know(n = noun.cognition) - the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people; "he is always in the know"
is a kind of knowing
1. know(v = verb.cognition) cognise, cognize - be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about; "I know that the President lied to the people"; "I want to know who is winning the game!"; "I know it's time"
Antonym: ignore
Derived forms adjective knowable1, noun knower1, noun knowing1
Sample sentences:
Sam and Sue know
2. know(v = verb.cognition) - know how to do or perform something; "She knows how to knit"; "Does your husband know how to cook?"
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
3. know(v = verb.cognition) - be aware of the truth of something; have a belief or faith in something; regard as true beyond any doubt; "I know that I left the key on the table"; "Galileo knew that the earth moves around the sun"
Derived form adjective knowable1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
4. know(v = verb.cognition) - be familiar or acquainted with a person or an object; "She doesn't know this composer"; "Do you know my sister?"; "We know this movie"; "I know him under a different name"; "This flower is known as a Peruvian Lily"
Sample sentences:
They know themselves
5. know(v = verb.cognition) experience, live - have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations; "I know the feeling!"; "have you ever known hunger?"; "I have lived a kind of hell when I was a drug addict"; "The holocaust survivors have lived a nightmare"; "I lived through two divorces"
is one way to experience, go through, see
Derived form adjective knowable1
Sample sentences:
These men know the river
6. know(v = verb.cognition) acknowledge, recognise, recognize - accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority; "The Crown Prince was acknowledged as the true heir to the throne"; "We do not recognize your gods"
is one way to accept
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
7. know(v = verb.cognition) - have fixed in the mind; "I know Latin"; "This student knows her irregular verbs"; "Do you know the poem well enough to recite it?"
Derived form adjective knowable1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
8. know(v = verb.contact) bang, be intimate, bed, bonk, do it, eff, fuck, get it on, get laid, have a go at it, have intercourse, have it away, have it off, have sex, hump, jazz, lie with, love, make love, make out, roll in the hay, screw, sleep together, sleep with - have sexual intercourse with; "This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm"; "Adam knew Eve"; "Were you ever intimate with this man?"
is one way to copulate, couple, mate, pair
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s
9. know(v = verb.cognition) - know the nature or character of; "we all knew her as a big show-off"
is one way to agnise, agnize, realise, realize, recognise, recognize
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
10. know(v = verb.cognition) - be able to distinguish, recognize as being different; "The child knows right from wrong"
is one way to differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
Derived form adjective knowable1
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
11. know(v = verb.cognition) - perceive as familiar; "I know this voice!"
is one way to call back, call up, recall, recollect, remember, retrieve, think
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
Knee. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
1. To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty. [1913 Webster]
"O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!" [1913 Webster]
"There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it." [1913 Webster]
"Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong." [1913 Webster]
2. To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information. [1913 Webster]
3. To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization. [1913 Webster]
"He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." [1913 Webster]
"Not to know me argues yourselves unknown." [1913 Webster]
4. To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure. [1913 Webster]
"Ye shall know them by their fruits." [1913 Webster]
"And their eyes were opened, and they knew him." [1913 Webster]
"To know
Faithful friend from flattering foe." [1913 Webster]
"At nearer view he thought he knew the dead." [1913 Webster]
5. To have sexual intercourse with. [1913 Webster]
" Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc." [1913 Webster]
"And Adam knew Eve his wife." [1913 Webster]
"And I knew that thou hearest me always." [1913 Webster]
"The monk he instantly knew to be the prior." [1913 Webster]
"In other hands I have known money do good." [1913 Webster]
1. To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often with
"Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." [1913 Webster]
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." [1913 Webster]
"The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn." [1913 Webster]
2. To be assured; to feel confident. [1913 Webster]
know, v. & n.
--v. (past knew; past part. known)
1 tr. (often foll. by that, how, what, etc.) a have in the mind; have learnt; be able to recall (knows a lot about cars; knows what to do). b (also absol.) be aware of (a fact) (he knows I am waiting; I think he knows). c have a good command of (a subject or language) (knew German; knows his tables).
2 tr. be acquainted or friendly with (a person or thing).
3 tr. a recognize; identify (I knew him at once; knew him for an American). b (foll. by to + infin.) be aware of (a person or thing) as being or doing what is specified (knew them to be rogues). c (foll. by from) be able to distinguish (one from another) (did not know him from Adam).
4 tr. be subject to (her joy knew no bounds).
5 tr. have personal experience of (fear etc.).
