallra] manna fægrost on wlite.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 182 Se man is ece on anum dæle þæt his an ðære sawle.
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. Introd. 26 Hit is welig ðis ealond on wæstmum & on treowum.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1124 Ðes ilces geares wæron fæla untime on Englelande, on corne & on ealle westme.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) i. 7 Boetius..wæs in boccræftum & on woruldþeawum se rihtwisesta.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 27 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 161 (MED) Al to lome ich habbe igult a werke and o worde.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 29 (MED) Ðe seneueies corne, ðe is litel an seiþe and michel on strengþe.
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 71 (MED) He is..bryht on heowe.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2034 Þe boldest barn..þe fairest on face.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 666 (MED) Þi fourme Is lickenand on na lym ne like to my selfe.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclxx. 403 He was blynde on ye one eye.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Sam. iv. 4 A sonne which was lame on his fete.
1703 London Gaz. No. 3892/4 Robert Stephens..winks on the left Eye.
1845 P. Still Cottar's Sunday 184 Ye're threescore an' three, and ye're blin' on an e'e.
1888 T. Hardy Wessex Tales III. 116 Her father was taken very ill on the chest.
6. In proximity to; close to, beside, near, just by, at the bank or coast of (a river, lake, sea, etc.); = upon prep. 3a.Commonly in place names (sometimes with more formal equivalents with upon), as Burton-on-Trent, Clacton on Sea, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
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lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1009 Hi..namon him wintersettl on Temesan.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 89 Bethfage..on þe fot of þe dune..munt oliuete.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 538 Men..That duelt on hummyr or neirhand.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxxxii. 519 The castell of Geron one the see.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 15 Paslay..is situat..onn the Riuer of Carronn.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 43 They came up marching on the head of their parishes.
a1722 J. Lauder Jrnls. (1900) 202 We was at a kettle on the water syde.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. viii. 379 Mr. Anson over-reached the galeon, and lay on her bow.
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. i. 399 There is a dwelling on the lone sea-shore.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xxvii. 304 He said he lived on the direct road to Chester Park.
1832 Ld. Malmesbury in Mem. Ex-Minister (1884) I. 50 Detained long at the Douane on the Italian frontier.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 229 Kirke and his squadron were on the coast of Ulster.
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood i. 21 There have been more delations to the Presbytery for the sin of witchcraft in Woodilee than in any other parish on the water of Aller.
1960 D. Lessing In Pursuit of Eng. iii. 103 She made me sit near the window. She liked to sit on the aisle.
1987 A. Wiseman Mem. of Bk. Molesting Childhood 127 A corn roast at one of the cabins on the lake.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze xviii. 201 He lived in a wharf on the river with a view of London Pool.
** Of position within.For the Old English distribution and usage see note in etymology.
7.
a. Within the limits or bounds of; = in prep. 1, 18, upon prep. 5.In Old English (West Saxon) and early Middle English (southern): see etymological note.Frequently (esp. British regional, Irish English, and North American colloquial) expressing position in relation to a road or street and not always distinct from sense 6.
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OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) i. 179 He [sc. Lucifer]..cwæð on his heortan, þæt he wolde & eaðe mihte beon his scyppende gelic.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xxxvii. 13 Þine gebroðru healdaþ scep on Sichima.
OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxviii. 12 Þa him sæton sundor on portum.
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) Pref. ii. 2 Se wæs biscop on Cantwara byrig.
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) Pref. ii. 4 Þæ ic..wrat oððe on þysse bec oððe on oðre.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 656 Ic haue here godefrihte muneces þa wolden drohtien here lif on anker setle gif hi wisten hwere.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Þa was corn dære, & flec & cæse & butere, for nan ne wæs o þe land.
c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 62 Ðe þe..het me..gan and me sylfne aðwean on ðam eornende wætere þe is ihaten Syloe.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 89 (MED) Swo hatte þe þrop þe preste one wunien.
a1225 ( Ælfric's Homily De Initio Creaturae (Vesp. A.xxii) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 219 For wan hi beoð þuss icweðe me scel sigge an oðre stowe.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 35 (MED) Ic walde..sitten on forste and on snawe up et mine chinne.
?c1250 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Egerton) 272 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 295 An helle for-don.
c1275 ( Royal Charter: William I to Certain Bishops, Earls, & Thegns in D. C. Douglas Feudal Documents Abbey Bury St. Edmunds (1932) 50 Mine biscopes and mine erles and alle mine þeynes one þe schiren þer Baldwyne abbot haueth lond and men.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12269 Þe stiward..Hæxt cniht on londe.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 653 (MED) Heo sat on þe sunne.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3720 (MED) His hed lay on a forwe, ys body..ten vet fram hyt lay.
a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian 1007 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1903) 111 298/2 (MED) He wol noȝt so. Erst he wol be deed on graue.
a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 1324 (MED) Hou many sterres ben on þe sky?
c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 43 (MED) The menne that come with the..were drounet on the see.
1787 J. Elphinston Propriety Ascertained II. ii. 93 Dhe Scotch can see no incongruity in meeting a person on dhe street,..hwaraz dhe Inglish meet a person in dhe street.
1809 T. G. Fessenden Pills 73 But now we find the hussy grown The greatest strumpet on the town.
1813 Edinb. Ann. Reg. 1811 4 ii. p. lxxiii [Scotticisms] Don't sit on the door. In the draught of.
1821 J. F. Cooper Spy I. xiv. 215 The grave-yard was an enclosure on the grounds of Mr. Wharton.
1863 J. Hamilton Poems 94 Nought meets the eye but lofty walls of stone; Within no children gambol on the street.
1863 Evening Bull. (San Francisco) 29 Sept. 3/2 At 1 o'clock they went into a liquor saloon kept by a woman on Kearny Street.
1884 S. E. Dawson Handbk. Canada 231 The Crystal Palace Opera-House, an improvisation on Dominion Square [Montreal].
1887 G. F. Cameron Lyrics on Freedom 24 There are thunders of cheers on the street.
1892 E. G. Vincent Newfoundland to Cochin China iii. 45 The City Hall in this street, or ‘on’, as the Canadians would say.
1909 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea vi. 63 But he lives on the White Sands road and it's quite a distance out of our way.
1946 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh iv. 216 Seen him sittin' on de dock on West Street, lookin' at de water and cryin'!
1956 A. J. Lerner My Fair Lady (1958) i. viii. 86 Let the time go by, I won't care if I Can be here on the street where you live.
1972 Time 17 Apr. 37/2 An agreement..to help finance what is now called the Barsky Unit on the grounds of the Cho Ray Hospital.
1983 A. Ghosh Shadow Lines (1989) 14 There were only a few scattered shacks on Gariahat Road then, put up by the earliest refugees from the east.
2001 Dirt Bike July 69 We wouldn't dream of riding it [sc. our motorbike] on the street.
b. Chiefly colloquial and regional (Australian). At.In Australia mainly with reference to a mining location.
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1853 Bendigo (Victoria) Advertiser 9 Dec. 1/1 We have for many months vainly endeavoured to procure suitable materials for publishing a Newspaper on Bendigo, to be devoted Exclusively to the Mining Interests.
1860 Mining Surveyors' Rep. (Mining Dept., Victoria) Aug. 198 This will be one of the richest claims on Ballarat.
1901 M. Franklin My Brilliant Career iii. 17 Why, on Bruggabrong the women never had to do no outside work.
1930 ‘Brent of Bin Bin’ Ten Creeks Run ii. 34 He had dummied on Monaro in '61 when the Free Selection Act came in.
1968 Listener 29 Aug. 267/2 The only reason she was on a bus stop at that un-Christian hour is that if she didn't catch that particular bus she would miss the only connection.
1999 P. Jooste Frieda & Min 18 Her father was a shift boss on a mine.
*** Of time, or action implying time.
8.
a. Indicating the day or part of the day when an event takes place; = upon prep. 6. on the instant: see instant n. 3.Now also (esp. U.S. and Irish English) used with tomorrow, yesterday, etc., apparently redundantly, although the sense may be closer to sense 8b.
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eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) ii. viii. 51 Þa on ðæm ilcan dæge..fuhton Gallie on þa burg.
eOE Laws of Ælfred (Corpus Cambr. 173) Introd. iii. 26 Wyrceað eow vi dagas, & on þam siofoðan restað eow: forðam..[Dryhten] hine gereste on þone siofoðan dæg.
OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 984 He gesæt þone bisceopstol an þara twegra apostola dæge, Simonis & Iudæ, on Wintanceastre.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 130 Hit gelamp on sumne sæl þæt hi sæton ætgædere.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1122 On þæt dæi xi kalendae Aprilis.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1122 Þæt wæs on þæs dæies xiiio kalendae Nouembris.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 [Hi] on lang fridæi him on rode hengen.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13401 Þatt oþerr daȝȝ þatt crist. Bigann to flittenn onne.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 45 (MED) Ic ham ȝeue reste..from non on saterdei a þa cume monedeis lihting.
1241 ( Royal Charter: Henry I to Sheriffs & Thegns of London, Essex, Herts., & Middlesex in M. Gibbs Early Charters Cathedral St. Paul (1939) 21 Þaet wæs gehaton Westminynstre on Cristesmessa.
a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) l. 102 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 33 Ho com biforn olibrius on þat oþer dai.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3325 On morgen fel hem a dew a-gein.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 17670 (MED) Yee sperd me soth on a fridai.
a1400 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 207 Þat day mot periche þat I was born onne.
c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 2106 Come we a-morwe or on eve.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 231 (MED) On an euen com a spie.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 131v Anaximenes was, on a tyme, in makyng an oracion.
1566 in S. Young Ann. Barber-surgeons London (1890) 181 No Barber shall..put out any bason or basons..upon his poule on Sundays or Holy days.
1618 in M. Burrows Worthies All Souls (1874) ix. 154 Whereas our Gaudyes on All Soules Day to the Side Tables in the Hall were but five dishes to every Messe.
1670 Lady M. Bertie in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 22 On Tuestay wee are to goe see the second part of it.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses xii. 154 O'th' tenth at night the Gods brought me to land.
1711 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 218 The Reverend Dr Atterbury was made Dean of Xt Church on this day sennight.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. iii. 19 The day..on which we were to disperse.
1767 G. Lyttelton Hist. Henry II I. 17 On the eve of St. Matthew.
1829 Virginia Lit. Museum 30 Dec. 459/2 On. As ‘on tomorrow’; a mere expletive. Common.
1852 N.Y. Tribune 9 Jan. 6/1 It was the intention to send in the Treasury Report..on yesterday.
1885 Law Times 80 112/2 On the 29th Jan. 1884 [he] absconded, and on the following day the firm suspended payment.
1890 ‘W. A. Wallace’ Only a Sister 88 He went to church twice o' Sundays.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvi. [Eumaeus] 615 Lionel's air in Martha, M'appari, which,..he heard, or overheard, to be more accurate, on yesterday.
1939 W. S. Maugham Christmas Holiday i. 7 They were fond of entertaining their friends to supper on Sunday evenings.
1977 Irish Press 29 Sept. 2/1 (advt.) Removal of remains to St. Bridget's Church, Kilcurry on today (Thursday) at 6.30 o'clock.
2002 Wall St. Jrnl. 11 Mar. c5/4 On Friday, a rising tide of good economic news lifted all boats.
b. Indicating the period of time during which an event takes place; in the course of; in, at, or during; = upon prep. 6b.In this sense now largely superseded by in, at, during, by.Also before days, nights, originally genitives used in adverbial phrases, later taken as plurals.
