• ABLACH
n. 1. 1725 Sc. – a mangled carcass
n. 2. 1788 Sc. – a person of untidy habits and clumsy, ungainly demeanour; a pitiless person; a useless person
n. 3. 1790 Sc. obs. – a contemptible person; a dwarf
n. 4. 1825 Sc. – a particle, a bit, a fragment
n. 5. 1852 Sc. – an insignificant, worthless person; an incapable person
n. 6. 1875 Sc. – a body not necessarily dead but maimed or reduced to a pitiable condition
• ABLACK
n. 1852 Sc. – an insignificant, worthless person; an incapable person
• ABLACTATE
vb. 1754 obs. rare – to wean from the breast
• ABLACTATION
n. a1500 – the weaning of a child, or other young mammal from the mother
• ABLACTED
adj. 1623 obs. rare – that has been weaned
• ABLANDISHMENT
n. 1728 obs. rare – blandishment
• ABLAQUEATE
vb. c1420 rare – to loosen or remove the soil round the roots of trees, so as to let their fibres spread out; a term of Roman husbandry
• ABLAQUEATION
n. c1420 rare – the breaking up or removal of the soil around the roots of trees; the laying bare of roots
• ABLAST
vb. a1000 obs. rare – to blow upon or at
• ABLATE
vb. a1475 rare – to take away, to remove
• ABLATION
n. c1440 – the act or process of carrying away or removing; removal
• ABLATITIOUS
adj. 1647 rare – having the quality or character of a withdrawal or deduction
• ABLATIVE
adj. a1500 rare – pert. to taking away or removing
• ABLAZE
adj. 1. a1676 – that is on fire; burning vigorously
adj. 2. 1819 – highly excited or charged with emotion; passionately enthusiastic or vehement
adv. 1. 1393 – in a flame, in a flame
adv. 2. c1840 – in the full glow of excitement
adv. 3. 1851 – in flashing or brilliant colours; gleaming
• ABLE
adj. 1. a1382 obs. – suitable, fit, or appropriate for some purpose; suited, adapted, fitted
adj. 2. c1384 obs. – of a person: susceptible to persuasion; compliant, obedient; accommodating, gracious
adj. 3. a1398 Sc. obs. – liable, apt, likely to do something
adj. 4. 1495 obs. – legally capable or qualified
adj. 5. a1500 obs. rare – seemly, proper
adj. 6. 1741 obs. rare – of a thing: easy to handle or u se; manageable, convenient
adj. 7. 1516 Sc. & Eng. dial. – well-to-do, rich, influential, powerful
adj. 8. 1766 Sc. – substantial
adj. 9. 1931 Sc. – shrewd, clever in looking after one’s own interests
adj. 10. 1980 Can. – strong, capable, courageous
adv. a1525 Sc. rare – possibly, perhaps
vb. 1. a1400 obs. – to fit, to adapt; to prepare, to make ready
vb. 2. 1449 obs. – to fit out or equip a person; to dress
vb. 3. 1409 obs. – to empower legally; to make legally valid or effective
vb. 4. 1489 obs. – to warrant, to vouch for; to aver, to confirm
• ABLE AND CABLE
phr. 1950s African-American sl. – ready and willing
• ABLECTICK
adj. 1656 obs. rare – set our or prepared for sale
n. 1623 obs. rare – anything set out or prepared for sale
• ABLED
adj. 1576 obs. – capable; vigorous, thriving
• ABLE DEALER
n. Bk1910 Ireland – a schemer
• ABLEEGED
adj. 1879 Sc. – obliged
• ABLEEZE
adv. 1819 Sc. – blazing
• ABLE GABLE
n. Bk1942 US sl. – an admirable or handsome male
• ABLEGATE
vb. 1621 obs. rare – to send abroad or to a distance; to banish
• ABLEGATION
n. 1615 rare – dispatch, expulsion, banishment; dismissal
• ABLE GRABLE
n. 1. Bk1942 US sl. – a sexually attractive girl; an admirable female
n. 2. 1946 US sl. – an accomplished performer
• ABLELESS
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – incompetent, careless, listless, awkward
• ABLEMENT
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – bodily strength
• ABLEMOST
adj. 1614 obs. rare – ablest, most able
• ABLEND
vb. c1000 obs. – to dazzle, to take away the sight temporarily; to blind the moral vision
• ABLENESS
n. 1. c1390 obs. – the quality of being able; ability
n. 2. a1425 obs. – merit, worthiness
• ABLEPSY
n. 1616 obs. rare, literary usage – blindness, physical or mental
• ABLES
adv. 1673 Sc. & Eng. dial. rare – perhaps, possibly
• ABLE SEAMAN
n. 1661 – a sailor capable of performing all duties
• ABLESOME
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – wealthy, well-to-do