6 tr. (as known adj.) a publicly acknowledged (a known thief; a known fact). b Math. (of a quantity etc.) having a value that can be stated.
7 intr. have understanding or knowledge.
8 tr. archaic have sexual intercourse with.
--n. (in phr. in the know) colloq. well-informed; having special knowledge.
Idiom:
all one knows (or knows how)
1 all one can (did all he knew to stop it).
2 adv. to the utmost of one's power (tried all she knew). before one knows where one is with baffling speed.
be not to know
1 have no way of learning (wasn't to know they'd arrive late).
2 be not to be told (she's not to know about the party). don't I know it! colloq. an expression of rueful assent. don't you know colloq. or joc. an expression used for emphasis (such a bore, don't you know). for all (or aught) I know so far as my knowledge extends. have been known to be known to have done (they have been known to not turn up). I knew it! I was sure that this would happen. I know what I have a new idea, suggestion, etc. know about have information about. know-all colloq. a person who seems to know everything. know best be or claim to be better informed etc. than others. know better than (foll. by that, or to + infin.) be wise, well-informed, or well-mannered enough to avoid (specified behaviour etc.).
know by name
1 have heard the name of.
2 be able to give the name of. know by sight recognize the appearance (only) of. know how know the way to do something.
know-how n.
1 practical knowledge; technique, expertise.
2 natural skill or invention. know-it-all = know-all.
know-nothing
1 an ignorant person.
2 an agnostic. know of be aware of; have heard of (not that I know of). know one's own mind be decisive, not vacillate. know the ropes (or one's stuff) be fully knowledgeable or experienced. know a thing or two be experienced or shrewd. know what's what have adequate knowledge of the world, life, etc. know who's who be aware of who or what each person is. not if I know it only against my will. not know that ... colloq. be fairly sure that ... not (I don't know that I want to go). not know what hit one be suddenly injured, killed, disconcerted, etc. not want to know refuse to take any notice of. what do you know (or know about that)? colloq. an expression of surprise.
you know colloq.
1 an expression implying something generally known or known to the hearer (you know, the pub on the corner).
2 an expression used as a gap-filler in conversation. you know something (or what)? I am going to tell you something. you-know-what (or -who) a thing or person unspecified but understood. you never know nothing in the future is certain.
Derivative:
knowable adj. knower n.
Etymology:
OE (ge)cnawan, rel. to CAN(1), KEN
VB be friendly, be friends, be acquainted with, know, have the ear of, keep company with, hold communication with, have dealings with, sympathize with, have a leaning to, bear good will, love, make much of, befriend, introduce to, set one's horses together, have the latchstring out, hold out the right hand of friendship, extend the right hand of friendship, hold out the right hand of fellowship, become friendly, make friends with, break the lee, be introduced to, make acquaintance with, pick acquaintance with, scrape acquaintance with, get into favor, gain the friendship of, shake hands with, fraternize, embrace, receive with open arms, throw oneself into the arms of, meet halfway, take in good part.
VB be sociable, know, be acquainted, associate with, sort with, keep company with, walk hand in hand with, eat off the same trencher, club together, consort, bear one company, join, make acquaintance with, make advances, fraternize, embrace, be at home with, feel at home with, make oneself at home with, make free with, crack a bottle with, receive hospitality, live at free quarters, find the latchstring out, visit, pay a visit, interchange visits, interchange cards, call at, call upon, leave a card, drop in, look in, look one up, beat up one's quarters, entertain, give a party, be at home, see one's friends, hang out, keep open house, do the honors, receive, receive with open arms, welcome, give a warm reception, to kill the fatted calf.
VB be certain, stand to reason, render certain, insure, ensure, assure, clinch, make sure, determine, decide, set at rest, make assurance double sure, know, dogmatize, lay down the law.
