Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
On
On
(ŏn)
, p
rep.
[OE.
on
, an
, o
, a
, AS. on
, an
; akin to D. aan
, OS. & G. an
, OHG. ana
, Icel. ā
, Sw. å, Goth. ana
, Russ. na
, L. an-
, in anhelare
to pant, Gr. ἀνά
, Zend ana
. √195. Cf. A-
, 1, Ana-
, Anon
.] The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath
; as: –1.
At, or in contact with, the surface or upper part of a thing, and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface;
as, the book lies
. on
the table, which stands on
the floor of a house on
an islandI stood
on
the bridge at midnight. Longfellow.
2.
To or against the surface of; – used to indicate the motion of a thing as coming or falling to the surface of another;
as, rain falls
. on
the earthWhosoever shall fall
on
this stone shall be broken. Matt. xxi. 44.
3.
Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with;
as, to play
. on
a violin or pianoHence, figuratively, to work
. on
one’s feelings; to make an impression on
the mind4.
At or near; adjacent to; – indicating situation, place, or position;
as,
on
the one hand, on
the other hand; the fleet is on
the American coast.5.
In addition to; besides; – indicating multiplication or succession in a series;
as, heaps
on
heaps; mischief on
mischief; loss on
loss; thought on
thought. Shak.
7.
At or in the time of; during;
as,
. See on
Sunday we abstain from laborAt
(synonym). 9.
Toward; for; – indicating the object of some passion;
as, have pity or compassion
. on
him10.
At the peril of, or for the safety of.
“Hence, on thy life.” Dryden.
11.
By virtue of; with the pledge of; – denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged;
as, he affirmed or promised
. on
his word, or on
his honor12.
To the account of; – denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon;
as,
on
us be all the blame; a curse on
him.His blood be
on
us and on
our children. Matt. xxvii. 25.
13.
In reference or relation to;
as,
on
our part expect punctuality; a satire on
society.14.
Of.
[Obs.]
“Be not jealous on me.” Shak.
Or have we eaten
That takes the reason prisoner?
on
the insane rootThat takes the reason prisoner?
Shakespeare
☞ Instances of this usage are common in our older writers, and are sometimes now heard in illiterate speech.
16.
In the service of; connected with; a member of;
as, he is
on
a newspaper; on
a committee.☞ On and upon are in general interchangeable. In some applications upon is more euphonious, and is therefore to be preferred; but in most cases on is preferable.
On a bowline
. (Naut.)
Same as
– Closehauled
. On a wind
, or
On the wind
(Naut.)
, sailing closehauled.
– On a sudden
. See under
– Sudden
. On board
, On draught
, On fire
, etc. On it
, On't
of it.
[Obs. or Colloq.]
Shak.
– On shore
, on land; to the shore.
– On the road
, On the way
, On the wing
On to
, upon; on; to; – sometimes written as one word, onto, and usually called a colloquialism; but it may be regarded in analogy with into.
They have added the -en plural form
on to
an elder plural. Earle.
We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of ecclesiastics whom it forced
on to
the stage. J. R. Green.
1.
Forward, in progression; onward; – usually with a verb of motion;
“Time glides on.” as, move
on
; go on
; the beat goes on
. Macaulay.
The path is smooth that leadeth
on
to danger. Shakespeare
2.
Forward, in succession;
as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so
. on
3.
In continuance; without interruption or ceasing;
as, sleep
on
, take your ease; say on
; sing on
.4.
Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, “He is neither on nor off,” that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute.
5.
Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use.
“I have boots on.” B. Gonson.
He put
on
righteousness as a breastplate. Is. lix. 17.
6.
In progress; proceeding; ongoing;
as, a game is
. on
☞ On is sometimes used as an exclamation, or a command to move or proceed, some verb being understood; as, on, comrades; that is, go on, move on.
On and on
, continuously; for a long time together.
“Toiling on and on and on.” Longfellow.
Webster 1828 Edition
On
ON
,pre.
1.
Being in contact with the surface or upper part of a thing and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface; as, my book is on the table; the table stands on the floor; the house rests on its foundation; we lie on a bed, or stand on the earth.2.
Coming or falling to the surface of any thing; as, rain falls on the earth.Whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken.
Matt. 21.
3.
Performing or acting by contact with the surface, upper part or outside of anything; as, to play on a harp, a violin, or a drum.4.
Noting addition; as heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss.5.
At or near. When we say, a vessel is on shore, we mean that she is aground; but when we say, a fleet on a ship is on the American coast, or an isle is situated on the coast of England, we mean only that it is near the coast. So we say, on each side stands an armed man, that is, at or near each side.So we say, Philadelphia is situated on the Delaware; Middlebury is on the Otter Creek; Guilford stands on the Sound; that is, near the river or Sound, instead of on the bank, side or shore.
6.
It denotes resting for support; as, to depend on, to rely on; hence, the ground of any thing; as, he will covenant on certain considerations or conditions; the considerations being the support of the covenant.7.
At or in the time of; as, on the sabbath we abstain from labor. We usually say, at the hour, on or in the day, in or on the week, month or year.8.
At the time of, with some reference to cause or motive. On public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform.9.
It is put before the object of some passion, with the sense of towards or for. Have pity or compassion on him.10.
At the peril of, or for the safety of. Hence, on thy life.11.
Denoting a pledge or engagement, or put before the thing pledged. He affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor.12.
Noting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling or resting on. On us be all the blame.His blood be on us, and on our children. Matt. 27.
13.
In consequence of, or immediately after. On the ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded.14.
Noting part, distinction or opposition; as on one side and on the other. On our part, expect punctuality.On the way, on the road, denote proceeding, traveling, journeying, or making progress.
On the alert, in a state of vigilance or activity.
On high, in an elevated place; sublimely.
On fire, in a state of burning or inflammation, and metaphorically, in a rage or passion.
On a sudden, suddenly.
On the wing, in flight; flying; metaphorically, departing.
On it, on't, is used for of it. I heard nothing on't. the gamester has a poor trade on't. [This use is now vulgar.]
Upon is used in the same sense with on, often with elegance, and frequently without necessity or advantage.
ON
,adv.
1.
Forward, in progression; as, move on; go on.2.
Forward, in succession. From father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on.3.
In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on; write on.4.
Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, 'he is neither on nor off,' that is, he is not steady; he is irresolute.5.
Attached to the body; as, his clothes are not on.To put on, to attach to the body, as clothes or arms.
On, when it expresses contact with the surface of a thing, is opposed to under, off, or within, and when it expresses contact with the side of a thing, is opposed to off.
On is sometimes used as an exclamation, or rather as a command to move or proceed, some verb being understood; as, cheerily on, courageous friends; that is, go on, move on.