• ABLESSE
n. 1598 obs. rare – ableness
• ABLE SUGAR
adj. 20C US military sl. – crazy or out of order; haywire
• ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE
adj. 1932 Aust. sl. – morally reprehensible, despicable
• ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE BELLY
phr. 1920s sl., orig. Aust. – used to describe a person who acts immorally and without the least ethics
• ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE’S BELLY WITH A TOP HAT (ON)
phr. 1959 sl., orig. Aust. – used to describe a person who acts immorally and without the least ethics
• ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE’S BELLY WITH STILTS ON
phr. 1920s sl., orig. Aust. – used to describe a person who acts immorally and without the least ethics
• ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A PALING FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH WIRE NETTING
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A PALING FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH WIRE NETTING
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A PALING FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH WIRE NETTING
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A PALING FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH WIRE NETTING
phr. 20C US sl. – said of one who has buck teeth
• ABLE TO KICK THE EYE OUT OF A MOSQUITO
adj. L19 sl., orig. US – of a person: supremely competent
• ABLE TO SET UP AN’ EAT A FEW PORRIDGES
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – convalescent, or in good health
• ABLE WHACKETS
n. 1785 nautical sl. – a popular sailor’s game with cards, wherein the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief twisted like a rope
• ABLICH
n. 1790 Sc. – an insignificant, worthless person; an incapable person
• ABLIGATE
vb. 1615 obs. – to bind or tie up
• ABLIGATION
n. 1836 obs. – a tying up or securing something
• ABLIGURIE
n. 1623 obs. rare – prodigal expense on meat and drink
• ABLIGURITION
n. 1724 obs. rare – prodigal expense on meat and drink
• ABLIND
vb. c1175 obs. – to grow blind
• ABLING
n. c1450 rare – the act of preparing, fitting, or empowering
• ABLINGS; ABLINS
adv. 1597-1605 – in a manner that is able to be; possibly, perhaps
• ABLISH
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – somewhat able
• ABLOCATE
vb. 1612 obs. rare – to let out to hire
• ABLOCATION
n. 1663 obs. rare – a letting out or hiring out for money
• ABLOOM
adj. 1729 – covered with flowers; that is in bloom
adv. 1855 rare – in or into bloom
• ABLOW
adj. 1. 1838 chiefly poetic usage – blooming, full of flowers
adj. 2. 1905 rare, chiefly poetic usage – of the wind: blowing
adv. 1829 Sc. – below, beneath, lower down
prep. 1. 1864 Sc. – under, below
prep. 2. 1885 Sc. – on the lower side or part of; lower down in
vb. 1. c1000 obs. – to blow or breathe up or into
vb. 2. c1000 obs. – to puff up, to swell
• ABLOY
adj. c1400 obs. rare – overjoyed; carried away with joy
• ABLUDE
vb. 1610 rare – to be unlike, to differ, to be out of keeping
• A-BLUSH
adv. 1852 – blushing, ruddy
• ABLUTE
vb. 1703 colloq. – to wash oneself or a part of the body
• ABLUTED
adj. 1650 – washed away, washed clean; also, worn away by washing
• ABLUTION
n. 1. 1664 – the act of washing clean; the washing or cleansing of one’s person
n. 2. 1671 obs. – a lotion
• ABLUTIONARY
adj. 1761 – pert. to washing the body, or parts of it
• ABLUTIONS
n. 1955 military sl. – a building or room containing washing facilities and toilets
• ABLUTOMANIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal desire to wash, especially the hands
• ABLUVION
n. 1805 US obs. – that which is washed away
• ABNEGATE
vb. 1. 1543 – to deny oneself anything; to renounce or surrender a right or privilege
vb. 2. 1616 – to renounce or abjure; to deny
• ABNEGATION
n. 1. 1554 obs. – denial, negation; refusal, formal rejection
n. 2. 1639 – denial of anything to oneself; self-denial; renunciation of rights, things esteemed, etc.
