Up adv.²

Forms: 1–6 uppe, 3–6 vppe (5 wppe), 3 Orm., 5 upp (7 vpp), 6– up (7 upe, vpe); 4 ope, oppe, 4–5, 9 dial. op. [OE. uppe, = OFris. uppa (oppa, opa), OS. uppa, MDu. oppe (uppe), ON. uppe, uppi (Icel. uppi, Norw. and Sw. uppe, Da. oppe), f. upp UP adv.¹

  Also in part representing OE. up, upp UP adv.¹, which is occasionally used in place of uppe.]

  I.  In senses denoting position in space.

  1.  At some distance above the ground or earth; high in the air; on high; aloft.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xvi. 101. He ʓeseah ane hlædre standan æt him on eorðan. Oðer ende wæs uppe on hefenum.

975.  O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.). And þa wearð ætywed uppe on roderum steorra on staðole.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), cxiii. 11. Ys ure se halʓa God on heofon-dreame, uppe mid englum.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Ded. 259. Sannt Johan … sahh upp inn heffne an boc.

c. 1300.  K. Horn, 1171 (Laud MS.). Ayol was op in toure.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 3148 (Fairf.). Vp hey a-pon ȝone felle sal þou bren þi sone for me.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., V. v. 112. Mount, mount, my soule, thy scate is vp on high. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. ii. 152. True prayers, That shall be vp at heauen, and enter there Ere Sunne rise.

1634.  J. Levett, Ordering of Bees, 23. The ringing of basons,… which I haue often heard when a swarme is up, or in rising.

1788.  Dibdin, Poor Jack, ii. There’s a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, To keep watch for the life of poor Jack.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., v. A flag that’s up yonder in the garret.

1842.  Tennyson, Lady Clare, i. The time when … clouds are highest up in air.

  b.  Of the heavenly bodies: Risen above the horizon; ascended into the sky.

a. 1000.  in Narrat. Angl. Conscr. (1861), 29. Næs se mona þa ʓyt uppe.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 272. On winterlicre tide hi [sc. the Pleiades] beoð on niht uppe & on dæʓ adune.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 222. Sunne of riȝtwisnesse is uppe.

1481.  Caxton, Godfrey, lxxii. 116. In the morne whan the sonne was vp.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xiii. 6. When the sun was vppe hitt … wyddred awaye.

1599.  Broughton’s Lett., v. 15. If the Sunne were vp … he was punished.

1650.  B., Discolliminium, 32. If the Sun be down though the Stars be up.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 494. Tho’ the Moon was up.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Honey, ¶ 5. The Bees only gather it after the Sun is up.

1812.  Byron, Ch. Har., II. xxi. The moon is up; by Heaven, a lovely eve!

1844.  Willis, Contempl., 1. They are all up—the innumerable stars.

  transf.  1595.  Shaks., John, V. v. 21. The day shall not be vp so soone as I.

  2.  On high or (more) elevated ground; more inland; further from the coast or sea.

  In OE. also ‘on shore; on land; inland.’ Cf. UPALAND, UPONLAND.

Beowulf, 566. Hie … on merʓenne … be yðlafe uppe læʓon.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxviii. 197. Ða Saul hine wolde secean uppe on ðæm munte.

a. 900.  Baeda’s Hist., III. xxiii. (1890), 230. Se biscop … him stowe ʓeceas mynster to ʓetimbriʓenne in heawum morum uppe.

a. 1050.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D), an. 1066, Ða se kyning ʓeahsade þæt se here uppe was, þa ʓesamnade he … ealle Engla þeode.

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems, ii. 38. For Sym wes bettir sittin, Nor Will, Vp at the Drum that day.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., 218. The City … is 20 mile up in the Country.

1710.  Tatler, No. 254, ¶ 7. I proposed a visit to the Dutch cabbin, which lay about a mile further up in the country.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xxiii. The Red Pool … lies up towards the hills.

1846–8.  Lowell, Biglow P., I. Poems (1912), 223. Recollect wut fun we hed … Up there to Waltham plain last fall.

1855.  Browning, Up at a Villa, ii. Up at a villa one lives, I maintain it, no more than a beast.

  3.  In an elevated position; at some distance above a usual or natural level.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxiii. 222. Swæ swæ iu … wæron ða lac forbærndu uppe on ðæm altere.

a. 1000.  Rood, 8 (Gr.). ʓimmas … fife wæron uppe on þam eaxleʓespanne.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 95. Ðe postes þat sculen beren up ðis weorc.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1169. All þatt Judewisshe lac Þatt ȝuw her uppe iss shæwedd.

c. 1275.  Lay., 17495. He bar þare his croune heȝe vppe on his heued.

c. 1275.  Doomsday, 51, in O. E. Misc., 167. Heo schule iseon þene kyng … vppe on þe rode myd stronge pyne abouhte.