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eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iii. iii. 57 On þæm ilcan geare tohlad seo eorþe binnan Romebyrig.
eOE Acct. Voy. Ohthere & Wulfstan in tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 14 On huntoðe on wintra & on sumera on fiscaþe.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) x. 1 On ðære tide Drihten cwæð to me.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) xxviii. 29 Ðæt ðu grapie on midne dæg, swa se blinda deð on ðystrum.
OE Cambridge Psalter: Canticles vi. 35 In tempore quo lapsus fuerit pes eorum : on tide o ða slityn bið fot hyra.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Soðfestemen heom kepten on nihtes.
c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 26 Ða on þære nihte com hire to godes engel.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 111 (MED) Abraam ne hadde nanne sune..bute ænne and ðat was biȝetene on his michele ielde.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1781 Laban..on nigt Wente a-gen-ward or it was ligt.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 14195 To ga on liȝt of day.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 2 I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes.
1442 T. Bekington Let. in G. Williams Mem. Reign Henry VI (1872) II. 189 On the meane tyme.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 506 Fra carleill all on nychtis ryde, And in covert on dayis byde.
1598 Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 150 James Kilgour, belman, to soup the kirkis daskis thair ilk Setterday on eiven.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 424 It never rained on the day-time.
?1710 Squire Bickerstaff Detected 5 Rascals, that walk the Streets on Nights.
1779 T. Forrest Voy. New Guinea 182 The tides rise about six inches higher on the full moon than on the change.
1868 H. J. Conway Hiram Hireout i. i. 5 I have heerd of such things being in story books, as our sister Nance used to read out of on nights.
1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 119 He did not always go home o' nights.
1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling ii. 16 He was always wakeful on the full moon.
1946 D. C. Peattie Road of Naturalist (U.K. ed.) ii. 25 These night lizards lurk by day, and they are never far from Joshua trees o'nights.
1972 Scholarly Publishing 3 181 My work as assistant editor is only a sideline. Since I do it largely on my own time, I avoid extra work and correspondence.
1974 Publishers Weekly 5 Aug. 8/2 He began to put it all together, writing in the evenings and on weekends.
2000 N.Y. Mag. 18 Dec. 112/2 On the weekend we'd be up at dawn and play till dark.
†c. Within the space of (a delimited time); = in prep. 32, upon prep. 6c. Obsolete.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xliii. 313 Ic fæste tuwa on wican.
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) 5 (table of contents) Hu on anum geare wurdon þa twa byrg toworpena, Cartaina & Corinthum.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxvii. 40 On [OE Lindisf. in] þrim dagum hyt eft getimbrað.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1124 Ahengen þær swa fela þefas swa næfre ær ne wæron. Þet wæron on þa litle hwile ealles feower & feowerti manne.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 4019 & þas dæies æn þreom wiken wenden to Lundene.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1537 Ghe..made swiðe on sele ðat mete.
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. ix. 23 (MED) Seue siþes þe sadde man synneþ on þe day.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 57 (MED) Fra þeine may men wende to Damasc on three days.
1492 Notarial Deed 16 Apr. in Sc. Antiquary (1892) 6 24 All at God made on sex dayis and sewin nycht.
a1500 (c1400) St. Erkenwald (1977) 105 (MED) Þe bodeworde to þe byschop was broght on a quile.
1627 W. Sclater Briefe Expos. 2 Thess. 137 Rome was not all built on a day.
1693 Apol. Clergy Scotl. 62 They cite the Archbishop of St. Andrews on twenty four hours to compear before them.
d. Exactly at or just coming up to (a scheduled or other specified time); just before or after in time. Also: having just or almost attained (a specified age).on the dot: see dot n.1 and prep. Phrases 1b. on time: see time n., int., and conj. Phrases 3l(b)(ii).
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1806 R. Cumberland Hint to Husbands v. ii. 87 Lord Transit. What is the hour? Servant. Just on the stroke of eight.
1843 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 235 It is now just on post-time.
1897 J. Conrad Nigger of ‘Narcissus’ i. 3 The carpenter had driven in the last wedge..and..had wiped his face with great deliberation, just on the stroke of five.
1932 D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase xix. 256 ‘What time did you..get to the Feathers?’ ‘Just on one o'clock.’
1942 H. H. Peck Mem. Stockman 67 Billy..just on 87, is a wonderful man.
1969 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Jan. 14/1 The first clear picture of the new Prime Minister which Australians got just on a year ago.
1993 ‘A. McNab’ Bravo Two Zero (1994) vii. 157 We got to the highish ground just on last light.
2000 Heat 13 Jan. 8/1 [He] scaled a nine-storey marquee support pole..on the stroke of midnight.
9. On the occasion of (an action); immediately after (and because of or in reaction to); as a result of; = upon prep. 7.Initially with a noun of action; later also with a gerundial clause.
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1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. C1v He doth debate, What following sorrow may on this arise. View more context for this quotation
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. iii. 10 As he that foresees what wil become of a Criminal, re-cons what he has seen follow on the like Crime before.
1666 W. Killigrew Seege of Urbin iii. 32 On his command, Borosco fell, by young Tigillos Sword.
1713 G. Berkeley Three Dialogues Hylas & Philonous i. 14 On second Thoughts, I do not think it so evident.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. 1 451 On opening the Hatches the Flames burst out.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. x. 101 A disposition to be seized with the most dreadful terrors on the slightest accident.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §68 Which would on the first blush induce one to suppose there was something culpable in this man.
1812 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 178 On our arrival here.
1860 Economist 18 Feb. 186/2 The principal change to-day was a decline of 1 per cent. in Caledonian, on the announcement of the dividend.
1891 Law Times 92 94/1 Milk which on analysis proved to be deficient in fatty matter.
1907 J. H. Patterson Man-eaters of Tsavo ii. 23 The unfortunate jemadar's head had been left intact, save for the holes made by the lion's tusks on seizing him.
1956 H. D. Tribute to Freud 44 The death of my father followed closely on the news of the death of my older brother.
1982 Times 21 May 18/2 Wolseley Hughes fell by 14p at 348p on the United States acquisition.
2001 Which? Dec. 49/2 The hire company refused to let me have the car on arrival at Hamburg airport.
**** Of order, arrangement, manner, state.
10. Indicating physical (or notional) arrangement or grouping: in (a row, a heap, pieces, etc.); = upon prep. 8. Now archaic.
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OE Order of World 69 Gewiteð þonne..forðmære tungol, faran on heape.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 362 An god is gecyndelice on þrim hadum: fæder & his sunu..& se halga gast.
c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 22 Ic habbe under me moniȝæ cnihtæs on fare.
c1300 St. Brendan (Laud) 448 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 232 (MED) Heom þouȝte þe ground was on eche half with fisch al on hepe.
c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 570 (MED) Al þe fiften outlawes ken, He slouȝ hem al on rawe.
c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 51 Þei..gadereth gold an hepe.
?a1425 (?c1350) Northern Passion (Rawl.) 471 (MED) Maister and lord now yhe me call..yhit I haue kneled yhow vn-to And waschen yhour fete all on raw.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 364 On a thronge, or to-gedur, Gregatim.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 238 (MED) Þase meruelyous drynkes Raykede full rathely..Till all þe riche on rawe.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 1056 (MED) Forthe they Ran..Mo than thre hunderd on a throng.
1574 Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford p. xcviii And others..came in suddanlie on a troupe together in to the churche.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. iv. 16 He tombled on an heape, and wallowd in his gore.
1620 Hist. Frier Rush sig. C2v They came all on a cluster.
1662 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. IV. 280 I saw the monks kneeling on a row..before the altar.
1675 V. Alsop Anti-Sozzo 277 It were tedious to instance..how they run their Enemies all on Heaps, and perplex their Discourses all into Snicksnarles.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 254 He numbered them by laying so many Stones on a Row.
a1762 Lady M. W. Montagu in R. Dodsley Coll. Poems (1763) I. 83 Myself and daughters standing on a row, To all the foreigners a goodly show!
1818 G. S. Faber Horæ Mosaicæ (ed. 2) I. 189 Its waters stood on heaps to the right hand and to the left.
1840 R. H. Barham Mr. Barney Maguire's Acct. in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 291 And Sir George Smart! Oh! he play'd a Consarto, With his four-and-twenty fidlers all on a row!
1923 C. M. Doughty Mansoul (rev. ed.) v. 182 Come to wood-side, they halted on a row.
11.
a. In (a certain way); = upon prep. 9. Now archaic or in biblical allusions (cf. quot. 1526), frequently in on this wise.In Old English with accusative. Cf. German auf diese Weise.Also forming adverbial phrases of manner. on haste: see haste n. Phrases 1a. on right: see right n. Phrases 1b(k). on (a) sudden: see sudden n. 1b. on the alert: see alert n. 1. on the cheap: see cheap n.1 1. on the cross: see cross n. 22b. on the sly: see sly n. 2. on the square: see square adj. 12.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxix. 132 We ongitaþ hwilum [mon] on oðre wisan, on oðre hine God ongit.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) xii. 5 On ða ylcan wisan nymað ticcenu.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 675 Ic hit wille þæt hit on ælle wise beo, swa swa ge hit sprecon hauen.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17578 Sawle. & godd Sinndenn wiþþ utenn ende. & hafenn minde. & wille. & witt Acc nohht onn ane wise.
a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 77 Þe fader is ine þe sune on þre wise.
1258 Proclam. Henry III in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1868–9) 173 Beon let oþer iwersed on onie wise.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 471 Ðanne cumeð ðis elp..he remeð & helpe calleð, remeð reufulike on his wise.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 815 (MED) On none manner he nolde fle.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2686 (MED) Sche wold..Meke hire in his merci on þise maner wise.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 379 On two maner is Goddis word herd.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 984 These arowis..Were alle fyve on oon maneere.
1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 259 On Alle wyse, omnimodo.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. i. f. jv The byrhe [sic] off Christe was on thys wyse.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 3145 O nowise may we wyn þat woman to gete.
c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 28 Bot the lordis on na wayiss wald not aggree.
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xxxii. 19 On this maner shal you speake vnto Esau, when you find him. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Sergeant Solid Philos. 440 To begin his search after Truth on this preposterous manner.
1774 J. Bennet Poems Several Occasions 44 Have you not read the standard of our faith, Which in the plainest terms on this wise saith; That those who preach the Gospel should be free.
1864 G. W. Dasent Jest & Earnest (1873) II. 346 Ulf's words were on this wise.
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Roughing It xvii. 138 It was on this wise (which is a favorite expression of great authors, and a very neat one, too, but I never hear anybody say on this wise when they are talking).
1898 Argosy Apr. 55 The matter fell on this wise.
1916 C. M. Doughty Titans iii. 65 On this wise: Should their bands, with Titans leagued; Contend with heavens, come morrow, for the World.
1990 T. McEwen McX (1991) iii. 89 The renting of the cottage from my lord's factor was on this wise.
†b. Indicating language: = in prep. 20b. Obsolete.In Old English, as in the other Germanic languages, with accusative.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) Pref. 7 Boc..is genemned on Læden Pastoralis, & on Englisc Hierdeboc.
OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 359 We habbað nu gesæd sceortlice on Englisc þis halige godspell.
a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 63 (MED) Bred on grikisce is Larspel to us.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 17 He nom þa Englisca boc..An oþer he nom on Latin.
c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) 35 (MED) On Englisch ichul mi resun schowen.