• ABNEGATIVE
adj. 1778 rare – denying; renouncing; negative
• ABNEGATOR
n. 1605 – a person who abnegates, denies, or renounces something
• ABNODATE
vb. 1656 obs. rare – to prune trees, etc.
• ABNODATION
n. 1658 obs. rare – the act of cutting away knots from trees; a gardening term
• ABNORMALIST
n. 1888 rare – a person concerned with or interested in unusual or abnormal things
• ABNORMALITY
n. c1880 sl. – a person of crooked ways, an informer, a deformed or humpbacked person
• ABNORMALIZE
vb. 1849 – to make abnormal
• ABNORMETH
n. c1880 sl. – a person of crooked ways, an informer, a deformed or humpbacked person
• ABNORMOUS
adj. 1710 rare – irregular, misshapen
• ABNOXIOUS
adj. 1. 1680 obs. – hurtful, injurious
adj. 2. 1682 – offensive, objectionable, odious, highly disagreeable or unpleasant
• ABNUTIVE
adj. a1682 obs. rare – negative; implying denial or refusal
• ABO
adj. 1. 1911 Aust. sl., now derogatory – Australian Aboriginal; pert. to Australian Aboriginals
adj. 2. 2000s S. Afr. homosexual sl. – old
n. 1. 1906 Aust. sl., now mainly derogatory – an Australian Aboriginal
n. 2. 1910s Aust. sl. – an expert on Aborigine and bush customs and folktales
• ABOARD
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – drunk
adv. 1. 1833 sl. – in one’s stomach, esp. of drink
adv. 2. 1939 Amer. sl. – in baseball: on base
adv. 3. 1957 US sl. – present, part of an enterprise
vb. 1. 1458 rare – to approach; to draw near to; to enter, to set foot on; to land on, to board
vb. 2. 1611 rare – to address; to accost
• ABOAST
vb. 1377 obs. rare – to address boastfully or haughtily
• ABOB
vb. c1330 obs. rare – to astonish, to confound, to mystify
• ABODANCE
n. c1630 obs. rare – a foretelling, prefiguring, portending, omen
• ABODE
n. 1. a1250 obs. – the act of waiting; delay
n. 2. c1384 obs. – a temporary remaining; a stay
n. 3. c1600 obs. – an announcement, prediction, prognostication
vb. 1. 1573 obs. – to presage, prognosticate, be ominous of
vb. 2. 1659 obs. – to be ominous
• ABODEMENT
n. 1. 1565 rare – a foreboding, presage, or omen
n. 2. 1592 rare – habitual residence in a place; also, a place of residence, an abode
• ABODING
n. 1579 rare – a foreboding, presage, presentiment
• ABOGADO
n. Bk1827 Spanish American – a counsellor at law
• ABOIL
adj. 1846 – boiling, seething
adv. 1774 – in a boiling state
• ABOK
n. Bk1824 Sc. – a talkative or impudent child
• ABOLETE
adj. c1525 obs. rare – obsolete, out of use
• ABOLIAR
n. 1904 Aust. sl. – an expert on Aborigine and bush customs and folktales
• ABOLITE
adj. c1525 obs. rare – obsolete, out of use
• ABOLITION
n. 1606 obs. – a putting out of memory; a final overlooking or condoning; an amnesty
• ABOLITIONAL
adj. 1836 rare – relating to the abolition of the slave trade or slavery
• ABOLITIONARY
adj. 1823 – concerned with the abolition of destruction of something; advocating the abolition of the slave trade or slavery
• ABOLITIONIST
n. 1791 – an advocate of the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of African slaves in the United States
• ABOLITIONIZE
vb. 1836 US rare – to imbue with the principles of abolitionism; to make a person or community opposed to slavery
• ABOLITION WAR
n. 1943 Amer. sl. – the Civil War
• A-BOMB
n. 1. 1945 Amer. sl. – an alcoholic mixed drink
n. 2. 1951 Amer. sl. – in drag racing: a converted Model-A Ford capable of exceptionally rapid acceleration
n. 3. 1969 US sl. – marijuana combined in a cigarette with cocaine, heroin, or opium
n. 4. Amer. sl. – an atomic bomb
n. 5. 1990s drugs sl. – PCP mixed with formaldehyde
• A-BOMBED
adj. 1975 US sl. – under the influence of amphetamines
• A-BOMB JUICE
n. 1940s US sl. – moonshine; inferior or strong liquor
• ABOMINABLE OF MONKS
n. a1450 obs. rare – a crowd of monks
• ABOMINATE
adj. 1531 obs. – held in abomination; detested; beastly, inhuman
n. 1691 – a detested person
• ABOMINATION
n. 1. a1398 obs. – physical revulsion; nausea
n. 2. 1604 obs. rare – an unpleasant or disgusting amount, as of money, etc.