1372.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VII. 91. As wilde bestis with wehe[ȝe] worthen vppe and worchen.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 198. Quen he was semely vp set with septour in hand. Ibid., 977 (D.). Alexander hys ayre vppe in hys awne trone.

1526–.  [see STAY v.³ 1 c].

1596.  Edward III., III. iii. 134. Edwards great linage,… Fiue hundred yeeres hath helde the scepter vp.

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 22 July. In my Lord’s roome,… where all the Judges’ pictures hung up.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 68. As you hale him out, keep him up that you may bring no Powder out with the Ladle.

1764.  Foote, Patron, I. Wks. 1799, I. 337. He never brought them … a birth till the christening was over; nor a death till the hatchment was up.

1799.  Hull Advertiser, 13 April, 2/1. Cutter-built sloop,… measures up aloft thirty-two feet.

1819.  W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 48. At anes the bells baith up and under Begoud to rattle on like thunder.

1855.  Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 6. An object seems to us to be up or down, according as we raise or lower the pupil of the eye in order to see it.

1899.  Daily News, 6 Nov., 4/5. The accommodation is limited to one room down and two up.

  b.  In fig. phrases or expressions.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 675. As doon thise loueres in hir queynte geres…, Now vp, now doun, as boket in a welle.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. lxxviii. (1869), 46. So michel þow didest, what up what doun, þat to mariage þow haddest hire.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 758/1. Wee must … be readie to forgoe all: we must alwayes haue one foote vp.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (ed. 3), I. 199. There I stood, my Heart up at my Mouth.

1749.  Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 23 March. My brother Ned’s envy, which was always up at high-water-mark.

1828.  Carr, Craven Gloss., s.v., I can find him nayther up-ner-down; i.e. I can find him no where.

  c.  Of an adjustable (esp. sliding) device or part: Raised.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. v., II. i. 55. Pistols cocke is vp, and flashing fire will follow.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, VI. xxvi. Her ventall vp so hie, that he descride Her goodly visage.

1610.  R. Vaughan, Water-Workes, P 4 b. Vnlesse … my seruants suffer the Sluces to be vpp when they should be downe.

1708.  Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, IV. ii. He has escap’d out of the Window, for the Sash is up.

1764.  Mrs. E. Carter, Lett. to Miss Talbot, 3 Feb. The glasses [of the coach] were up and broke to shivers.

1796.  Southey, Joan of Arc, II. 488. I saw him … Riding from rank to rank, his beaver up.

1799.  Lamb, Lett. (1888), I. 112. Travelling with the coach windows sometimes up.

1838.  J. F. Cooper, Excurs. Italy, I. 57. We were closely curtained and had the glasses up [in the travelling-carriage].

1879.  Meredith, Egoist, i. The visitor carried a bag, and his coat-collar was up.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 407. It closes itself either way, with the piston up or down.

  d.  colloq. On horseback; riding. Also fig.

1812.  J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v., A man who is ‘in swell-street,’ that is, having plenty of money, is said to be ‘up in the stirrups.’

1856.  H. H. Dixon, Post & Paddock, vi. 93. His running in a sweepstakes, when Sam [the jockey] was not ‘up.’

1857.  G. Lawrence, Guy Liv., iii. A match for £50, 10 st. 7 lb. each. Owners up.

1886.  in Fores’s Sporting Notes, III. 6. To pace the paddock when Archer’s up.

  † 4.  Of a gate, door, etc.: Open. Obs.

13[?].  Cursor M., 24423 (Gött.), All vp [Cott. opind] war þair grauis sene.

1340.  Ayenb., 255. Yef hi vyndeþ þe gate oppe, hi guoþ in liȝtliche.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 336. The dore is up, and he in wente.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Twa Mice, xxi. Bot in he went, and left the dure vp wyde.

1550.  Crowley, Epigr., 118. In seruice tyme no dore standeth vp, Where such men are wonte to fyll can and cuppe.

  5.  a. High, in respect of the river-bank or shore.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 51. Seuarne is ofte vppe and passeþ þe brynkes.

1546.  Yorks. Chantry Surv. (Surtees), 209. At such tyme when the waters be uppe.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiii. (1840), 221. The tide was up.

1844.  W. H. Maxwell, Wand. Highl., xxxvii. The sea was up.

1882.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Roughing It, vii. 35. The Platte was ‘up,’ they said—which made me wish I could see it when it was down.

  b.  Out of the stomach, etc.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 65. If I giue them a Pil to purge their humor, they neuer leaue belking till it bee vp.

  c.  On or above the surface of the ground or water.

1835.  Trans. Zoological Soc., I. 234. By remaining perfectly quiet when the animal is ‘up’ the spectator is enabled to attain an excellent view of its movements in the water.

1854.  Ruskin, Lett. to Miss Mitford, 7 Aug. The soldanella … is … distinguished for its hurry to be up in the spring.

1865.  G. Macdonald, A. Forbes, viii. She was as lonely as if she had anticipated the hour of the resurrection, and was the little only one up of the buried millions.