1402 Reply Friar Daw Topias in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1861) II. 91 Heresie, that is Grw, is divisioun on Latyn.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 29v (MED) Þese þre latyn wordis..humerus, homoplata, & spatula..ben as miche to seie on ynglisch as þe schuldre or the schuldre blad.
†c. In uses now expressed by at, esp. in on a price (also rate). Obsolete.
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1477 E. Bedyngfeld in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 419 He wol not selle hym..vnder that mony that he sette hym on.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. xiv. 132 Serviceable men he would purchase on any rate.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 88 When his matters were on that crisis.
1776 G. Semple Treat. Building in Water 67 The Bridge must be on right Angles with the Current.
1794 A. M. Bennett Ellen III. 52 Ellen was walking on a slow solemn pace.
12.
a. With nouns of action (especially nouns derived from or closely related to verbs) or state, indicating the activity, state, or condition of a person or thing; = upon prep. 10. Also (with nouns denoting a subject of study, etc.), indicating the sphere of activity of a person.Parallel compounds of a prep.1 are used as well as or instead of on with nouns of state and condition, e.g. afire, alive, asleep: see etymological note. See also fire n. and int. Phrases 3b(a), leave n.1 4, loan n.1 3a, lookout n. Phrases 2, move n. 3a, offer n.1 1d, run n.2 Phrases 3, sale n.2 2c, tap n.1 7, wait n. 1b, wane n.1 5, watch n. 6d.
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eOE Acct. Voy. Ohthere & Wulfstan in tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 14 On huntoðe on wintra & on sumera on fiscaþe.
OE Gifts of Men 37 Sum bið on huntoþe.
OE Blickling Homilies 3 Euan unselignæsse..þæt heo cende on sare & on unrotnesse þa hire bearn.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 142 Þe follc..stod Þatt while onn heore bene.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 691 Wel wes him on liue.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2030 Cloten hauede Cornwale þat he heold wel one griðe.
c1325 Body & Soul 59 in Map's Poems 347 Þe world shal al o fure ben.
c1375 XI Pains of Hell 281 in Old Eng. Misc. 219 When I was on-þerst hongyng on þe rode.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 15649 (MED) All on-slepe he fand þam fast.
1451 J. Gloys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 68 I lay on wayte vp-on hym.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 101 A good man..of good kynrede as ony on lyve.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. xiii. 33 Venus, all on flocht, Amyd her breist reuoluyng mony a thocht.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 84 When the Firth is frozen and all on yce.
1629 tr. Herodian Hist. (1635) 400 The doores (which were all on a flame).
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 38. ⁋1 You might see his Imagination on the Stretch.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. i. ii. 9 Her Prudence was as much on the Guard, as if she had had all the Snares to apprehend. View more context for this quotation
1768 G. White Let. 8 Oct. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 57 As you have been so lately on the study of reptiles.
1787 A. Young Jrnl. 18 May in Trav. France (1792) i. 4 I am not professedly in this diary on husbandry, but must just observe, that [etc.].
1808 E. Sleath Bristol Heiress IV. 31 Glenn Hall, which was then advertised, and on sale.
1838 C. Waterton Ess. Nat. Hist. p. lxviii Whilst I am on phlebotomy, I may remark that I consider inflammation to be the root and origin of almost all diseases.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 608 Some men of the Horse Guards, who were on watch, heard the report.
1886 Illustr. London News 9 Jan. 31/1 Better a dinner of herbs..than eight courses, eaten on our best behaviour.
1939 W. S. Maugham Christmas Holiday (1953) i. 3 He put up a row of villas and in a short while let them all on lease.
1954 New Yorker 6 Mar. 19/3 After a while, someone ventured to hope, out loud, that she wouldn't change her mind again, because he was on his lunch hour.
1978 M. McLaverty Coll. Short Stories 60 And with the days on the turn, the early lambs in the fields, he would have brighter prospects.
1998 P. Laverty My Name is Joe 34 I'm on night shift and I've got to rush.
†b. With gerund or verbal noun: in the process of, engaged or occupied with. See also sense 23. Cf. a prep.1 11 – 12, -ing suffix1, and -ing suffix2. Obsolete.
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c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 6139 Þa cheorles wenden to þan wuden..and iuunden þene king þær he wes an slæting [c1300 Otho an hontyng].
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 34 (MED) Hit was in one someres day..Þat..þe gode kinge Rod on his pleyhinge.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 415 While þe gospel was on redynge.
c1410 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (BL Add.) (1874) V. 325 While þe masse is on syngynge.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1913) II. l. 13870 They..abyden the kynges comeng, that ȝit at that time was anarmyng.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 772 Whyle Torrent an huntyng wase.
c. Stationed at; in charge of; (formerly spec. with the) on guard duty at. Also in Association Football, etc.: in possession of (the ball).
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1794 Ld. Nelson Let. 8 July in Dispatches & Lett. (1844) I. 249 I have told Captain Stephens and Captain Wilkes, who is on the battery, that [etc.].
1798 Capt. Miller in Ld. Nelson Dispatches & Lett. (1846) VII. p. clix Having made one strong cable fast to the Tonnant and desired sentinels to be placed on it on board her.
1887 Chambers's Jrnl. May 317/1 The sergeant ‘on Mint’ is virtually invested with supreme authority.
1887 Chambers's Jrnl. Dec. 795/1 The sentries ‘on opera’ are provided with neither sentry-boxes..nor order-boards.
1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 8 Nov. 3/1 Speaking of their several avocations..I learned that So-and-so was ‘on the pigs’, another ‘on the kitchen’, and a third ‘on the table’.
1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 63 The pub-stiff that was on the door told us to go upstairs.
1976 E. Dunphy Only a Game? iii. 103 It bothers you when you are trying to do a little bit on the ball. Something a bit creative.
1987 S. Eldred-Grigg Oracles Miracles ii. 31 It was a sewing factory and I was on a machine.
2001 Big Issue 20 Aug. 41/1 (advt.) The Friends of the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead need volunteers on the tills in the..hospital shop.
d. on it: (a) U.S. slang, ready for, or skilled in, something; (b) English regional (with preceding adverb or adjective), in a particular (usually distressing) condition or situation.
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1862 C. F. Browne Artemus Ward his Bk. 96 ‘Do you bleeve in..the immaculateness of the Mormin Church and the Latter-day Revelashuns?’ Sez I, ‘I'm on it!’
1865 Harper's Mag. May 694/1 She's tolerable peert—the old 'oman is. Oh, she's on it, you bet.
1880 A. A. Hayes New Colorado (1881) v. 77 You bet he could cook. He was just on it.
1889 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (ed. 2) 886 He's sorely on it yit, 'cause his wife's runn'd awaay fra him.
1922 P. MacGill Lanty Hanlon 62 ‘The sickness that was on me at the time was that terrible,’ she continued... ‘But you're well on it now, Oonah, good woman?’ Lanty asked.
1946 F. Sargeson That Summer 96 He looked pretty crook on it.
1995 Mojo Feb. 43/1 It's very easy to forget the time when he was really on it; rockin'; a genuine teenage star.
e. colloquial. Indicating position in serial order: up to, at (a specific point).
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the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [preposition] > defining a point in a series
atc1300
on1925
1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby i. 15 ‘You make me feel uncivilized, Daisy’, I confessed on my second glass of..claret.
1971 P. Purser Holy Father's Navy iv. 22 We were already on the second of the two bottles we'd bought at the duty-free shop.
1988 A. Lurie Truth about Lorin Jones ii. 28 He was now on his third wife, Polly's mother having been the first.
2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 viii. 223 Gerrard..was still on his first drink.
f. colloquial (originally U.S.). Addicted to or under the influence of (a drug or drugs); regularly using or receiving (medication, treatment, etc.).
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1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 84/1 On the stuff, addicted to dope.
1947 A. Ginsberg Let. Nov. (2008) 18 I had been writing all day a poem ‘The Creation of the World’ on benny [Benzedrine] for the first time since I left Africa.
1955 N. Shapiro & N. Hentoff Hear me talkin' to Ya xxi. 333 The habit is a false crutch. Don't get on the H.
1966 Lancet 31 Dec. 1441/1 Patients who had partial heart block while on P.G.I. therapy alone..reverted to sinus rhythm.
1972 M. J. Bosse Incident at Naha i. 60 Linda..asked what I was on these days. ‘Pot, and not much of that,’ I told her.
1976 P. Hill Hunters v. 59 He dropped his mouth to hers... ‘Are you on the pill?’ he asked.
2001 N.Y. Times 19 Aug. 1/6 They must put their children on drugs to treat disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
g. Consuming (alcoholic drink) in large quantities or to excess. on it (Australian colloquial): drinking heavily.on the booze: see booze n. 2b. on the bottle: see bottle n.3 Phrases 8b. on the piss: see piss n. 2.
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1938 E. Lowe Salute to Freedom 38 He knew how drink affected Brand, and he muttered to his wife, ‘He's on it proper to day mother.’
1951 E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves ix. 140 ‘They reckon Groggy's on it again,’ observed Tommy.
1976 Daily Mirror 18 Mar. 9/3 Watch that daily tipple, ladies. You could end up on the bottle.
1996 M. Burgess Junk (1997) xxiii. 208 He'd been on the beer by the look of him.
2000 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 2 Apr. 14/7 (caption) [The model] is back on the sauce.
†13. Indicating a medium or agent, esp. a substance with which something is covered. Cf. with prep. 39c. Obsolete.
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OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xviii. 178 Se earming..bat his tungan, þæt heo on blode fleow.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12971 Þa six swin he gon æten..al biwaled on axen.
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 560 (MED) He seiȝ a child..stremynge on blode.
c1390 Charter Abbey Holy Ghost (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 359 (MED) Þe Iewes..beoten Cristes percious bodi..til al his bodi ron o-blode.
a1450–1509 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (A-version) (1913) 831 (MED) Sche cratched hereselff in þe vysage..þe face fomyd al on blood.
a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) 1996 (MED) The chambre flore Alle ranne on blode.
***** Indicating basis, ground, or footing.
14.
a. Indicating the basis or reason of an action, opinion, etc.; having as a motive; = upon prep. 11c.In many phrases, as on account (of), on design, on intent, on pretence, on purpose; on terms; on an (also the) average, on the whole: see the nouns. on less than: see unless adv., conj., prep., and n.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xi. 24 He..mæge gebecnan þæt he irne on his willan.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1106 Ealle mæst þe þær on lande wæron him on his willan to gebugon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1666 Ah late we hine welden his folc on his willen.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 15 Ȝif men avysiden hem on þis resoun.
1460 in A. Laing Lindores Abbey (1876) 158 On thair awin fre wyll.
1505 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1901) III. 134 To ane pur wedo..quhilk taryit heir lang on pley.
1578 G. Whetstone Promos & Cassandra: 2nd Pt. ii. v. sig. Livv The doome, was geuen, on cause and not on spyte.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 sig. D4 I do arrest thee on high treason here.
1607 T. Bodley in R. Parr Life J. Usher (1686) Misc. Lett. 21 They turned back on their own accord.
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 164 I thinke that he [sc. St Thomas] was absent on negligence.
1680 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 41 Being wounded by his fellows on mistake.