VB believe, credit, give faith to, give credit to, credence to, see, realize, assume, receive, set down for, take for, have it, take it, consider, esteem, presume, count upon, depend upon, calculate upon, pin one's faith upon, reckon upon, lean upon, build upon, rely upon, rest upon, lay one's account for, make sure of, make oneself easy about, on that score, take on trust, take on credit, take for granted, take for gospel, allow some weight to, attach some weight to, know, know for certain, have know, make no doubt, doubt not, be, rest assured, persuade oneself, assure oneself, satisfy oneself, make up one's mind, give one credit for, confide in, believe in, put one's trust in, place in, repose in, implicit confidence in, take one's word for, at one's word, place reliance on, rely upon, swear by, regard to, think, hold, take, take it, opine, be of opinion, conceive, trow, ween, fancy, apprehend, have it, hold a belief, possess, entertain a belief, adopt a belief, imbibe a belief, embrace a belief, get hold of a belief, hazard, foster, nurture a belief, cherish a belief, have an opinion, hold an opinion, possess, entertain an opinion, adopt an opinion, imbibe an opinion, embrace an opinion, get hold of an opinion, hazard an opinion, foster an opinion, nurture an opinion, cherish an opinion, view as, consider as, take as, hold as, conceive as, regard as, esteem as, deem as, look upon as, account as, set down as, surmise, get it into one's head, take it into one's head, come round to an opinion, swallow, cause to be believed, satisfy, persuade, have the ear of, gain the confidence of, assure, convince, convict, convert, wean, bring round, bring over, win over, indoctrinate, cram down the throat, produce conviction, carry conviction, bring home to, drive home to, go down, find credence, pass current, be received, be current, possess, take hold of, take possession of the mind.
VB know, ken, scan, wot, wot aware, be aware of, ween, weet, trow, have, possess, conceive, apprehend, comprehend, take, realize, understand, savvy, appreciate, fathom, make out, recognize, discern, perceive, see, get a sight-of, experience, know full well, have some knowledge of, possess some knowledge of, be au courant, have in one's head, have at one' fingers ends, know by heart, know by rote, be master of, connaitre le dessous des cartes, know what's what, see one's way, discover, come to one's knowledge.
VB tell, inform, inform of, acquaint, acquaint with, impart, impart to, make acquaintance with, apprise, advise, enlighten, awaken, transmit, let fall, mention, express, intimate, represent, communicate, make known, publish, notify, signify, specify, convey the knowledge of, let one know, have one to know, give one to understand, give notice, set before, lay before, put before, point out, put into one's head, put one in possession of, instruct, direct the attention to, announce, annunciate, report, report progress, bringword, send word, leave word, write word, telegraph, telephone, wire, retail, render an account, give an account, state, let slip, blurt out, spill the beans, unburden oneself of, let off one's chest, disclose, show cause, explain, hint, given an inkling of, give a hint, drop a hint, throw out a hint, insinuate, allude to, make allusion to, glance at, tip the wink, suggest, prompt, give the cue, breathe, whisper, whisper in the ear, give a bit of one's mind, tell one plainly, tell once for all, speak volumes, undeceive, unbeguile, set right, correct, open the eyes of, disabuse, disillusion one of, be informed of, know, learn, get scent of, get wind of, gather from, awaken to, open one's eyes to, become alive, become awake to, hear, overhear, understand, come to one's ears, come to one's knowledge, reach one's ears.
desire to know, in the know, know all the answers, know apart, know backwards and forwards, know how, know no bounds, know nothing, know the score, know well, know what's going on, know what's what, royal society of london for improving natural know
1. As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost? [1913 Webster]
"What see'st thou in the ground?" [1913 Webster]
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" [1913 Webster]
"What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" [1913 Webster]
2. As an exclamatory word: --
" What in this use has a or an between itself and its noun if the qualitative or quantitative importance of the object is emphasized." [1913 Webster]
"What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" [1913 Webster]
"What a piece of work is man!" [1913 Webster]
"O what a riddle of absurdity!" [1913 Webster]
"What partial judges are our love and hate!" [1913 Webster]
3. As a relative pronoun [1913 Webster]
"With joy beyond what victory bestows." [1913 Webster]
"I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats." [1913 Webster]
"What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning." [1913 Webster]
"I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me." [1913 Webster]
"See what natures accompany what colors." [1913 Webster]
"To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe." [1913 Webster]
"We know what master laid thy keel,
What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel." [1913 Webster]
4. Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
"Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was." [1913 Webster]
5. Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition. [1913 Webster]
"What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore." [1913 Webster]
"Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk." [1913 Webster]
"The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles." [1913 Webster]
"What time the morn mysterious visions brings." [1913 Webster]
Something; thing; stuff. [1913 Webster]
"And gave him for to feed,
Such homely what as serves the simple " [1913 Webster]
Why? For what purpose? On what account? [1913 Webster]
"What should I tell the answer of the knight." [1913 Webster]
"But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates? What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject?" [1913 Webster]
what, adj., pron., & adv.
--interrog.adj.
1 asking for a choice from an indefinite number or for a statement of amount, number, or kind (what books have you read?; what news have you?).
2 colloq. = WHICH interrog.adj. (what book have you chosen?).