1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Coal-m., 268. Up, on the bank, or on the surface.

  6.  a. In a standing posture; on one’s feet; standing (and delivering a speech).

  (a)  1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3828. Is suerd he drou þere Vor to asaile him þerwiþ, ac þe oþer was vp ere.

a. 1300, 1398.  [see BEAR v. 18].

c. 1440.  Generydes, 44. An hert was fownde…, And vppe vppon his fete he was a non.

c. 1450.  Mankind, 29 (Brandl). O ȝe souerens, þat sytt, and ȝe brotherne, þat stonde ryghte wppe.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iv. 137. He that stands vpon a slipp’ry place, Makes nice of no vilde hold to stay him vp.

1613.  Withers, Abuses Stript, I. v. They … are so quickly up in a bravado.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 164. They were not able without staggering to stand up under it.

1787.  ‘G. Gambado,’ Acad. Horsem. (1809), 34. The standing up in your stirrups, whilst trotting…, has a most elegant and genteel effect.

1860–.  [see HOLD v. 44 f].

1888.  J. H. Stirling, in A. H. Stirling, Life (1912), 310. The student up was just translating in the ordinary slip-slop, unthinking fashion.

  (b)  1657.  Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 319. I only stood up first, to speak to the orders of the House. But now I am up, I desire [etc.].

1762.  Foote, Orator, III. Wks. 1799, I. 220. Silence, gentlemen;… A worthy member is up.

1778.  Ann. Reg., Hist., 133/2. The Minister concluded a long … speech, which kept him full two hours up.

1835.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parl. Sketch. Members arrive … to report that ‘The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s up.’

1899.  Daily News, 24 March, 2/1. He had a comparatively small audience, augmenting in numbers as news went round that he was up.

  b.  In an upright position.

  Also bolt, right, straight up: see these words.

1669.  Pepys, Diary, 3 March. My Lord Mayor did retreat out of the Temple by stealth, with his sword up.

1727–.  [see SIT v. 25 c].

1859.  Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 546. Bound on a foray … [the earl] Came riding with a hundred lances up.

1884.  Lillywhite’s Cricket Ann., 60. He kept up his wicket until the finish.

  c.  Erected, built.

1613–39.  I. Jones, in Leoni, Palladio’s Archit. (1742), I. 70. Part of this Building is finish’d, but the rest have some part of the Basement up only.

1742.  Leoni, Ibid., II. 69. Of the Rings for Races…. A third is yet up…, though half-ruined.

  7.  a. Out of bed; risen.

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 234. In þe morwe he was vppe and roises þis oþure.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 16992. The sonne is rysen & schynes bryght, And thei are vppe & redi dyght.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxv. 311. Take youre rest and loke that ye be vp by tymes.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 149. Go to thy bedde and slepe, and be vppe betyme.

1581.  Mulcaster, Positions, 19. Those people … be drousie when they are vp, for want of their sleepe.

1607.  Dekker, Westw. Hoe, II. i. We … must be vp with the lark.

1641.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 78. I vas upe this morninge be two a cloacke.

1693.  Dryden, Juvenal, III. 218. In vain we rise, and to their Levees run; My Lord himself is up, before, and gone.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 363. Another … asked, who it was that was up?

1771.  Mrs. Haywood, New Present for Maid, 255. When the family is up, she should set open the windows of the bed-chambers.

1854.  R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., li. Mrs. Jorrocks,… and Benjamin, were up with the lark.

a. 1873.  Lytton, Ken. Chillingley, xiv. One of the young ladies who attended … to the dairy was already up.

  b.  Not gone to bed; not yet abed.

a. 1535.  Fisher, Wks. (1875), 367. Peraduenture he was late vp the night before.

1550–.  [see SIT v. 25 b].

1622.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Shilling, B 5. Whilst all the Drawers must stay vp and waite Vpon these fellowes be it ne’re so late.

1763.  G. Williams, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), I. 250. While Lord March and I are up half the night with people of a profligate character.

1779.  Warner, Ibid. (1844), IV. 274. I was in hopes that some of the servants were still up.

1834.  Maginn, in Blackw. Mag., XXXV. 748. My eye caught a light in the window…. Seeing that the old fellow was up, I determined to step over.

1852.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., lviii. The corporation of servants are dismissed to bed (not unwilling to go, for they were up all last night).

1855–.  [see WAIT v.¹ 7 f].

  c.  Of game: Roused, started.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., III. iii. 117. Hearke, the Game is rows’d…. The Game is vp.

  8.  a. Further away from the mouth towards the source of a river, the inner part of a bay, etc.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. 194. Wee … arriued in the Easter-side thereof some ten leagues vp within the Bay.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., 7. We … rowed up to the head of the Creek, being about a mile up, and there we landed.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, iii. By taking the current a little farther up, the rest of the family got safely over.