1701 G. Farquhar Sir Harry Wildair III. 28 Why, you Dog, you ought to Pimp for me; you shou'd keep a Pack of Wenches o' purpose to hunt down Matrimony.
1757 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances I. xxxiii. 47 I acted not on so poor a Motive.
1787 J. Barlow Vision of Columbus Introd. p. xix [The king refused] to reinstate Columbus, or to fulfil any of the conditions on which the discoveries were undertaken.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vi. 111 Starting for a long ride, on a dinner-engagement.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 267 He..was convicted on evidence which would not have satisfied any impartial tribunal.
1891 Law Times 91 21/2 We learn on good authority that arbitration has become too well established.
1905 G. K. Chesterton Heretics 136 There is more simplicity in the man who eats caviar on impulse than in the man who eats grape-nuts on principle.
1925 V. Woolf Mrs. Dalloway 158 She had got them there on false pretences, to help her out of a difficulty.
1971 F. Forsyth Day of Jackal (1975) xv. 288 There's nothing we can hold him on... Tell them at Paddington nick they can let him go back to his bed.
1997 Prevention Nov. 17/1 I had bought one for my large dog on the recommendation of a friend.
b. Indicating means of subsistence or existence, or an article of food furnishing sustenance; = upon prep. 11e.
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the world > food and drink > food > [preposition] > indicating means of sustenance
oneOE
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [preposition] > in receipt of a wage
oneOE
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. xx. 62 Eft genim swines scearn þæs þe on dun lande and wyrtum libbe.
?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 242 (MED) Also many ietteris of contre..han litel or nouȝt to lyue onne.
1486 Blasyng of Armys sig. Cviii, in Bk. St. Albans She fedith on all maner of flesch.
1537 Bible (Matthew's) Ezek. xviii. Comm. (end) Or yt the prestes benefyces were not sufficient for them to lyue on, with out soch pyllage.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. ii. 107 Iniurious Waspes, to feede on such sweet hony, And kill the Bees that yeelde it, with your stings. View more context for this quotation
a1637 N. Ferrar Story Bks. Little Gidding (1899) 219 That a Father should leave his children on the Parish through..unthriftines.
1661 S. Pepys Diary 10 Mar. (1970) II. 52 Dined at home on a poor Lenten dinner of Coleworts and bacon.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. v. x. sig. Mm5v Ev'n the wholsomest Meats may be surfeited on.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man iii. 61 All feed on one vain patron.
1761 T. Gray Let. 23 June in Corr. (1971) II. 740 If the boy was to be on the foundation [at Eton].
a1787 S. Jenyns Wks. (1790) I. ii. xvi. 131 He is not half so blest As those who've Liberty and rest, And dine on beans and bacon.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 111 The lesser pensioners dine with the scholars that are on the foundation, but live at their own expense.
1801 G. Huddesford Poems I. 105 Contented he dined on his daily potatoes.
1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 336 A colonel on half-pay.
1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 572 She retires to spend the remainder of her days on the means they have left her.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 39 They are on board wages.
1920 E. O'Neill Beyond Horizon II. ii. 109 I'm going to try and hire a good man..to work the place on a salary and percentage.
1950 G. B. Shaw Farfetched Fables vi. 126 They found they could live on air, and that eating and drinking caused diseases of which their bodies died.
1957 ‘Miss Read’ Village Diary 17 We thrived cheerfully on a salary of just over thirteen pounds a month.
1975 G. Lyall Judas Country xxiv. 179 A TWA crew..was breakfasting on turkey sandwiches at the next table.
1987 World Soccer Mar. 18/2 While he was with Sampdoria, he was ‘on’ some £300,000 a year, tax free.
2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) xiii. 312 I imagined myself a gruff frontiersman, living on his wits and the land.
2001 Bird Keeper Feb. 12/2 His stock is fed on a seed mix with extra plain canary and a little cod-liver oil added.
c. Indicating the fuel or other source of energy used by a device, esp. a vehicle; also figurative.
ΚΠ
1903 Motor Ann. 155 The consumption test was to determine which cycle would travel the greatest distance on a pint of petrol, at a minimum pace of 15 m.p.h.
1946 Mod. Petroleum Technol. (Inst. Petroleum) 245 All reciprocating petrol engines, if run on unsuitable fuel, will produce a characteristic noise known as knocking.
1995 I. Banks Whit i. 7 The stove was built for solid fuel but now runs on methane piped in from the waste tanks.
2001 Art Room Catal. (Spring Preview) 38/3 The clock itself..has a quartz movement and runs on a single AA battery.
15. According to; in agreement or accordance with; in the style of, on the pattern of, after; = upon prep. 11b.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [preposition] > in the style of
ona1225
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 123 (MED) Þene wisdom þe ure drihten us sende, aspenen we hit on godes willan.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12795 Wind heom stod on wille.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 257 (MED) Saufliche y hope I may worche on ȝour word.
1658 A. Cokayne 1658 i. i. 302 She does nothing all day but read little Comedies..she's no more houswife then you or I Sir, on my own proper knowledge.
1726 T. Southerne Money the Mistress (front matter) 'Tis fram'd on the Model of Terence, and as Comedies ought to be, not to do harm.
1753 in S. Fielding David Simple: Vol. the Last Pref. p. vii Novelty of a musical Passage arises..from a melodious Variation on the same Notes.
1820 W. Scott Let. in J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life W. Scott (1837) IV. xi. 371 She ran a set of variations on ‘Kenmure's on and awa’.
1823 Mechanic's Mag. 1 45 A hand loom on a new construction has been recently introduced.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 Dec. 12/1 Percival's new model of the præpostorial system, carried out on Dr. Arnold's lines.
1909 Springfield (Mass.) Weekly Republican 19 Aug. 10 The train was running exactly on schedule when the party left it.
1942 E. Bowen Bowen's Court i. 16 The inner frame of the front door and the mantelpiece are on the Roman pattern.
1967 A. Carter Magic Toyshop i. 3 She performed a number of variations on the basic bread-pudding recipe.
1977 B. F. Chamberlin in D. H. Bond & W. R. McLeod Newslett. to Newspapers iv. 252 A spoof on a pirated letter written by Williams.
2000 Independent 29 Aug. i. 8/8 [He] has coined a new variation on dress-down days by calling them ‘dress differently’ days.
16. Indicating risk or penalty; at the risk of losing or forfeiting; = upon prep. 12.on pain of: see pain n.1 1b.
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c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1725 Arcite That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed.
1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 51 On þe peyne of xl. d. to paie to þe box.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 46 (MED) He schulde be..forboden þat borȝe to bowe þider never, On payne of enprysonment and puttyng in stokkez.
1469 in W. P. Ellis & H. E. Salter Liber Albus Civitatis Oxoniensis (1909) 79 (MED) I charge my son John on my blissynge that he..neuer trowble my wyffe of no londys..to hir graunted.
a1500 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Wellcome) f. 29 (MED) Þe spicer on his owyn hede ȝaufe hym another drame of þe selfe triacle.
c1503 Beuys of Southhamptowne (Pynson) sig. F.iiv The patriarke on my lyfe Charged me neuer to take wyfe.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost i. i. 122 On payne of loosing her tung. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 398 Obedience to the Law of God, impos'd On penaltie of death. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour iv. i. 37 On thy Life secure the Prison Gate.
1698 T. Dilke Pretenders v. 41 No jarring, Gentlemen, on penalty of my eternal displeasure.
1755 F. Brooke Old Maid No. 3. 15 [The father] charged him on his blessing to abandon all studies of that kind.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. v. 81 I charge ye, on peril of your lives, not to stir from the place where ye stand, until I have returned.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table viii. 208 Many minds must change their key now and then, on penalty of getting out of tune or losing their voices.
1884 W. Besant Dorothy Forster II. vxi. 101 Never again would she..practise upon him this truly diabolical art, on penalty of being instantly dismissed.
1941 H. L. Mencken Diary 18 Sept. (1989) 161 The authorities require every person who has a pitch in a subway to occupy it at least three nights a week on penalty of losing it.
1998 C. Wickham Community & Clientele in Twelfth-Cent. Tuscany iv. App. 101 No man from the districtus should wound or assault anyone inside the castrum, on penalty of life expulsion from the districtus.
2000 P. Kafka (Out)classed Women iii. 34 Consuelo..will allow no woman in her reach to deviate from that truth on penalty of figurative death.
17.
a. Indicating the basis of income, taxation, borrowing, lending, profit, loss, etc.; = upon prep. 13.
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?1532 Tales & Quicke Answeres liv. sig. F48 He borowed so moche money on his maysters skarlet cloke, as drewe to all the costes that they spente by the waye.
1580 A. Saker Narbonus i. 93 sig. Niii His Lands he was content to leaue with his Wife, bycause they were not easie to be caried, and to sel them..or borrow money on them, his returne was vncertaine.
a1628 F. Greville Remains (1670) ix. 106 Now though wise Kings do by advantage play With other States, by setting Tax on toyes.
1675 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) I. 340 For the faire aille being ane gallon a creill of peits and a hen on ilk house.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 445. ¶5 The Tax on Paper was given for the Support of the Government.
1745 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 34 For raising of money on the Inhabitants.
1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia xv. 275 The assembly..gave it..a duty on liquors imported, and skins and firs exported.
1836 A. C. Flagg Let. 8 Jan. in Flagg Corr. (1986) 47 Your proposition to transact this business for one half the profits on sales which may be made, is acceded to.
1863 H. Fawcett Man. Polit. Econ. ii. x. 286 Two fifths of these profits form a fund, from which the annual dividend on capital is paid.
1883 Liverpool Courier 25 Sept. 4/5 The largest procurable dividends on the outlay of capital.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 462/2 The notes of the banks, loaned on security, became a medium of exchange.
1936 E. Waugh Waugh in Abyssinia v. 182 He could not get the spare parts on credit.
1996 Independent 7 Feb. ii. 11/3 Customs & Excise requires the VAT on scrap gold to be paid direct to them.
2000 R. W. Holder Taunton Cider & Langdons xvii. 92 Many of the employees too would show a sizeable profit on their shares.
b. spec. In expectation of the success or favourable outcome of (the subject of a bet, speculation, etc.); (with specified betting odds) with that likelihood of success of.
ΚΠ
1765 Ann. Reg. 1764 App. to Chron. 129/1 Odds at starting—Six to four on Leader.
1809 Ld. Byron Eng. Bards & Sc. Reviewers 675 Done!—a thousand on the..trick.
c1840 E. Bulwer-Lytton in M. R. Booth Eng. Plays of 19th Cent. (1973) III. 207 I think I'll venture. £200 on this game, Evelyn?
1895 How to Make Money on Small Cap. 63 If the horse should win, [he would] put all the winnings and his original $5 on the next race.
1954 D. Abse Ash on Young Man's Sleeve 62 I saw him myself, he's no match for our Bertie. I put a quid on him at 3 to 1.
1999 J. May Shut Up & Deal iii. 113 There's Josh at the baccarat table..betting everything on the hand.
2001 Chicago Tribune 11 Nov. iv. 1/1 If you're not betting on the game, insulting folks is a good way to get through the TV timeouts, the instant replays and the halftime show.
