Chapter About-sledge to Absence of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

About-sledge to Absence

About-sledge
(A*bout"-sledge") n. The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale.

Above
(A*bove") prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. &radic199. See Over.]

1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; — opposed to below or beneath.

Fowl that may fly above the earth.
Gen. i. 20.

2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe.

I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.
Acts xxxvi. 13.

3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)

above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other things.

Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.

Above
(A*bove") adv.

1. In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds above.

2. Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing page. "That was said above." Dryden.

3. Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.

4. More than; as, above five hundred were present.

Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations, the above reference, the above articles. — Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from above." Josh. iii. 13.

It is also used as the first part of a compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above- described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written, above-given.

Aboveboard
(A*bove"board`) adv. Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick, concealment, or deception. "Fair and aboveboard." Burke.

This expression is said by Johnson to have been borrowed from gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under the table.

Above-cited
(A*bove"-cit`ed) a. Cited before, in the preceding part of a book or writing.

Abovedeck
(A*bove"deck`) a. On deck; and hence, like aboveboard, without artifice. Smart.

Above-mentioned
(A*bove"-men`tioned A*bove"-named`) a. Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.

Abovesaid
(A*bove"said`) a. Mentioned or recited before.

Abox
(A*box") adv. & a. (Naut.) Braced aback.