1816.  Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, vi. (1818), 223. At day-light sent off all … the people who had been up with me, to the transport.

1862.  Kingsley, in Lett., etc. (1877), II. 139. I never saw such a river, though there are very few salmon up.

  b.  Pointing or directed to the stream.

1821.  Acc. Peculations Coal Trade, 7. Then he recollects there is a punt head up in Mill-hole tier.

  c.  Towards a place or position; forward; advanced in place.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. iv. 92. Porter. Make way there…. Man. You great fellow, Stand close vp.

1806.  Surr, Winter in London, II. 133. ‘Is my chariot up?’ said the captain. ‘Next to the duchess’s, sir.’

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 368. Hard up, the tiller so placed as to carry the rudder close over to leeward of the stern-post.

1868.  Field, 18 July, 49/2. Viscount lying second, and the others in close order well up.

1903.  Warner, in Hutchinson, Cricket, 65. If the ball is a half-volley or well up.

  d.  At or in a place of importance (spec. London).

1845.  Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), III. 126. ‘Dick Cromwell and his Wife’ seem to be up in Town on a visit.

1866.  Trollope, Claverings, iv. You’ll be up in London by the 10th of next month.

1886.  C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, ii. (ed. 3), 37. Literary parsons ‘up’ for a week or two’s reading at the British Museum.

  e.  colloq. At or in school or college.

1847.  Tennyson, Princ., Prol. 175. We seven stay’d at Christmas up to read.

1866.  Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 197. The boys were still ‘up,’ that is, in school [= Eton].

1886.  Law Times’ Rep., LIII. 664/2. The permission to remain up during the vacation.

  9.  In miscellaneous uses: a. Facing upward.

1683.  Dryden & Lee, Dk. of Guise, V. i. The world’s … better now, ’tis downside up.

1852.  Morfit, Tanning & Currying (1853), 289. The skin is stretched over this, with the grain side up.

1891.  Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., IV. 65. The tissue should be completely immersed, face up.

  b.  Off the ground; in store; in a proper place or receptacle.

  To keep up: see KEEP v. 57 a, k. To lie up (= in bed, etc.): see LIE v.¹ 29.

1865.  Trollope, Belton Est., iii. 26. Our hay has been all up these three weeks.

  c.  With the surface broken or removed.

1886.  Daily News, 14 Oct. (Encycl. Dict.). Streets that are up.

1891.  C. James, Rom. Rigmarole, 1. A great deal of roadway was ‘up.’

1908.  Times, 28 July, 2/6. There was a good deal of trafic in the road, part of which was up for repairs.

  II.  In figurative senses.

  10.  In a state of disorder, tumult, revolt, or insurrection; risen in rebellion. Also const. in (mutiny, etc.).

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 834. Fro þe seggez haden souped…, Er euer þay bosked to bedde þe borȝ was al vp.

c. 1420.  Contin. Brut., 358. And anon come tydyngez þat Harry of Bolyngbroke was vp with a strong power of pepill.

1487.  Cely Papers (Camden), 166. The comens of the town … hawe ben upp onys or twyse allredy.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 208 b. All the Realme was vp, and by open Proclamacion commaunded to make warre against hym.

1593.  Marlowe, Edw. II., I. iv. ’Tis treason to be vp against the king.

1655.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), II. 298. The Levellers wilbe spedily vpp against Cromwell.

1688.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 284. Lord de la Mere up in Cheshire with forces and crie ‘No bishops!’

1695.  C. Hatton, in H. Corr. (Camden), II. 216. For thes 2 nights a great mob have been up in Holborn and Drury Lane.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 529. The eastern counties were up.

1829.  C. Doyle, Micah Clarke, 58. I had heard that Monmouth was up, and I knew that you would not lose a night ere starting.

  (b)  1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xi. (1674), 150. People that are up in commotion.

1844.  P. Harwood, Hist. Irish Rebellion, 137. The British fleet was then up in mutiny.

  b.  Up in arms, risen, levied, or marshalled as an armed host. Also fig. (see ARM sb.² 4 b).

1587.  Contn. Holinshed, III. Table. Up in armes, they sue for peace to Henrie the first.

c. 1590.  Sir T. More, I. iii. 77. A number poore artificers are up In arms.

c. 1595.  Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 47. On a soden yow shall have all quarters up in armes.

1690.  C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 278. All created beings are up in arms to reduce the rebels.

1704.  [see ARM sb.² 4 b].

1769.  Gray, Lett. to Dr. Wharton, 18 Oct., in Memoirs (1775), § v. 358. Our farmer was himself the man, that last year plundered the eagle’s eyrie; all the dale are up in arms on such an occasion, for they lose abundance of lambs yearly, not to mention hares, partridges, grouse, &c.