II. Of motion or direction towards a position.
18.
a. To or towards (and into a position of being supported by or lying upon the surface of); on to; = upon prep. 14. Cf. senses 1 and 2.Also with reference to non-physical things treated as having physical extension, and in contexts where the action expressed by a verb involves no physical motion, but has a metaphorical direction or object.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. vii. 178 On his hors hleop.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) v. 1 He astah on þone munt.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1101 Se cyng syddan scipa ut on sæ sende.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1789 Þatt allterr. þatt tatt errfe blod. Wass eȝȝwhær strennkedd onne..Tacnede godess enngless.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 616 Heo..hire hond on his heued leide.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 6538 He nom ane cape..On þene munec he heo dude.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 293 He billeð one ðe foxes fel.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 383 (MED) On knes he him sette.
c1375 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 3241 Ycaried hem hath he, Hye on an hill wher as men myghte hem se.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10393 Iesu crist was tan, And don on rode.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Matt. v. 45 That..reyneth on iust men and vniuste.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xlvi. l. 347 And An horsbak Setten hym.
a1500 in R. L. Greene Early Eng. Carols (1935) 308 (MED) Qwan he and me browt un us the schete, Of all hys wyll I hym lete.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 9133 Pure watur pouret vn polishet yerin.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5v Curse on that Cross (qd. then the Sarazin).
a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1233 Out of the peit pot in on the myr.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 117 A Plague did on the dumb Creation rise. View more context for this quotation
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xix. 524 A sort of a distemper that stole insensibly on them.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 98 These delicates he heap'd..On golden dishes.
1860 W. Collins Woman in White (new ed.) III. 64 I threw the letter on the table, with all the contempt that I felt for it.
1896 Law Times 100 488/1 The vestry served a notice on the respondent, calling upon him to repair the drain.
1915 A. Pollitzer Let. 26 July in G. O'Keeffe & A. Pollitzer Lovingly, Georgia (1990) 7 I took [the drawings] up—thumb-tacked them on the walls and had a real exhibit.
1962 R. Hardy Act of Destruction ii. i. 59 The Asians..bring the stuff across country, load it on dhows and ship it to the Far East.
1988 Bella 4 Apr. 11/1 Before you paint your window frames, rub soap on the glass round the edges.
2000 N.Y. Times Mag. 15 Oct. 84/2 I posted a notice on Columbia University's..e-newsletter.
b. Indicating incidence, seizure, hold, etc.; = upon prep. 14c. lay hold on: see lay v.1 22. seize on: see seize v. 9a. take hold on: see hold n.1 Phrases a.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) iv. 41 Ðæt hiera nan ne durre gripan sua orsorglice on ðæt rice.
1537 W. Tyndale Expos. 1 John sig. G.viiv The deuell can ketche no hold of them.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 32 Like men drowning, that get hold on every twig.
1955 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 31 Jan. 19/1 Flaman tried desperately to break from linesman Bill Roberts, who had put the clutch on the rampaging Bruin defenseman.
c. Of a blow, etc.: falling upon, striking; = upon prep. 14c.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) v. xv. 132 He oft unwitende slog mid his heafde on þone wag.
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. i. 84 He hiene on þone nafelan ofstang.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 7 Beateð on ower breoste.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 269 Brutus heom smat on.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 7174 (MED) Segremore smot..Russel On his schulder.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 21402 þe king..feld fast on [a1400 Vesp. o] þat haþen lede.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 29 With hys swerde he smote the kynge on the helme.
a1500 Rich. (Douce) 96/5 [Th]e kinge hyme hytte one þe schelde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xxxiii He strake the chiefe Iustice with his fiste on the face.
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle v. ii. sig. Eiiii And gaue him a good blow on the buttocke.
c1582 Long Meg Westminster ii. 5 If she durst exchange a box o'the ear with him.
1602 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1884) 1st Ser. VI. 862 Mr. Alexander put bak the dur on my face.
1616 B. Jonson Epicœne i. i, in Wks. I. 530 She hits me a blow o' the eare, and calls me innocent, and lets me goe. View more context for this quotation
1678 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 92 He strook me another deadly blow on the brest, and beat me down backward. View more context for this quotation
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 317. ¶35 Gave Ralph a Box on the Ear.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals iv. iii Being knocked o' the head by-and-by.
1829 P. Egan Boxiana New Ser. II. 703 Johnson fell from a tingler on the left lug.
1860 W. Collins Woman in White (new ed.) II. 191 He frightened me by a thump on the door, outside.
1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights II. 110 Villon fetched him a fillip on the nose, which turned his mirth into an attack of coughing.
1902 J. Conrad Heart of Darkness iii, in Youth 156 The Russian tapped me on the shoulder.
1953 R. W. Fairbrother Text-bk. Bacteriol. (ed. 7) ix. 104 Osteomyelitis not infrequently follows a blow on a limb.
1990 N. Payne Grenadian Childhood 50 Marjorie threw all her books away so vigorously that they hit Cynthia on her nose.
2000 Esquire July 132/3 Most aircraft accidents occur..when heavy cases fall out and clock someone on the head.
d. Indicating continued motion following a set course; = upon prep. 14f. Cf. away adv., adj., and n.
ΚΠ
c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 14 Ða..dauid..forð on his wæȝ ferde.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 21 As I lay Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury.
1465 M. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 309 I wold þat ȝe sende hyder lytyl John, that I mygth sende hym abowte on myn errandys.
1591 Troublesome Raigne Iohn i. sig. A3v To send them thus On Embassades.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. i. 12 This is a slight vnmeritable man, Meet to be sent on Errands. View more context for this quotation
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 272 With her scanty wardrobe, packed up in a wallet, she set out on her journey on foot.
1874 J. L. Motley Life John of Barneveld I. iv. 179 They set forth on their journey—stopping in the middle of the day to bait.
1963 I. Murdoch Unicorn ii. xii. 118 I've meant all my life to go on a spiritual pilgrimage.
2003 New Scientist 11 Oct. 44/2 When I set off on an expedition to western Brazil in 1991, I thought I knew everything about the terrestrial spiny rats.
e. Indicating cumulative addition or repetition; = upon prep. 14e.Often without further construction, with adverbial force.
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1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. v. sig. K1v Your curst Court and you..With your temptations on temptations Made me giue vp mine honour.
1626 G. Sandys tr. Ovid Metamorphosis xii. 251 The fatall steele..he waues Deepe in his guts, and wounds on wounds ingraues.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 995 With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded. View more context for this quotation
1728 J. Thomson Spring 8 Oft engender'd by the hazy North, Myriads on myriads, Insect-Armies waft Keen in the poison'd Breeze.
1839 W. M. Thackeray Fatal Boots viii I have had ill-luck on ill-luck.
1855 C. Kingsley Plays & Puritans 130 What Spaniard on Spaniard had been saying for fifty years.
1864 G. Moultrie in O. Shipley Lyra Eucharistica (ed. 2) 133 Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way.
1929 H. Monro Earth for Sale 19 I could now rise and run Through street on street.
1964 D. Davie Events & Wisdoms 6 From thirty years back my grandmother with us boys Picking the ash-grimed blackberries, pint on pint.
1991 J. Ashbery Flow Chart ii. 45 Those peaceful voices, rising tier on tier in the storied gothic cathedral, go unheard.
2002 Edmonton (Alberta) Jrnl. 8 Oct. a16 The soldiers buried row on row beneath the blood-red flowers.
19.
a. Into contact or collision with, esp. in the way of attack; against, towards; = upon prep. 15.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) ii. v. 45 Æfter þæm he wonn on Sciþþie.
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) ii. viii. 124 Sona þæs þe he on heo feaht, wæron him ealle his fynd gecyðede.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 507 (MED) Heo..sleatten on him hundes ant leiden to wið honden.
c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 212 (MED) Leccherie o meiðhad..weorreð o þis wise.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 114 Wat if ðe man..figteð wið ðis wirm & f[a]reð on him figtande?
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 1269 (MED) Þe devyl come on þe!
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 140 On saracenys warrayand.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 384 On thaim! On thaim! thai feble fast!
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 25 (MED) So xij..ran on hym with swerdes..and slowe hym.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 294 That day he neuer tooke prisoner, but alwayes fought and went on his enemies.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 14 With roring and howling [they] darte themselues on euery Rocke.
c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 1202 When Philip had with his folke faren on Greece.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. Decursion, a running of souldiers on their enemies.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 100 He bears his Rider headlong on the Foe. View more context for this quotation
1797 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry (rev. ed.) 274 That the whole may arrive on the enemy at the same time.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. iii. 89 The sea runs high, and the boat may be dashed to pieces on the rocks.
1850 ‘S. Yendys’ Roman iii. 38 He calls his blood-hounds round his gory hands, And cheers them on the prey.
1883 Standard 8 May 3/7 His..bowling seldom seemed to be on the wicket.
1898 Argosy Aug. 168 For the men of Faroe..were too chivalrous to fire on men only armed with swords.
1902 G. S. Whitmore Last Maori War iv. 53 The guns opened on the enemy.
1977 M. Frayn Donkeys' Years iii. 81 What am I supposed to do? Use tear-gas on them?
2002 N.Y. Times Mag. 6 Jan. 34/2 A day before his march on Kandahar began, Gul Agha assembled his newly weaponized fighters by a stream outside Shinarai.
b. Sport (chiefly North American). Expressing the relationship between opposing players in attacking or defensive situations: in opposition to, against, esp. in one-on-one (also two-on-one, etc.) (see also man-on-man at man n.1 11c). Also in extended use in general contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [preposition] > in opposition to or against
on1939
1939 Scholastic Coach Oct. 34/3 Other basic defensive drills include the one-on-one, where an offensive man receives the ball and tries to outmaneuver a guard.
1955 K. Loeffler On Basketball vi. 121 Its front three can break quickly going from defense to offense with three on two.
1989 New Yorker 2 Jan. 38/3 As he [sc. Reagan] had done in Sacramento, he decided against having one-on-one meetings with aides and officials. He wanted other people..in the room.
2001 Chicago Tribune 14 Dec. iv. 8/6 They would..run three-man weaves and two-on-two rebounding drills.
20.
a. In the direction of, so as to face.In quot. 1888 ‘precisely in the direction of, directed towards’, with the implied mention of a firearm.to keep, have an (or one's) eye on: see eye n.1 Phrases 1f.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxviii. 121 Hi eall lociað mid bæm eagum on þas eorðlican ðincg.
OE Daniel 730 Werede comon on þæt wundor seon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 178 Alle monnen he was leof þe him lokeden on.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 613 (MED) He lokede on þe ringe.
c1395 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 2150 On Damyan a signe made she.
c1450 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Calig.) (1965) l. 1246 Þe knyȝt smylyd and on hym lowȝ.
?c1450 Recipe in M. Leach Stud. Medieval Lit. in Honor A. C. Baugh (1961) 292 (MED) As I fynde wretyn in book Þat leryd & lewyd moun on loke.
1592 R. Greene Philomela sig. E2 He spake with his eies on Philomelas face.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts iii. 12 Why looke yee so earnestly on vs, as though by our owne power or holinesse we had made this man to walke? View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 907 And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd. View more context for this quotation
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. vii. 114 A Female-Yahoo would often stand behind a Bank or a Bush, to gaze on the young Males passing by.
1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur Lett. from Amer. Farmer iv. 126 They then cast their eyes on the sea, and..looked for a harbour.
1812 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (ed. 2) II. vi. ix. 233 He turned his back on [1809 upon] its walls.
1844 T. B. Macaulay Earl of Chatham in Ess. (1887) 815 The enemies..stood for a time glaring on each other.
1885 Cent. Mag. July 357/1 Lapham bent a frown on the woman, under which she shrank back a step.
1888 H. R. Haggard in Harper's Mag. July 207 Feeling that I was on him, I pulled, and..I saw the man throw up his arms.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers iv. 73 Suddenly he turned on her in a fury.