--adj. (usu. in exclam.) how great or remarkable (what luck!).
--rel.adj. the or any ... that (will give you what help I can).
--pron. (corresp. to the functions of the adj.)
1 what thing or things? (what is your name?; I don't know what you mean).
2 (asking for a remark to be repeated) = what did you say? 3 asking for confirmation or agreement of something not completely understood (you did what?; what, you really mean it?).
4 how much (what you must have suffered!).
5 (as rel.pron.) that or those which; a or the or any thing which (what followed was worse; tell me what you think).
--adv. to what extent (what does it matter?).
Idiom:
what about what is the news or position or your opinion of (what about me?; what about a game of tennis?). what-d'you-call-it (or what's-its-name) a substitute for a name not recalled. what ever what at all or in any way (what ever do you mean?) (see also WHATEVER). what for colloq.
1 for what reason? 2 a severe reprimand (esp. give a person what for). what have you colloq. (prec. by or) anything else similar.
what if?
1 what would result etc. if.
2 what would it matter if. what is more and as an additional point; moreover. what next? colloq. what more absurd, shocking, or surprising thing is possible? what not (prec. by and) other similar things. what of? what is the news concerning? what of it? why should that be considered significant? what's-his (or -its) -name = what-d'you-call-it. what's what colloq. what is useful or important etc. what with colloq. because of (usu. several things).
Etymology:
OE hw{aelig}t f. Gmc
N resentment, displeasure, animosity, anger, wrath, indignation, exasperation, bitter resentment, wrathful indignation, pique, umbrage, huff, miff, soreness, dudgeon, acerbity, virulence, bitterness, acrimony, asperity, spleen, gall, heart-burning, heart-swelling, rankling, ill humor, bad humor, ill temper, bad temper, irascibility, ill blood, revenge, excitement, irritation, warmth, bile, choler, ire, fume, pucker, dander, ferment, ebullition, towering passion, acharnement, angry mood, taking, pet, tiff, passion, fit, tantrums, burst, explosion, paroxysm, storm, rage, fury, desperation, violence, fire and fury, vials of wrath, gnashing of teeth, hot blood, high words, scowl, sulks, affront, provocation, offense, indignity, grudge, crow to pluck, bone to pick, sore subject, casus belli, ill turn, outrage, Furies, Eumenides, buffet, slap in the face, box on the ear, rap on the knuckles, angry, wrath, irate, ireful, wrathful, cross, Achillean, sulky, bitter, virulent, acrimonious &c (discourteous), violent, warm, burning, boiling, boiling over, fuming, raging, foaming, foaming at the mouth, convulsed with rage, offended, waxy, acharne, wrought, worked up, indignant, hurt, sore, set against, fierce, wild, rageful, furious, mad with rage, fiery, infuriate, rabid, savage, relentless, flushed with anger, flushed with rage, in a huff, in a stew, in a fume, in a pucker, in a passion, in a rage, in a fury, in a taking, in a way, on one's high ropes, up in arms, in high dudgeon, angrily, in the height of passion, in the heat of passion, in the heat of the moment, Int, tantaene animis coelestibus irae!, marry come up!, zounds!, 'sdeath!, one's blood being up, one's back being up, one's monkey being up, fervens difficili bile jecur, the gorge rising, eyes flashing fire, the blood rising, the blood boiling, haeret lateri lethalis arundo, beware the fury of a patient man, furor arma ministrat, ira furor brevis est, quem Jupiter vult perdere dementat prius, What, drunk with choler?.
1. going(n = noun.act) departure, going away, leaving - the act of departing;
is a kind of act, deed, human action, human activity
has particulars: breaking away, farewell, leave, leave-taking, parting, french leave, disappearance, disappearing, withdrawal, sailing, boarding, embarkation, embarkment, exit, despatch, dispatch, shipment, takeoff
Derived form verb go3
2. going(n = noun.event) departure, exit, expiration, loss, passing, release - euphemistic expressions for death; "thousands mourned his passing"
is a kind of death, decease, expiry
Derived form verb go17
3. going(n = noun.act) sledding - advancing toward a goal; "persuading him was easy going"; "the proposal faces tough sledding"
is a kind of accomplishment, achievement
Derived form verb go16
going(s = adj.all) - in full operation; "a going concern"
1. The act of moving in any manner; traveling; as, the going is bad. [1913 Webster]
2. Departure. Milton. [1913 Webster]
3. Pregnancy; gestation; childbearing. Crew. [1913 Webster]
4. Course of life; behavior; doings; ways. [1913 Webster]
"His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." [1913 Webster]
That goes; in existence; available for present use or enjoyment; current; obtainable; also, moving; working; in operation; departing; as, he is of the brightest men going; going prices or rate. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
going, n. & adj.