1812.  Crabbe, Tales, v. 249. Be not a Quixote, ever up in arms To give the guilty and the great alarms.

1879.  J. D. Long, Æneid, X. 321. Ascanius, cooped in by wall and ditch, The Latins up in arms, fights hand to hand.

1893.  Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 108. The public-house keepers … were up in arms to raise as much opposition as possible.

  c.  Actively stirring or moving about.

c. 1460.  Wisdom, 518, in Macro Plays, 52. ‘Farewell,’ quod I; ‘þe deuyll ys wppe.’

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, I. i. This earth you tread upon … was not left … To your inheritance, and I up and living.

1838.  Longf., Psalm of Life, ix. Let us, then, be up and doing.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxii. IV. 714. They pursued him: the hue and cry was raised:… the whole country was up.

1872.  Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxxvii. 6. He was up and at it, resolutely resolved that he would not tamely die of despair.

  d.  In a state of agitation, excitement, exaltation, or confidence.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, X. lxxv. 546. What,… is your herte vp? yester daye ye ferd as though ye had dremed.

1576.  Newton, Lemnie’s Complex., 18. When theyr rage is vp, they will not easily be pacifyed.

1589.  R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1590), 7. Now the blood is vp.

1602.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., II. Wks. 1856, I. 19. My stomack’s up…. The match of furie is lighted.

1691.  Hartcliffe, Virtues, 21. Our Passions,… when they are up, and would hurry us into evil Actions.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 40. It was a nice Part to act; and all his Observations were up, I daresay, on the Occasion.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xvii. Let us have a bottle of the best gooseberry wine, to keep up our spirits.

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, III. 18. My spirit was up, my thoughts were full of hope.

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, xiii. His pluck was up, and finding himself in a fighting humour, he [etc.].

1859.  Dickens, T. Two Cities, II. v. Up one minute and down the next; now in spirits and now in despondency.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 111. When his temper is up he might do anything.

  e.  Bound for (a place); ready for (something). Cf. 17 a (d).

1870.  Longf., John Endicott, ii. On board the Swallow,… Up for Barbadoes.

1894.  Blackmore, Perlycross, 131. Christie was quite up for it. She loved a bit of skirmish.

  11.  a. In a state of prevalency, performance, or progress. (In later use mainly with keep v.)

c. 1290.  Beket, 229, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 113. Þis Ercedekne … stifliche heold op hire riȝte. Ibid., 404. Þou auȝtest more to holden op þane to with-seggen mi power.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 58. Bot ȝif Meede make hit þi Mischef is vppe. Ibid. (1399), Rich. Redeles, I. 29. Þey … cowde no mysse amende whan mysscheff was vp.

14[?].  Siege Jerusalem, 295. Now is ȝour sorow vppe.

1513–.  [see KEEP v. 57 f].

1537–.  [see HUNT’S-UP].

1582–.  [see HOLD v. 44 g].

1670–.  [see KEEP v. 57 e].

  † b.  In power or force. Obs.

1541.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 163. He shold se er he died friers and monks uppe agayn.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., III. i. 109. To know, when two Authorities are vp,… How soone Confusion May enter.

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 89. They are such beasts as while the Law was up,… furnished Gods Altar with Sacrifices.

  c.  Much or widely spoken of, whether favorably or (latterly) unfavorably.

  Cf. the OE. sense ‘disclosed, made known,’ and ON. and Icel. uppi, noted, remembered.

1618.  Bolton, Florus (1836), 265. The name of Caius Cæsar was up, for eloquence, and spirit.

1680.  V. Alsop, Mischief of Imposit., vii. 41. His name being up, he may lie abed till noon.

1766.  G. Williams, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), II. 33. [He] has again taken to his bed, and now, since his name is up, there he may lie.

1789, 1809.  [see NAME sb. 5].

1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 283. He observed his name was up there, and he should be suspected.

1824.  Mrs. Cameron, Pink Tippet, III. 16. Your name’s up in the town.

  d.  colloq. Occurring (as a special, unusual, or undesirable event); taking place, going on. Chiefly with what. (Very freq. from c. 1850.)

1849.  Alb. Smith, Pottleton Legacy, ix. 75. He saw something was ‘up.’

1851.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 21. A shout in answer from the other asks ‘What’s up?’

1908.  Times, 29 May, 15/6. We constantly thought that something was going to be up.

  e.  Amiss or wrong with a person, etc.

1887.  Rider Haggard, Jess, vii. There’s something up with that girl.

  12.  In senses denoting completion.

  a.  Of a period of time, etc.: Completed, ended, expired, over. (Cf. UPHALIDAY.)

  Cf. the same sense of ON. and Icel. uppi, LG. up, Du. op, G. auf.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 7207. When the tyme was ourtyrnyt, and þe tru vp, Agamynon þe grekys gedrit in þe fild.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 86. The king … commandis … to lat him pas frie,… or vp trues, against thame he sal proclayme weiris. Ibid., 235.

1688.  Miège, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., The Quarter is up.

1776.  in Sparks, Corr. Am. Rev. (1853), I. 310. Whose time of enlistment will be up in a few days.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxix. He should want a second mate before the voyage was up.