1954 G. Vidal Messiah i. 23 I turned my back resolutely on the river.
1995 K. Atkinson Behind Scenes at Museum (1996) i. 24 Bunty turns a contorted, murderous face on him and lifts the knife as if she's considering stabbing him.
2001 Toronto Star 13 Jan. a5/3 Property fronts on rare Class 1 fish spawning habitat and must be protected.
b. Mathematics. (Defined or expressed) in terms of (a set, the elements of a set); esp. taking arguments in.
ΚΠ
1934 Ann. Math. 35 119 By an abstract ε p~simplex σρ on A is meant a set of p +1 points of A whose sum is of diameter <ε.
1953 G. Birkhoff & S. MacLane Surv. Mod. Algebra (rev. ed.) vi. 119 A function defined on the elements of the set S1 with values in T.
1990 Proc. London Math. Soc. 60 319 If, for some r > 0, a function u is harmonic on B0(x, r) but not on B(x, r), then we call x a singularity of u.
†21.
a. To a position within, into. Cf. in prep. 33. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) Pref. 3 Feawa wæron behionan Humbre ðe..cuðen..an ærendgewrit of Lædene on Englisc areccan.
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 10 Þa flowað buta suþ on þone Readan Sæ.
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxxi. 374 Hie woldon his ban on niwe cyste gedon.
OE Blickling Homilies 27 Sagaþ Matheus se godspellere þætte Hælend wære læded on westen.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 6 Aris & nym þin bedd, & gang on [OE Lindisf. in] þin hus.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1112 Rotbert de Bælesme he let niman & on prisune don.
c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 4 Eode moyses to ðare welle þe he þa ȝyrdæ on aset hæfde.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1079 Humber king..& his muchele scipferde comen on Albanacles londe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 6719 Þe king..nam onne [c1300 Otho on] his honde one wi-æxe stronge.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2682 (MED) To boure wenten þai On bedde.
1387 Will in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 209 Also y be-quethe iij li. to bring me on erthe.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1887 Juge infernal, Mynos, of Crete kyng, Now cometh thy lot, now comestow on the ryng.
?a1500 in G. Henslow Med. Wks. 14th Cent. (1899) 27 (MED) Do hit on a box.
b. Into (parts, pieces, etc.). Cf. in prep. 35. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 8 Ure ieldran ealne þisne ymbhwyrft þises middangeardes..on þreo todældon.
c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 198 Drihten heom þonne sceadæþ on twa healfæ.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 565 Eȝȝþerr hird..Todæledd wass..Onn hirdess rihht sextene.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 388 Brutus nom his ferde, on feowre he heo to-dælde.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3239 Hold up ðin gerde to ðe se, And del it so on sundri del.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3410 (MED) Mani a spere spacli on peces were to-broke.
1415 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 23 Y wolle hit be parted on tweyne.
J. Metham Amoryus & Cleopes (1916) 1500 (MED) For had not a bene that precyus vngwent, He had be slayn and on pecys rente.
c1450 Douce MS 55 (Bodl.) f. 23 Take mary and dates, kutt on too or on thre.
a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 4174 (MED) On smale sherdys I it breke.
a1500 Rich. (Douce) 100/39 Þe schelde..clefe one peces smale.
22. To (a person) in marriage; having as one's (intended) spouse. Formerly also: †to (a person) by descent (obsolete). Cf. upon prep. 18. Now Scottish and Irish English.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Let. to Wulfsige (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 6 He ne moste swaþeah butan æne wifigan, ne he ne moste on wydewum wifigan ne on aworpenum wife.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 106 (MED) Ne schal he wiuen on me.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2896 (MED) To wiue on our kinde Heþeliche holdeþ he.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 125 The king, efter he had..ressawit this gentillwoman..marieit hir on his brother.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 710 Richt laith he wes to wed hir on ane lord Into Ingland.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §93. 353 The Crowne and Kingdome by just..title descended on her.
1677 in Fountainhall's Decisions in M. P. Brown Suppl. Dict. Decisions Court of Session (1826) III. 146 A man is married on a woman that is apparent heir to lands.
1705 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) I. 76 She was married on that worthy and usefull Christian and elder here.
1777 Whole Proc. Jockey & Maggy (rev. ed.) i. 3 Ay after that they scorned me that I wad be married on a you.
1870 R. S. Brooke Story of Parson Annaly xii. 96 The boy is a sweetheart of our Moll's, and wants to get married on her.
1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders 280 She's marriet on saft Sammle Tamson.
1932 J. M. Barrie Farewell Miss Julie Logan 89 Christilly is married on a provision merchant in Ireland.
1943 S. H. Bell Summer Loanen 29 God help the poor cratur, he was married on a sister av this man's.
1977 J. Pepper What a Thing to Say 13 ‘He's married on a cousin of mine,’ indicates that he is one of the family.
23. Into, unto, to (some action, course, or condition); = upon prep. 19. Cf. sense 12.Formerly esp. with verbal nouns, as to go on fishing = to go (also Middle English wade) a-fishing at fishing n.1 2.
ΚΠ
OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 3 Ic wylle gan on fixað.
a1225 Laȝamon Brut 12993 Da nolde Arþur on slepen na wiht hine areppen.
c1225 (?OE) Soul's Addr. to Body (Worcester) (Fragm. F) l. 34 Ic was on heihnesse isceapen.
c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 8 (MED) Lest sum..feole o slepe.
c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 148 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 349 (MED) Þis child scholde wende An hontingue.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2092 Þai..dede hem on gate, & souȝte him wiþ sore hertes.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4406 And sone on slepe þai fell.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 61 ‘A damoisel’ the which..was sente on message unto hym.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) xliiii. sig. Iiv His woundes braste out agayne on bledyng.
1539 Bible (Great) Acts xiii. 36 Dauid (after he had in hys tyme fulfylled the wyll of God) fell on slepe.
1617 Bp. J. Hall Quo Vadis? (new ed.) iii. 6 Fond mothers vse to send forth their daughters on frosting, earely in cold mornings.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 74 That might..set the Plough on going.
1633 W. Laud Wks. (1857) VI. 321 I presume you will set him on work.
1635 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada 68 He was that day rode forth on hunting.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 10/1 Very hard to stop when once it is set on going.
1828 T. B. Macaulay Hallam's Constit. Hist. in Edinb. Rev. Sept. 144 The fanaticism of Cromwell never urged him on impracticable undertakings.
1885 Law Times Rep. 53 467/2 Facts which ought to have put him on inquiry.
1945 Times 25 May 2/2 In a day or so these men would be kitted up in smart new uniform and go on leave.
1981 G. Household Summon Bright Water ii. 131 It was the robe I had set on fire which at once put the idea into my head.
2001 Middle East Times (Egypt ed.) 7 Apr. 9/5 Egypt will have to do something about child labor and allow workers the right to go on strike.
24.
a. Indicating the person who or thing which is affected or exploited by an action, feeling, situation, etc., or towards whom it is directed; = upon prep. 20.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) vii. 15 [Þæt] ða woruldsælða on ðe swa onwenda sint.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5212 He þa toc to clepenn onn Helyamm þe prophete. & cwaþþ. lef faderr ȝeld me..rihht mede.
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 501 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 121 On seint Thomas heo criden faste.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 300 Al that he myghte..hente, On bookes and on lernynge he it spente.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22474 (MED) Lauerd ha merci on all nu.
c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 22 And goode Lorde haue mercy..on this contree.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 1751 How on the dede hedys they did shoute.
a1525 Bk. Sevyne Sagis 1320, in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 42 Þan may ȝe do Ȝour will on him.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. i. sig. N6 On them she workes her will to vses bad.
1623 R. Aylett Ioseph iii Not if thou vs vnto my Father send, Without the Lad, on whom his dayes depend.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iv. 156 The first on whom this cruel Law was hanselled, was William Sautre.
1696 T. Dilke Lover's Luck iv. 28 Absence, Madam, has had the same effect on my Passion, as the Wind has on Fire.
1700 J. Floyer Cold Baths i. ii. 36 Moistening respects the Skin, but heating and cooling shews the Effects it has on the Humours.
1743 tr. L. Heister Gen. Syst. Surg. I. ii. 354 The Operation has been twice performed by me on two apoplectic Patients.
1785 W. Cowper Let. 31 Dec. (1981) II. 438 You observe therefore that I am not wanting to myself; he that is so, has no just claim on the assistance of others.
1796 State Papers in Ann. Reg. 168/2 [He] endeavoured to recriminate on us.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxx. 145 The title of Admiral was conferred on Aracus.
1883 Sir W. B. Brett in Law Times Rep. (1884) 50 193/2 The decision..which is binding on us.
1885 Law Times 79 38/1 The magistrate may be necessary as a check on the doctor.
1914 G. B. Shaw Parents & Children in Misalliance p. lxxviii It does not occur to him that this is at all hard on her.
1955 E. Bowen World of Love vi. 107 Suspicion..preyed on Antonia.
1982 J. Simms Unsolicited Gift i. 38 I tested my new atheism on Miss X.
2000 M. Kneale Eng. Passengers (2001) ii. 45 It was time to take the big whaleboat over to George Town to call in on that penny-pinching bugger Bill Haskins.
b. Indicating an object of desire, etc. (occasionally also of ill feeling: see quot. 1940); = upon prep. 20b.not to be much on: see much adj. 1f.Specific information on the construction of many adjectives and verbs expressing such emotions may be found in the entries for these words.
ΚΠ
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 40 (MED) A tortle þat min herte is on.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 181 (MED) Hys flesshe on here was so abeyted Þat þyke womman he coueytyd.
c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 4286 To be enamowred on a goot.
1493 Festivall (1515) (de Worde) f. 68v Suche thynges as mannes herte is moost on.
1623 W. Gouge Serm. Extent God's Provid. §10 Their mind was so on their worke.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. xxxvi. 288 You..having unwisely been inamored on some one person.
1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green xii. 113 The bar was presided over by a young lady, ‘on whom’ he said ‘he was desperately sweet.’
1890 L. C. D'Oyle Notches Rough Edge Life 170 Woddell was not much on beer.
1904 W. M. Gallichan Fishing & Trav. Spain 56 There was no doubt that the trout were ‘on’ worms.
1940 ‘E. Queen’ New Adventurers of Ellery Queen 269 Phil's sour on the champion... Phil and Mike Brown..haven't been cuddly since Mike won the title.
1954 D. Abse Ash on Young Man's Sleeve 83 I'm not keen on curly hair.
1976 New Yorker 26 Aug. 74/2 I'm not much on motherhood.
2000 Daily Tel. 15 June 27/7 He was not keen on arts-and-craftsy socialism.
c. Of a cheque, draft, bill, etc.: payable by or at; = upon prep. 20d. Chiefly with to draw. See also sense 24e.
ΚΠ
1671 J. Crowne Juliana iii. 31 Draw bills of death, they shall be paid on sight; I will..pay as fast as you can draw on me.
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian iii. i. 51 My Prayers and Penance shall discount for these, And beg of Heav'n to charge the Bill on me.
1736 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum (ed. 2) Draught, a bill drawn by a merchant payable by another on whom it is drawn.