• ABOMINATIONLY
adv. 1592 rare – abominably, hatefully
• ABOMINATOR
n. 1671 – one who abominates or thoroughly detests; an abhorrer or extreme hater
• ABOMINE
vb. c1500 obs. – to abominate; to feel extreme disgust and hatred towards; to abhor, to loathe
• A-BONE
n. 1951 US sl. – a Model A Ford car
vb. 1656 obs. – ( as ‘abone’) to make good or seasonable; to ripen
• ABONNÉ
n. 1858 – a person who subscribes to a periodical; a season-ticket holder at the theatre
• ABOON
adv. 1875 Eng. dial. – above
• ABORCEMENT
n. 1540 obs. – abortion; premature expulsion of the foetus, miscarriage
• ABORD
n. 1. 1607 obs. – the act of approaching; approach, manner of approach
n. 2. 1670 rare – way of approach
vb. 1. 1509 obs. – to approach, to come close to; to enter, to land on, to gain a footing upon
vb. 2. 1611 obs. or arch. – to accost
• ABORDAGE
n. c1550 obs. rare – an attack upon a ship, in which it is boarded
• ABORDER
vb. 1566 obs. rare – to be neighbouring or contiguous, to border
• ABORDERING
adj. 1566 obs. rare – bordering, neighbouring, contiguous
• ABORIGEN; ABORIGIN
n. 1587 rare – an aboriginal or native inhabitant
• ABORIGINAL
adj. Bk1902 colloq. – of drinks: unmixed with water
• ABORIGINALLY
adv. 1695 – from the very beginning; from the origin of a people or culture; in the earliest times or conditions known to history
• ABORIGINARY
adj. 1. 1653 obs. rare – original; first or earliest as recorded by history
adj. 2. 1993 rare – existing from the very beginning of time
n. 1868 obs. rare, poetic usage – an aboriginal inhabitant
• AB ORIGINE
adv. 1537 – from the beginning, from the creation of the world
• ABORIGINES
n. a1661 obs. – the plants or animals indigenous to place; flora or fauna
• ABORNING
adj. 1943 chiefly US – that is in the process of being born or created
• ABORSEMENT
n. 1540 obs. – abortion; premature expulsion of the foetus, miscarriage
• ABORSIVE
adj. 1639 obs. rare – abortive from the first; checked before even a beginning had been made
• ABORT
n. 1. a1425 obs. – abortion; miscarriage
n. 2. 1578 obs. – the imperfect offspring of an untimely birth
n. 3. 1954 – a mission, procedure, or enterprise that is abandoned or curtailed before it has achieved its intended effect
n. 4. 1978 US military sl. – a foul-up; a mess; snafu
vb. 1972 US homosexual sl. – to defecate immediately after anal intercourse
• ABORTEE
n. 1912 – a woman who undergoes an induced abortion
• ABORTION
n. 1. 1834 sl. – an all-purpose derogatory term for a person, object, or enterprise
n. 2. 1943 US sl. – something of very poor quality; a messy failure; a misfortune; an ugly person or thing
n. 3. 1949 Amer. sl. – a hateful or ludicrous undertaking or enterprise; fiasco
• ABORTION EXPRESS
n. 1940 Aust. sl. – a train that ran from Darwin to Birdum
• ABORTIVATE
adj. c1630 obs. rare – imperfect, defective
vb. c1630 obs. rare – to render abortive; to render ineffectual or fruitless
• ABORTIVE