--n.
1 a the act or process of going. b an instance of this; a departure.
2 a the condition of the ground for walking, riding, etc. b progress affected by this (found the going hard).
--adj.
1 in or into action (set the clock going).
2 existing, available; to be had (there's cold beef going; one of the best fellows going).
3 current, prevalent (the going rate).
Idiom:
get going start steadily talking, working, etc. (can't stop him when he gets going). going away a departure, esp. on a honeymoon. going concern a thriving business. going for one colloq. acting in one's favour (he has got a lot going for him). going on fifteen etc. esp. US approaching one's fifteenth etc. birthday. going on for approaching (a time, an age, etc.) (must be going on for 6 years). going-over
1 colloq. an inspection or overhaul.
2 sl. a thrashing.
3 US colloq. a scolding. goings-on behaviour, esp. morally suspect. going to intending or intended to; about to; likely to (it's going to sink!). heavy going slow or difficult to progress with (found Proust heavy going). to be going on with to start with; for the time being. while the going is good while conditions are favourable.
Etymology:
GO(1): in some senses f. earlier a-going: see A(2)
N motion, movement, move, going, unrest, stream, flow, flux, run, course, stir, evolution, kinematics, telekinesis, step, rate, pace, tread, stride, gait, port, footfall, cadence, carriage, velocity, angular velocity, clip, progress, locomotion, journey, voyage, transit, restlessness, mobility, movableness, motive power, laws of motion, mobilization, moving, in motion, transitional, motory, motive, shifting, movable, mobile, mercurial, unquiet, restless, nomadic, erratic, under way, on the move, on the wing, on the tramp, on the march, eppur si muove, es bildet ein Talent sich in der Stille, sich ein Charakter in dem Strom der Welt.
coming and going, easy going, get going, going ashore, going away, going on, going strong, going to jerusalem, going under, keep going, know what's going on
1. on(a = adj.all) - in operation or operational; "left the oven on"; "the switch is in the on position"
Antonym: off
2. on(a = adj.all) - (of events) planned or scheduled; "the picnic is on, rain or shine"; "we have nothing on for Friday night"
Antonym: off
1. on(r = adv.all) along - with a forward motion; "we drove along admiring the view"; "the horse trotted along at a steady pace"; "the circus traveled on to the next city"; "move along"; "march on"
2. on(r = adv.all) - indicates continuity or persistence or concentration; "his spirit lives on"; "shall I read on?"
3. on(r = adv.all) - in a state required for something to function or be effective; "turn the lights on"; "get a load on"
1. The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath [1913 Webster]
"I stood on the bridge at midnight." [1913 Webster]
2. 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 island. [1913 Webster]
"Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken." [1913 Webster]
3. 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 earth. [1913 Webster]
4. 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 piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's feelings; to make an impression on the mind. [1913 Webster]
5. 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. [1913 Webster]
6. 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. [1913 Webster]
7. Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in; as, to depend on a person for assistance; to rely on; hence, indicating the ground or support of anything; as, he will promise on certain conditions; to bet on a horse; based on certain assumptions. [1913 Webster]
8. At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See At (synonym). [1913 Webster]
9. At the time of; -- often conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform; the shop is closed on Sundays. [1913 Webster]
10. Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as, have pity or compassion on him. [1913 Webster]
11. At the peril of, or for the safety of. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
12. 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 honor. [1913 Webster]
"His blood be on us and on our children." [1913 Webster]
13. 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. [1913 Webster]
14. In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect punctuality; a satire on society. [1913 Webster]
" Instances of this usage are common in our older writers, and are sometimes now heard in illiterate speech." [1913 Webster]
"Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?" [1913 Webster]
15. Of. Shak. [1913 Webster]
16. Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey; on the job; on an assignment; on a case; on the alert. [1913 Webster]
" 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." [1913 Webster]
17. In the service of; connected with; a member of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee. [1913 Webster]
"They have added the -en plural form on to an elder plural." [1913 Webster]
"We see the strength of the new movement in the new class of ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the stage." [1913 Webster]
18. In reference to; about; concerning; as, to think on it; to meditate on it. [PJC]
1. Forward, in progression; onward; -- usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on; the beat goes on. Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
"The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger." [1913 Webster]
2. Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on. [1913 Webster]
3. In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on. [1913 Webster]
4. Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, “He is neither on nor off,” that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute. [1913 Webster]
5. Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use. B. Gonson. [1913 Webster]
"He put on righteousness as a breastplate." [1913 Webster]
6. In progress; proceeding; ongoing; as, a game is on. [1913 Webster]
" 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." [1913 Webster]
on, prep., adv., adj., & n.