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIX. viii. (1873), VIII. 240. So that the Ball is up; dress-pumps and millineries getting all locked into their drawers again.

1878.  H. C. Adams, Wykehamica, xv. 268. As soon as morning school was up, there was a general rush … to breakfast.

1889.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, xxi. As his leave was nearly up, he would be off in the morning.

  b.  Of an assembly: Risen; adjourned; over.

1632.  Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, I. ii. The court is vp; make way.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IV. § 255. The Duke said … that … all men being upon their feet, and out of their places, he conceiv’d the house had been up.

1711.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 7 May. Yet perhaps it may not be till Parliament is up.

1773.  Foote, Bankrupt, III. Wks. 1799, II. 126. As both the Houses are up, I shall adjourn … till their meeting again.

1825.  Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 492. After parliament’s up.

1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxxix. The Chancellor is, within these ten minutes, ‘up’ for the long vacation.

1881.  J. Hatton, New Ceylon, Pref. There was much bustle of departing travellers. Parliament was up.

  c.  (At) the number or limit agreed upon as the score or game.

1667.  Dryden, Sir M. Mar-all, I. i. Which most mads me, I lose all my sets when I want but one of up.

1680.  Cotton, Compl. Gamester (ed. 2), 30. Of Trucks…. The Game, because it is sooner up than Billiards, is Nine, and sometimes Fifteen.

1685.  Tate, Cuckolds-Haven, II. ii. 15. Security and his Wife playing at Putt … Sec. There’s up, Wynny, there’s up; Come give me my Winnings.

1740.  Richardson, Pamela, II. 259. I had four Honours the first time, and we were up at one Deal.

1873.  Bennett & Cavendish, Billiards, 5. The game was twelve up.

1876.  Encycl. Brit., IV. 180/2. (Bowls), The game … is ‘up’ or won when the number of casts agreed on have been obtained by the winning side.

  d.  Come to a fruitless or undesired end; ‘played out.’ Usu. with game.

1787.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 283. Are we to suppose the game already up?

1800.  Aurora (Philadelphia) 17 Dec. (Thornton). As the Baltimore paper says, ‘The Jigg’s up, Paddy.’

1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, xix. He feared the game was up.

1848–.  [see JIG sb. 5].

1867.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., vi. I. 558. Godwine might well think that the game was up.

  e.  All up, completely done or finished; quite over. Also all U P (yū pī). (See also U 5.)

1825.  C. M. Westmacott, Eng. Spy, I. 322. That’s all up now.

1854.  Warter, Last of Old Squires, ix. Now corrupted into the simpler saw, ‘It’s all U P—up!’

1860.  White Melville, Market Harb., 94. Consequently, when you drop into a run, he goes as long as he can, and it’s all U P!

  f.  Const. with, in previous sense.

1833.  Disraeli, Cont. Fleming, II. vi. It is all up with him by this time.

1837.  Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), II. 121. It appears now to be ‘all up’ with coast gunning.

1854.  R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxxvi Crikey! they’re past! and it’s U P with old Pug.

1888.  McCarthy & Praed, Ladies’ Gallery, I. ix. 221. It was all but up with me.

  g.  In other applications.

1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Coal-m., 268. A stall or heading is said to be up when it is driven or worked up to a certain line…, beyond which nothing further is to be worked.

1909.  Cent. Suppl., s.v., Up,… in printing, finished; noting completion of a task: as, the chapter is up; the paper is up.

  13.  a. Higher in the ascending scale in respect of position, rank, fortune, etc.; in a position of affluence or influence. Also fig. (quot. 1791).

1509.  Barclay, Shyp Folys, 17 b. He that lyeth on hye [is] Nowe vp, nowe downe, vnsure as a Balaunce.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. v. 39. Which first (perchance) shee’l proue on Cats and Dogs, Then afterward vp higher.

1791.  Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 4 June. I shall be apt to be rather up in the world, as the folks say, if I tope on at this rate!

1877.  Tennyson, Harold, I. i. For in our windy world What’s up is faith, what’s down is heresy.

1905.  in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v.

  b.  Increased in power, force, strength, or vigor; actually blowing; ready for action.

1547.  Boorde, Introd. Knowl., 127. Yf the winde be any thyng vp.

1570.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), III. 2197/1. The winde was somwhat vp, and it caused the fire to be y^e fiercer.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., V. i. 68. The Storme is vp, and all is on the hazard.

1659.  Pell, Impr. Sea, 500. His often hushing of the winds, when they are up.

1742.  R. Blair, Grave, 32. The wind is up: hark! how it howls!

1833.  I. Taylor, Fanat., i. 16. What shall be the movements of the deep … when the winds are up!

1848.  J. Mitchel, Jail Jrnl., 27 May. A Government steamer … lay in the river, with steam up.

1889.  Gunter, That Frenchman, xxi. 298. Steam is up, and the boat is soon ready to leave her dock.

  c.  Advanced, increased, or high in number, value, or price.