1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 23/2 Bollakey Doss drew a draught on Benares in favor of Lord Clive for a lack of rupees.
a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) II. xi. 219 We often purchase them [sc. our pleasures in this world] at a great disadvantage, giving ready-monied actual happiness for a draft on the future, that may not be honoured. View more context for this quotation
a1848 F. Marryat Valerie (1849) II. i. 37 Lionel received a check on the bank.
1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux II. xv. 127 Various cheques, all drawn by Barrington Erle on his banker.
1924 ‘Sapper’ Third Round i. 34 The required amount..is drawn on my private account, and I shall have to put in funds to meet it.
1991 Choice Mar. 47/1 To allow people to cash cheques drawn on their bank account, provided that they hold a cheque guarantee card.
d. Of a joke, laugh, etc.: against or at the expense of (a person).
ΚΠ
1738 A. Pope Dialogue 3 A Joke on Jekyl, or some odd Old Whig, Who never chang'd his Principle, or Wig.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. xlvi. 113 What he said, was only intended as a joke on the doctor's solemnity.
1816 ‘P. Pindar’ Wks III. 124 A harmless joke, at times, on kings and queens; A little joke on lofty earls and lords.
1866 Harper's Mag. July 271/2 There may be a joke about it; but if there is, it is on the Colonel, for he told me so.
1896 Argosy Feb. 483/1 Good joke on me..though deuced embarrassing.
1901 Munsey's Mag. Aug. 711/2 ‘It was Lanse—Lanse all the time,’ he exploded. ‘Oh, wasn't that one on me!’
1939 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Ingleside vi. 33 The joke is on us... And a nice laugh he will have on me.
1993 Newsweek 6 Sept. 50/1 This anecdote is tame compared with the stories Burroughs has told on himself over the years.
2002 Daily Mirror 31 May (World Cup Pull-Out) 3/6 It reaches the stage where you wonder if it's all one big joke on the ‘riot tourist.’
e. colloquial. Indicating the person, etc., who is to pay, esp. for a treat of any kind.to dine out on: see to dine in 1 at dine v. Phrasal verbs. on the house: see house n.1 4b.
ΚΠ
1871 Republican Rev. (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 29 July 2/4 After the first round they said it was ‘on me’.
1893 W. K. Post Harvard Stories iv. 98 The drink is on me.
1902 C. J. C. Hyne Mr. Horrocks, Purser 78 And now come and have a bit of cheap lunch. We'll consider we've tossed for it, and it's on me.
1938 L. MacNeice Earth Compels 22 Five minutes spent at a bar Watching the fish coming in, as you parry and shrug This is on me or this is on me.
1991 J. Barth Last Voy. Somebody the Sailor 106 Two Coke sodas!..Treat's on me.
f. colloquial (originally Irish English). So as to inconvenience, disturb, or confound the expectations of.
ΚΠ
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down 74 ‘Don't break it on me,’ i.e. don't break that thing of mine.
1892 E. Lawless Grania I. ii. iv. 184 It was the devil's own abuse he got from his wife..for letting her fine spring chickens be drowned on her.
1907 J. M. Synge Aran Islands i. 47 A farmer was in great distress as his crops had failed, and his cow had died on him.
1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) vii. 103 I never knew such a man for pickles——he must have eaten a bottle on me just over tea and breakfast.
1963 Sat. Evening Post 15 June 4/2 Don't go too ‘arty’ on us.
1988 Maclean's 6 June 35/1 ‘This all started after he fell asleep on the Pope,’ said a White House aide.
2000 J. M. Hayes Mad Dog & Englishman 97 Just a shot of Valium... Certainly not strong enough to account for her doing this sleeping beauty number on me.
25.
a. With reference to, as regards; concerning, about; = upon prep. 22.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Homily (Cambr. Ii.4.6) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 484 Þa gefulledon farað to heofenum on lichaman and on sawle.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxxi. 70 Hwæt godes magon we seggan on þa flæsclican unþeawas.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 1056 (MED) Oðre þurh wiheles..biȝulið unweoten, þe weneð þet hit beo swa as hit on ehe bereð ham.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 1300 He moste assente on that conclusioun, As for the tyme.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 253 Some..passed all other..in prouesse..and that was well proved..on sir Launcelot de Lake.
1477 W. Pecock in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 421 Ellis it wol do you harm on youre hors.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 65 And sa was sene on thame, for thair jurisdictioun began with force and crueltee.
1532 in Acts Sederunt Scotl. (1811) 8 To decyde onne all materis.
1567 in Scott State Papers (P.R.O. SP 52/13) f. 117 Syne on your self ye tak gud keip.
1649 J. Moyley in 15th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1899) App. ii. 47 There sate on him three or four judges.
1672 Edinb. Test. LXXIV. f. 221v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) At hir mariedge to vttrick hir on clothes.
1706 Act 6 Anne c. 11 Art. xix No writer to the signet [shall] be..admitted a lord of the session unless he undergo a private and publick tryal on the civil law.
1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 270 I congratulated myself on my Dexterity in getting out of this Scrape.
1787 Ld. Nelson Let. 13 May in Dispatches & Lett. (1844) I. 236 To order a Court-Martial to be held on him.
1812 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 176 I do not condole with you on your release.
1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 488 (note) This statement does not agree with my experience on the subject.
1885 Manch. Examiner 23 May 5/1 The appellants had failed on the main question.
1892 P. H. Emerson Son of Fens xxv. 248 You grind my old Beccy [sc. scythe]; you're a better hand on it than I am.
1900 C. W. Winchester Victories of Wesley Castle vii. 143 You will have to go easy on that subject.
1928 Publishers' Weekly 24 Nov. 2182/1 There is no uniform rule on remaindering.
1938 J. Stuart Beyond Dark Hills vi. 139 That took lifting and skill on flipping steel.
1959 Listener 22 Jan. 173/3 Capablanca lost on time to Ryumine.
1961 P. Marshall Soul clap Hands & Sing (1962) 38 He had been unable to get into medical school as a young man because of the quota on Jews.
2000 National Geographic Adventure Mar. 20/2 Congratulations on an article that was interesting not only for its content, but for its voice.
b. Indicating the object to which mental activity is directed; = upon prep. 22b.Specific information on the construction of many verbs expressing such activity (and the corresponding nouns of action) may be found in the entries for these words.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > product of thinking, thought > matter of thought > indicating object of thought [preposition]
onOE
upona1300
OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxvii. 8 God ys on dryhten georne to þenceanne.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 150 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 169 (MED) Wenne he bi-þohte on helle fur..Eure he walde..ine wene wunien.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2474 Brennes hine biðohte an his broðer Belin.
?a1300 Dame Sirith 47 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 3 (MED) Ne con I nout on vilte.
a1350 (?c1225) King Horn (Harl.) (1901) 884 He..þohte o rymenild þe ȝynge.
c1390 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 4223 This man gan fallen in suspecioun, Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette.
c1440 (a1400) Awntyrs Arthure (Thornton) 192 Thynke hertly on this.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 8090 On his kirke was all his thoght.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 15 Ȝhit we suld thynk one our bearis befor.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 137 And on the end hes no rememberance.
1590 R. Greene Neuer too Late ii. sig. L2v When I at last considered on my sinnes.
a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 793 His mynde is on his meate.
1686 E. Arwaker Pia Desideria (1712) ii. xv 154 Oh! my lov'd Country, when I think on Thee.
1692 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §147 This being almost that alone, which is thought on, when People talk of Education.
1712 S. Cobb Callipædia iv. 49 Think on your future Hopes, and settled State.
1754 R. O. Cambridge Intruder 12 'Twas a plan I never dreamt on.
1770 J. Armstrong Miscellanies II. iv. ii. 91 Alas, Olympia! Think on my misery!
1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. ii Thy anxious heart will never learn To think more on thyself and less on others.
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species vi. 171 Some of them [sc. difficulties] are so grave that to this day I can never reflect on them without being staggered.
1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. i. 13 Bathsheba..wildly attempted to ponder on the exhibition which had just passed away.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage xciv. 496 He had certain meditations on Shakespeare and the musical glasses which he desired to impart.
1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring vi. 62 His mind, Grace felt sure, was on his own troubles.
1995 Sci. Amer. Sept. 44/2 More essayistic commentaries that meditate on the consequences (both good and bad) of the work in progress.
2002 Tablet 3 Aug. 27/1 He..embarked on some creative thinking on the subject.
c. Indicating the subject of speech, writing, etc.; = upon prep. 22c. Also after the name of an author, etc., with authorship implied.
(a) As normal complement of a verb or noun.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 3 Kings xi. 2 Salamon..loouede..wymmen..of þe gentilis, on þe whiche þe lord seide..‘ȝee schul not gon in to hem ne of hem schuln gon out to ȝou.’
1422 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 51/4 iiij quayres of Doctours on Mathewe.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 509 (MED) Þe emperour harde tell on hym.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 77 (MED) Lofe we may that lord..And euer tell on this meruell.
1689 M. Prior Epist. to F. Shephard 168 Critics I read on other men, And hypers upon them again.
1699 tr. L. E. Dupin Compl. Hist. Old & New Test. I. i. iii. 5 What he says on this Point..is as follows.
1752 B. Franklin Let. 8 Dec. 446 I have read Whytt on Lime Water.
1785 W. Wilberforce in R. I. Wilberforce & S. Wilberforce Life W. Wilberforce (1838) I. 99 Heard Newton on the addiction of the soul to God.
1830 W. Scott (title) Letters on demonology and witchcraft.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus iii. viii. 92/2 Laplace's Book on the Stars.
1884 A. R. Pennington Wiclif ix. 290 A course of lectures on the Epistles of St. Paul.
1920 V. Woolf Diary (1979) II. 5 I wrote my article on English prose for Murry.
1949 M. McLuhan Let. 30 Apr. (1987) 213 Tell me has our..friend..read W. Lewis on the Homo as child of the Suffragette?
1988 G. Sayer Jack vi. 67 Edgell lectured Jack on his ‘weakness of character’.
2001 Church Times 22 June 7/1 Howard Bicknell is preparing a book on clergy spouses who are male.
(b) Without preceding word, in titles, etc.
ΚΠ
1631 J. Milton (title) On the University Carrier who sicken'd in the time of his vacancy.
1637 W. Camden Remaines (ed. 5) 411 On a childe drowned catching of an Apple.
1734 G. Cheyne (title) On Nervous Diseases.
1770 M. Folkes in Archaeologia 1 117 (title) On the Trajan and Antonine pillars at Rome.
1802 P. Barlow (title) On the Method of Transforming a Number from one Scale of Notation to another.
1864 J. W. Brooks & J. Place (title) On monotoning Prayer.
1926 H. Homma in Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 38 365 (title) On apocrine sweat glands in white and Negro men and women.
1959 F. W. Householder in Word 15 231 (title) On linguistic primes.
2000 J. Kronen & J. Reedy tr. F. S. J. Suarez 3 (title) On the Formal Cause of Substance.
d. Indicating comparison with a standard, originally a favourable one; = upon prep. 26; (Finance) compared with, in relation to (a previous financial situation, figure, etc.), esp. in up or down on.
ΚΠ
1721 E. Young Revenge i. i Not only die, But plunge the dagger in my heart myself? This is refining on calamity.
1775 E. Burke Speech Resol. for Concil. Colonies 18 But the religion most prevalent in our Northern Colonies is a refinement on the principle of resistance.