--prep.
1 (so as to be) supported by or attached to or covering or enclosing (sat on a chair; stuck on the wall; rings on her fingers; leaned on his elbow).
2 carried with; about the person of (have you a pen on you?).
3 (of time) exactly at; during; contemporaneously with (on 29 May; on the hour; on schedule; working on Tuesday).
4 immediately after or before (I saw them on my return).
5 as a result of (on further examination I found this).
6 (so as to be) having membership etc. of or residence at or in (she is on the board of directors; lives on the continent).
7 supported financially by (lives on {pound}50 a week; lives on his wits).
8 close to; just by (a house on the sea; lives on the main road).
9 in the direction of; against.
10 so as to threaten; touching or striking (advanced on him; pulled a knife on me; a punch on the nose).
11 having as an axis or pivot (turned on his heels).
12 having as a basis or motive (works on a ratchet; arrested on suspicion).
13 having as a standard, confirmation, or guarantee (had it on good authority; did it on purpose; I promise on my word).
14 concerning or about (writes on frogs).
15 using or engaged with (is on the pill; here on business).
16 so as to affect (walked out on her).
17 at the expense of (the drinks are on me; the joke is on him).
18 added to (disaster on disaster; ten pence on a pint of beer).
19 in a specified manner or style (often foll. by the + adj. or noun: on the cheap; on the run).
--adv.
1 (so as to be) covering or in contact with something, esp. of clothes (put your boots on).
2 in the appropriate direction; towards something (look on).
3 further forward; in an advanced position or state (time is getting on; it happened later on).
4 with continued movement or action (went plodding on; keeps on complaining).
5 in operation or activity (the light is on; the chase was on).
6 due to take place as planned (is the party still on?).
7 colloq. a (of a person) willing to participate or approve, or make a bet. b (of an idea, proposal, etc.) practicable or acceptable (that's just not on).
8 being shown or performed (a good film on tonight).
9 (of an actor) on stage.
10 (of an employee) on duty.
11 forward (head on).
--adj. Cricket designating the part of the field on the striker's side and in front of the wicket.
--n. Cricket the on side.
Idiom:
be on about refer to or discuss esp. tediously or persistently (what are they on about?). be on at colloq. nag or grumble at. be on to
1 realize the significance or intentions of.
2 get in touch with (esp. by telephone). on and off intermittently; now and then. on and on continually; at tedious length. on-line Computing (of equipment or a process) directly controlled by or connected to a central processor.
on-off
1 (of a switch) having two positions, 'on' and 'off'.
2 = on and off. on-stage adj. & adv. on the stage; visible to the audience. on-street (with ref. to parking vehicles) at the side of a street. on time punctual, punctually. on to to a position or state on or in contact with (cf. ONTO).
Etymology:
OE on, an f. Gmc
VB be the duty of, be incumbent, on, be responsible, behoove, become, befit, beseem, belong to, pertain to, fall to one's lot, devolve on, lie upon, lie on one's head, lie at one's door, rest with, rest on the shoulders of, take upon oneself, be bound to, become bound to, be sponsor for, become sponsor for, incur a responsibility, be under an obligation, stand under an obligation, lie under an obligation, have to answer for, owe to it oneself, impose a duty enjoin, require, exact, bind, bind over, saddle with, prescribe, assign, call upon, look to, oblige, enter upon a duty, perform a duty, observe a duty, fulfill a duty, discharge a duty, adhere to a duty, acquit oneself of a duty, satisfy a duty, enter upon an obligation, perform an obligation, observe an obligation, fulfill an obligation, discharge an obligation, adhere to an obligation, acquit oneself of an obligation, satisfy an obligation, act one's part, redeem one's pledge, do justice to, be at one's post, do duty, do one's duty, be on one's good behavior, mind one's P's and Q's.
N progress, progression, progressiveness, advancing, advance, advancement, ongoing, flood, tide, headway, march, rise, improvement, advancing, progressive, profluent, advanced, forward, onward, forth, on, ahead, under way, en route for, on one's way, on the way, on the road, on the high road, on the road to, in progress, in mid progress, in transitu, vestigia nulla retrorsum, westward the course of empire takes its way.