1546.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. II. 175. Th’ exchaunge is vp agen above xxiiij^s.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1884), 165. The Bill was up at 2785.

1801–.  [see KEEP v. 57 c].

1855.  Bagehot, Lit. Stud. (1879), I. 3. A head full of sums, an idea that tallow is ‘up.’

1887.  A. Birrell, Obiter Dicta, Ser. II. 93. The price of £100 stock was up to £340.

1891.  Science-Gossip, XXVII. 51/1. Six shillings a couple for ducks, and four for teal, as they’re up now.

  d.  Advanced in years.

a. 1822.  Sir A. Boswell, Old Beau, iii. Though up in life, I’ll get a wife.

1834.  Tait’s Mag., I. 417/1. An Irishman, rather up in years.

1884.  T. Speedy, Sport Highl., ii. 13. Gentlemen who are somewhat up in years.

  e.  (So many points, etc.) in advance of a competitor.

1894.  Times, 19 July, 7/2. They were two up at the third hole.

1900.  J. Doe, Bridge Man., 61. When the adversaries are 28 up.

1903.  Times, 6 Feb., 7/6. The former pair winning by three up and two to play.

  fig.  1919.  J. B. Morton, Barber of Putney, vi. It’s one up to ’im for stickin’ it.

  f.  At a high or lofty pitch.

1902.  O. Wister, Virginian, ix. All the ladies thought the world of her, and McLean had told him she was ‘away up in G.’

1905.  Elinor Glyn, Viciss. Evangeline, 8. He has a giggle right up in the treble.

  14.  a. Before a magistrate, etc., in court. (Cf. UP adv.¹ 16 b.)

  b.  Offered or exposed publicly.

1921.  Conquest, Sept., 480/1. His business is to set a value on the teas up for sale.

  III.  With a preposition following.

  15.  Up against —, faced or confronted by (difficulties, etc.). colloq. (orig. Amer.).

1901.  S. Crane, Monster, etc., 231. All he’s up against is a case of grand larceny.

1910.  Chambers’s Jrnl., April, 232/1. In Canadian phraseology, we were ‘up against it’ with a vengeance!

  16.  Up in —, expert or versed, well informed or instructed, in a subject, matter, work, etc. colloq.

  In frequent use from c. 1860.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxiii. ‘Intrigue,’ and ‘Ways and Means,’ you’re all up in; so we shall only want one rehearsal.

1856.  Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, I. xxx. As to the examination … the very subjects had been chosen in which he was most up.

1885.  ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, 100. I did think Potter was better up in his work.

  17.  Up to —. a. (a) Able to perform, do, or undertake; fit or qualified for; capable of.

  In frequent use from c. 1850. For phrases involving this op one of the following senses see also SLUM sb.¹ 5, SNUFF sb.² 3 a, THING sb.¹ 14 f, TRAP sb.¹ 5.

1785.  Trusler, Mod. Times, I. 88. He was up almost to any villainy.

1792.  Paine, Rights of Man, II. ii. 17. Man, naturally as he is, with all his faults about him, is not up to the character.

1801.  F. Leighton, Lett. to J. Boucher, 15 May (MS.). I hope you will have no strangers with you…. I am not up to that.

1820.  Examiner, No. 659. 761/2. An old … hardy Highland Chieftain was up to no such mawkish sentiments.

1856.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), II. 282. I was up to nothing but lying on the sofa all the evening.

1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 225. The fence … is barely up to the weight of six hundred bullocks … at a high degree of momentum.

1898.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xvii. 179. To provide situations for elderly men who are no longer up to their work.

  (b)  1855.  Smedley, H. Coverdale, i. Two showy saddle-horses, the best being up to fifteen stone with any hounds.

1861.  E. Yates, in Temple Bar, II. 473. A cob ‘well up to fourteen stone.’

  (b)  Well aware of and prepared for; competent to deal with; a match for.

1785.  Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., s.v., Up to their gossip.

1806.  Lady S. Lennox, Lett. (1901), II. 202. To be up to all the wiles and arts used to entrap them.

c. 1830.  Mrs. Sherwood, Houlston Tracts, III. lxxxi. 10. To use a vulgar phrase very common with us servants at that time, I was so far up to Anne Simpson, that … I would not be put upon by her.

1864.  H. Ainsworth, John Law, V. ix. Sir Patrick and I are both wide awake,… so we shall be up to their tricks.

1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 321. It takes a smart man to be up to chaps of their sort.

  (c)  Thoroughly acquainted with; expert or versed in; possessing a thorough knowledge of.

  In frequent use from c. 1840.

1800.  Lamb, Lett. to Manning, 3 Nov. He does not want explanations … when you make an assertion; up to anything; down to anything.

