adv., orig. phr. [A prep.1 on + GROUND.]
† 1. On or upon the ground, either of position or direction; on the earth, to the earth. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc., 378. Manne orf deyde alaground [i.e., all a-ground], so gret qualm þer was þo.
1340. Ayenb., 91. Þe drope of þe deawe … ualþ agrund.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 90. He is a god bi þe gospel Agrounde and aloft [1362 on grounde].
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, li. 145. Eneas that sawe Mezencyus agrounde came towarde hym.
1562. Romeus & Juliet (in Wr.). She fel flat downe before his feete aground.
2. On or to the strand or shallow bottom of any water, where a boat or ship lodges, and is no longer ‘afloat.’ To be aground: to be stranded; to run aground: to run into a place where the ship lodges on the bottom.
c. 1500. Cocke Lorelles Bote (1843), 6. Some at saynt Kateryns stroke a grounde.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 55. A little fishe swimmeth continually before the great Whale to shewe him the shelues that he run not a ground.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. i. 4. Speake to th’ mariners: fall too’t yarely, or we run ourselves a ground.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1858), 264. The water was ebbed considerably away leaving their boat aground.
1813. Southey, Nelson, v. 149. Before the lead could be hove again he was fast aground.
1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., I. v. 60. The bergs were aground well out to seaward.
b. fig.
1665. Glanville, Sceps. Sc., xiii. 76. And run aground on that more desperate absurdity, Atheism.
a. 1687. J. M., Elegy, in Cleveland’s Wks., 1687, 282.
| For in Discourse his Wit did never rest, | |
| When others were aground with one dry jest. |
1832. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), II. 57. The arguments against competition … all finally come aground on this rock.