adj. a1450 – born prematurely; being the product of a miscarriage; stillborn
n. 1. a1382 obs. – a stillborn child or animal
n. 2. 1395 obs. rare – spontaneous or induced abortion of a fetus
n. 3. 1589 obs. – the fruitless or unsuccessful outcome of an endeavour; an unfulfilled object or aim
vb. 1. 1615 obs. – to cause abortion; to make ineffectual of fruitless
vb. 2. a1670 obs. – to miscarry; to prove abortive
• ABORTIVELY
adv. 1552 obs. – by a miscarriage or untimely birth; prematurely
• ABORTMENT
n. 1. 1577 obs. rare – the emptying of the contents of the stomach, as by vomiting
n. 2. 1595 obs. – spontaneous abortion; miscarriage
n. 3. 1614 obs. – the product of an abortion or premature birth
• ABORTORIUM
n. 1933 – a hospital, clinic, in which abortions are performed
• ABORTUARY
n. 1983 anti-abortion campaigners usage, derogatory – a clinic in which abortions are performed
• ABORTUS
n. 1764 obs. – abortion, miscarriage
• ABO’S HANDBAG
n. 2000s Aust. sl. – any form of boxed rather than bottled wine
• ABOULZIEMENT
n. 1787 Sc. obs. – dress, clothing; generally plural
• ABOULZIEMENTS
n. 1787 Sc. – accoutrements, arms
• ABOUND
adj. c1400 rare – overflowing; plentiful; abundant
vb. 1. a1382 arch. – to be rich or wealthy, to prosper; to have a plentiful supply or stock of something
vb. 2. a1398 obs. rare – to set limits to, to restrain
vb. 3. c1410 obs. rare – to be filled with a desire to do something
vb. 4. 1591 obs. – to overflow with; to pour forth
• ABOUNDABLE
adj. c1400 rare – fully sufficient, abundant, plentiful
• ABOUNDER
n. 1755 obs. rare, chiefly poetic usage – one who has plenty or is wealthy; a rich person
• ABOUNDING
adj. 1593 obs. rare – affluent, wealthy
n. c1425 rare – plentiful supply, abundance; prevalence
• ABOUT AND ABOUT
adj. 1867 US – very much alike or the same
• ABOUT AS HIGH AS THREE PENNYWORTH OF COPPERS
phr. E20 – said of very short persons
• ABOUT DONE
adj. M20 US sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
• ABOUT EAST
adj. 1848 Amer. dial. – in proper form; acceptable
adv. 1856 Amer. dial. – directly, completely, properly, regularly
• ABOUT-FACE
n. 1. 1853 – a complete reverse in fortune, opinion, policy, etc.
n. 2. 1965 US sl. – a 180-degree turn executed while driving fast
• ABOUT GONE
adj. 1929 – drunk (Amer. dial.)
• ABOUT HALF
adj. 1969 – feeling fine, relatively happy (sl.)
adv. 1962 – very, quite, exceptionally (Amer. sl.)
• ABOUT IT
adj. 1. Bk2000 – ready, knowledgeable, cool (Amer. street sl.)
adj. 2. 2000s – totally committed (African-American sl.)
• ABOUT PAR
adj. Bk1942 – excellent; first-rate (Amer. sl.)
• ABOUT PLAYED OUT
adj. 1860s – of a person or a unit: demoralized and discouraged (US Civil War usage)
• ABOUT RIGHT
adj. 1. 19C – drunk, but not excessively so (UK sl.)
adj. 2. 1850 – correct, adequate (UK)
adv. M19 – to the best extent possible (sl.)
• ABOUT ROUND
adv. a1393 – round about, all around; in every surrounding direction; on every side (obs.)