1805 N. Nicholls Let. in Corr. with Gray (1843) 45 He thought that Milton had improved on Tasso's devil by giving him neither horns nor a tail.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 31 May 10/2 The entries..show..a decrease on last year's total of 122, which may possibly be made up yet by post entries.
1898 Star (Johannesburg) 19 Mar. 1/2 The Colonial wool auction was opened on Tuesday..Grease showed a farthing advance on last sales rates.
1909 Economist 2 Jan. 36/1 The business of the Corporation, it seems, in December shows no improvement on the November trading.
1958 Times Rev. Industry Feb. 77/2 Aminoplastic resins..showed a 20 per cent. increase on last year.
1962 Punch 22 Aug. 256/1 We have improved on the moisture-proofness of Cellophane.
2000 Ann. Rep. & Accts. (Cable & Wireless) 26/2 International revenues were down on the previous year.
26.
a. With hostility towards; against. Chiefly with verbs of speaking, and the corresponding nouns of action; = upon prep. 21.to have a down on: see down n.4 2b.For use with verbs of physical assault, see senses 18c and 19a.Many verbs of wreaking or taking vengeance, as wreak, avenge, revenge, etc., take on: see the entries for these words.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 274 Ic nelle secgan unsoð on me sylfe.
lOE Laws of Æðelred II (Corpus Cambr. 383) ii. vii. 224 Gif man secge on landesmann, þæt he orf scæle [read stæle] oððon man sloge.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 37 Þe an is þet te ondfule ne mahe lihen on ham swa þet te witnesse ne pruuie ham false.
a1325 (?a1300) in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 24 (MED) Gef yat hy may se Yat yay be heng on a tre Yat yis ley as leyit onne me [i.e. who have alleged this falsehood against me].
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiv. 144 It may nouȝt be,..or matheu on god lyeth.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 67 Þai lye falsly on Mary and hir son.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 29 He made hym redy for to complayne on reynart the foxe.
1539 Bible (Great) Phil. ii. 15 That ye may be soch as no man can complayne on.
1578 in W. J. Duncan Misc. Papers Reigns Queen Mary & James VI (1834) 41 He is ryt importuin on me for the samyn.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1623) v. ii. 154 I, 'twas he that told me on her first.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. 7 Mar. (1848) cxii. 214 The pantry-door will be locked on the bairns, in appearance, ere long.
1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. ii. xix. §231 Attempting by force on the properties of any people.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. ix. 226 The Laws of Heroism, which would have restrained him from any farther Attack on his Enemy. View more context for this quotation
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. xi. 254 I ask no questions—no man bound to tell on himsell.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 113 Any attack on the civil liberties of his people.
1894 S. Baring-Gould Kitty Alone II. 170 If he drew his knife on her and attacked her.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 14/3 To save herself, the Madam of course snitched on the gang.
1955 J. Masters Coromandel! 41 Do you think she'll tell on us?
1981 G. Household Summon Bright Water i. 56 How and where to make my next attack on Broom Lodge.
2000 Wasafiri Autumn 71/1 After becoming involved in petty crime, he was informed on and himself became informer for the Stasi.
b. colloquial. With an advantage or excess, esp. one stated quantitatively, as compared with. Chiefly with to have, esp. in to have nothing on (a person): to bear no comparison with (a person). Cf. over prep. 10a.
ΚΠ
1906 H. Green At Actors' Boarding House 27 I'll show 'em the Waldoff ain't got nothin' on Maggie de Shine.]
1910 S. E. White Rules of Game v. xxiv They think they have it on us straight enough.
1912 C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch 7 ‘Hans’ Wagner of Pittsburg, has always been a hard man for me, but in that I have had nothing on a lot of other pitchers.
1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 43 She had always had an edge on her, especially whenever there were people listening.
1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 298 Baby Ella herself had nothin' on you.
1928 Daily Express 19 June 12 Kerensky, who tried to do what Napoleon said no man could do: run a revolution and a war simultaneously. Kerensky thought Napoleon had nothing on him.
1936 T. S. Eliot Ess. Anc. & Mod. 68 Huysmans' fee-fi-fo-fum décor of mediævalism has nothing on Mr. Symons's ‘veiled altar’.
1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart i. v. 94 While you had it on me, it made it more difficult.
1947 Penguin New Writing 31 67 He..took out his best clothes. Going to the barracks, he had to look smart, he had to show the soldiers they had nothing on him.
1959 G. Paley Little Disturbances of Man (1970) 111 He was a big guy with a few years on me.
1967 Listener 28 Dec. 857/1 For a picture of sheer bloodcurdling hatred and human degradation, our playwrights have nothing on this 60-year-old music-drama inspired by Sophocles' play.
1999 C. Creedon Passion Play iv. 20 They were older, a good twenty years on me.
2007 Guardian 6 Jan. (Review section) 10/5 Dr Frankenstein had nothing on the new generation of ‘biohackers’.
c. To the discredit of; that incriminates. Chiefly in to have (also get) something (also anything) on (a person): to possess or gain discreditable or incriminating information about (a person). Also in to have (also get) nothing on (a person).
ΚΠ
1916 Railway Conductor Sept. 647/2 A letter from Chief of Police McKercher..said, in substance: ‘I am sending you these two men for the work we talked about. Let me know if they do not do it satisfactorily, as I have something on them.’
1919 Detective Story Mag. 25 Nov. 129 He gave me the slip... Maybe it's just as well since I haven't got anything on him yet.
1923 L. J. Vance Baroque vii. 42 You haven't got any thing on me.
1924 A. Christie Man in Brown Suit 6 Every one of us incriminated..and not one of us has anything on him.
1929 ‘G. Daviot’ Man in Queue iii. 30 If he thinks he has anything on me..he has another guess coming.
1946 T. Jones Skinny Angel 85 Those fellows are trying to get something on someone.
1960 ‘W. Haggard’ Closed Circuit iii. 31 Get something on the men who counted. Then you could do almost as you pleased. It was astonishing how most of the men who counted had something to hide.
1960 K. Hopkins Dead against Princ. xix. 129 ‘She is the daughter of a criminal.’.. ‘Yes. But we have nothing on her.’
2008 S. Baatz For Thrill of It (2009) i. i. 18 The police have nothing on them and I don't see why they should be held.
III. From, of.
†27. After verbs of winning, gaining, taking by force, etc.: from. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. vi. 93 Romane genamon on him lxxxiiii scipa.
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Num. (Claud.) xxi. 1 Chananeus þa wann wið Israhela bearn, & sige on him gewann.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 594 Ther was noon auditour koude on hym wynne.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 57 Magnus..chaced away Suane & Danmark on him wan.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 203 (MED) I dar lay with you all a grete wageour att I sall þis day or evyn gett almos on hym.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 219 Yf they were so bold to take on hym or on hys peuple ony thing.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxxxv. 525 Howe the Englysshmen recouered dyuers castelles on the frenchmen in Burdeloys.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxiv. 161 But what art thou That hast this fortune on me? View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 470 All these boasted Trophies won on me. View more context for this quotation
28. = of prep. (in various senses). Now archaic and regional.Common in literary use to c1750, esp. in the form on't. In early times generally an actual difference of idiom, but from end of 16th cent. resulting from confusion of of and on, esp. owing to the reduction of both of these to o'. See of prep.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. xiv. 202 He..micelne ad gesomnade on beamum & on ræftrum & on wagum & on watelum & on ðeacon.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) i. 4 Syððan he sloh Seon, Amorrea cyningc, se wunode on Esebon, & Og, cyningc on Basan, se wunode on Aseroth.
1258 Procl. Hen. III 1 Henr' þurȝ godes fultume king on Engleneloande, Lhoauerd on Yrlounde, Duk on Norm' on Aquitaine and eorl on Aniow.
c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 127 Þat ilke deth þat I schal on dye.
c1475 (?c1425) Avowing of King Arthur (1984) l. 590 O payn on life and on londe.
a1500 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Cambr.) (1844) 953 Syr Egylamowre was..recovryd on hys wounde.
?1536 tr. Erasmus Serm. Chylde Jesus i. sig. A.iiv So..this our sermon maye sauer on hym,..whiche is..the worde of the father.
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle i. iii. sig. Aiii All thoures on the daye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. i. 132 The perfect Spy o'th' time, The moment on't. View more context for this quotation
1641 Ld. J. Digby Speech in Comm. 21 Apr. 4 The truth on't is.
1671 H. M. tr. Erasmus Colloquies 545 Though I make Lay men on them all.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 12. ⁋7 Nay, you are in the Right on't.
1766 G. Williams in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1843) II. 57 Those handles that the ladies make bell-ropes on.
1782 E. Blower George Bateman I. 87 I know she'll take care on him.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair li. 463 We're three on us—it's no use bolting.
1855 D. Jerrold Black-ey'd Susan (new ed.) i. vi. 27 We found..three pilots' telescopes. This is one on 'em!
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 221 There was 'undreds on 'em, men, women, an' kids, an' most on 'em seemed ter be Total Obstinate Sons o' the Phoenix.
1922 V. Woolf Diary (1979) II. 166 I write what I like writing and there's an end on it.
1931 M. Allingham Look to Lady xvi. 170 Don't take no notice on 'im... 'E's as right as ever 'e was.
1974 ‘S. Woods’ Done to Death 41 Nobody as I knows on... It was nothing, really, to get hold on.
1992 A. Thorpe Ulverton ix. 199 Well I finds they glass jiggamies in attic look an takes they home well nigh fifty on 'em.
29. colloquial and regional (British and North American). Indicating the object of a verb that is otherwise usually transitive (in earlier use a present participle forming a progressive tense; cf. of prep. 43).
ΚΠ
1821 J. Howison Sketches Upper Canada 294 I fear that little shaver is troubling on you.
1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner xxvi. 296 I shouldn' min' keepin' on 'em.
1898 P. H. Emerson Marsh Leaves (rev. ed.) 125 My watch-glass broke..when I was winding on it up.
1921 H. Williamson Beautiful Years 20 Who've ee been a-fighting on?
1942 M. Campbell Cloud-walking 76 Squire and the Little Teacher begged on her to sing again.
1989 M. Norman These Good Men i. 29 Another operation was unthinkable... No one was going to cut on him, ever again.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

onconj.

Apparently arising from an incorrect expansion of a manuscript abbreviation (o = oð, oth, until: see a that conj.). Middle Eng. Dict. at on conj. explains that the word may have been oþþat, transcribed as oþat, which was then misinterpreted as on þat.
ΚΠ
c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) 472 Ich..wiþ þe lede my lyf, Euer on [v.r. till] þat ilke stryf..mowe sum ende take.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2021).

> see also

also refers to : on-prefix
also refers to : -onsuffix1
also refers to : -onsuffix2
also refers to : -onsuffix3

> as lemmas

ON
ON n. Old Norse.
ΘΠ
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > Scandinavian
runic1665
Scandinavian1766
Old Norse1833
ON1864
Norse1927
Nordic1940
1864 R. Morris Early Eng. Allit. Poems p. xxxvi The preposition from never occurs in the following poems; it is replaced by fro (Northumbrian fra, O.N. frá).
1927 Englische Studien 10 Nov. 81 ON. lifr occurs in Norwegian river-names.
1972 E. J. Dobson Eng. Text Ancrene Riwle p. cxlix OE (ON) ā is normally spelt o.
extracted from On.1
<
n.21946v.1840adv.adj.n.1eOEprep.eOEconj.c1390
see also
as lemmas
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