1823.  Mrs. Sherwood, H. Milner, III. v. 88. Sam is not up to many things about a horse.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exped., xxii. (1856), 171. They are a … well-educated set of men, thoroughly up to the history of what has been done by others.

  (d)  Ready for. (Cf. 10 e.)

1849.  Thackeray, Pendennis, xxiv. She was up to any party of pleasure by whomsoever proposed.

1893.  Miss Yonge, Girl’s Little Bk., 23. Boys fancy they like a jolly girl up to anything,… but they do not respect her.

  b.  Equal in quality or quantity to (something specified); on a level with.

  See also KEEP v. 57 i, and the phrases under DICK sb.⁵, KNOCKER 2 c, NINE sb. 6 b.

1809.  Windham, Lett., in Sp. (1812), I. 114. Though I am considerably above my rate of London health, I am … not quite up to that which residence here ought to have given me.

1821–.  [see MARK sb.¹ 12 c].

1826.  Disraeli, V. Grey, II. xiv. The Baronet is not up to the nineteenth century.

1862.  Thoreau, Excursions, viii. Of course no flavors are thrown away; they are intended for the taste that is up to them.

1883.  Manch. Guard., 22 Oct., 5/5. The harvest of this year was up to a full average.

  (b)  Not up to much, of no great ability, importance, or worth.

1863.  Miss Braddon, Aurora Floyd, xxi. The new chap warn’t up to mooch.

1884.  Sala, Journ. due South, I. ix. The shoes were not, to use a vulgarism, ‘up to much.’

  (c)  dial. Even with (a person). Cf. 18 b.

1853.  Mrs. Gaskell, Cranford, xiv. But I’ll be up to her…. I’ll make her a pudding, and a pudding she’ll like, too.

1854.  Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., 371. ‘I’ll be up to you’; i.e. I’ll retaliate.

  c.  Engaged in or bent on (some activity, esp. of a reprehensible nature); occupying or concerning oneself with; doing or planning.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxvii. What’s the old ’un up to, now? Ibid. (1853), Bleak Ho., xxxix. They are still up to it, sir,… still taking stock, still examining papers.

1875.  W. S. Gilbert, Tom Cobb, I. That Whipple’s up to some bedevilment.

1890.  R. C. Lehmann, H. Fludyer, 84. I suppose you’ve been up to some of your games again.

  d.  colloq. Obligatory or incumbent upon.

  From the game of poker; in common use from c. 1913.

1901.  S. Crane, Monster, etc., 212. It’s up to us to whirl in an’ git some of it.

1902.  Greenough & Kittredge, Words, 56. So with the poker terms ‘ante up’ and ‘it is up to you.’

1908.  Westm. Gaz., 21 Feb., 4/2. It was ‘up to him,’ then, as an American would put it, to say that he had done this thing.

  18.  Up with —. (See also 11 e, 12 f.)

  a.  On a level with (a person, place, etc.).

1623.  Jobson, Golden Trade, 8. When the day appeared we were up with the Iland of Launcerot.

a. 1633–.  [see KEEP v. 57 j].

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. We have a stearn-Chase, but we shall be up with her presently.

1858.  Thackeray, Virginians, xxxviii. She makes for the vestry…. The two whiskeyfied gentlemen are up with her, however.

1893.  Sir G. Chesney, Lesters, II. xxi. Lionel … was the only one quite up with the hounds at the last.

  fig.  1785.  Burns, To W. Simpson, ix. We’ll gar our streams an’ burnies shine Up wi’ the best.

1899.  Werner, Capt. of Locusts, 41. But I don’t worry myself to keep up with things, as people say.

  b.  Even with; quits with. Now dial.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, III. 308. Let me turn myself about, and I’ll be up with you, never fear, Madam.

1778.  [W. Marshall], Minutes Agric., 3 Feb., 1775. But I will certainly be up with him to-morrow.

1800.  Lathom, Dash of Day, IV. i. I’ll be up with her for her deceit, I am determined.

1825.  Jamieson, s.v., I’se be up wi’ him for that.

1899.  Cumberland Gloss., 351.

  IV.  19. Comb. in phrases used attributively, as up-all-night, etc.

1857.  Dickens, Dorrit, I. xx. A curious *up-all-night air about it.

1891.  S. Mostyn, Curatica, 158. Chimney tops, and *up-all-night-looking window blinds.

1901.  Harper’s Mag., CII. 678/1. She had an *up and coming kind of way with her.

1890.  Advance (Chicago), 24 April. There is about our Methodist brethren … an *up-and-a-comingness … that [is] … delightful.

1901.  Daily Chron., 17 Dec., 3/2. She was … the most *up-and-doing woman of all her generation.

1848.  Clough, Bothie, II. 59. A sort of unnatural *up-in-the-air balloon-work.

1898.  Westm. Gaz., 4 June, 7/1. The mere *up in the roof ventilation.

1893.  K. Sanborn, S. California, 4. In that brilliant and *up-with-the-times city.