• ABOUT-SPEECH
n. 1513 – a roundabout phrase; circumlocution (Sc. obs.)
• ABOUT-STANDING
n. 1340 – a circumstance (obs.)
• ABOUT THAT
adj. 1990s – in agreement with (US students’ sl.)
• ABOUT TO DIE
adj. 1902 – taken seriously or suddenly ill (Amer. dial.)
• ABOUT TO FIND PUPS
adj. 20C – pregnant; about to give birth (US sl.)
• ABOUT TO KICK THE BUCKET
adj. 1902 – taken seriously or suddenly ill (Amer. dial.)
• ABOUT TO PASS
adj. 1902 – taken seriously or suddenly ill (Amer. dial.)
• ABOUT TO RIDE OUT
adj. 1855 – of a room or piece of furniture: untidy, very cluttered or disordered (Amer. dial.)
• ABOUTWARD
adv. c1400 – orig. striving, trying, contriving, tending towards; later being about to, going (obs.)
• ABOUT-WRITING
n. c1449 – the legend round the head stamped on a coin (obs.)
• ABOVE
n. 1895 – God (Eng. dial.)
• ABOVE-A-BIT
adv. 1827 – more than a little, exceedingly, to a great degree (colloq. & Eng. dial.)
• ABOVE-BOARD
adj. 1. 1616 – frank, open, undisguised; entirely honest (sl.)
adj. 2. M17 – in a sexual context: maintaining an undisguised relationship (sl.)
adv. 1. 1594 – in cards: with one’s cards visible above the level of the playing table, so as to avoid suspicion of cheating (obs.)
adv. 2. 1599 – openly, honestly, candidly
• ABOVE EARTH
phr. a1200 – living, among the living, on earth, unburied (rare)
• ABOVE-GIVEN
adj. 1588 – given or cited previously in the present text
• ABOVE GROUND
adj. 1. 1592 – in dancing: with the feet not touching the floor (obs.)
adj. 2. 1711 – out of the grave, alive
• ABOVE-HAND
adv. 1581 – with the hand in a position below and supporting the thing held; with an action involving this position of the hand (obs.)
• ABOVE-HEAD
adv. 1548 – overhead (rare)
• ABOVE MOULD
phr. a1400 – living, among the living, on earth, unburied (obs.)
• ABOVE ONE’S BEND
phr. 1835 – beyond one’s abilities (Amer. dial.)
• ABOVE ONESELF
adj. 1823 – over-confident, pushy, esp. of someone who is usually more self-effacing; arrogant, conceited, self-important (sl.)
• ABOVE ONE’S HEAD
phr. 1655 – beyond one’s comprehension or intellectual capacity
• ABOVE ONE’S HUCKLEBERRY
phr. 1859 – beyond one’s ability; out of one’s reach (Amer. dial.)
• ABOVE ONE’S MATCH
adj. 1748 – above one’s level; beyond one’s abilities (obs.)
• ABOVE ONES’ STATION
phr. a1682 – higher than one’s social position allows, merits, or warrants; beyond what is permitted or due to one by rank, age, ability, etc.
• ABOVE PAR
adj. 1. M19 – well-off (UK criminals’ sl.)
adj. 2. Bk1890 – mildly drunk (sl.)
adj. 3. 1937 – in excellent health or spirits (UK sl.)
adj. 4. Bk1942 – excellent; first-rate Amer. sl.)
• ABOVESAID
adj. 1389 – mentioned previously in the present text; aforesaid (rare)
• ABOVE SNAKES
adj. 1855 – tall, above the ground (Amer. dial.)
• ABOVE-STAIRS
adj. 1606 – upstairs (arch.)
• ABOVE THE SALT
phr. 1597 – seated at the upper half of the table, and there among the guests of distinction
• ABOVE-WONDERFUL
adj. 1635 – more than wonderful (obs.)
• AB OVO
adv. a1586 – from the very beginning
• ABOW
vb. c1000 – to bend, to incline, to bow, to stoop; fig. to do homage or reverence; to submit (obs.)
• A-BOX
n. 1996 – someone in an unpleasant mood (US students’ sl.)
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