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Origin and history of up

up(adv., prep.)

"to or toward a point or place higher than another," Old English up, uppe, from Proto-Germanic *upp- "up," from PIE root *upo "under," also "up from under," hence also "over." As a preposition, from late Old English as "down onto, above and touching, sitting on, at the summit of;" from c. 1200 as "to a higher place."

Often used elliptically for go up, come up, rise up, etc. To be up to (something) "engaged in some activity" (typically reprehensible) is by 1837. Slang up the river "in jail" is recorded by 1891, originally in reference to Sing Sing, which is up the Hudson from New York City. To drive someone up the wall (1951) is from the notion of the behavior of lunatics or caged animals. Insulting retort up yours (scil. ass (n.2)) is attested by late 19c.

From the same Proto-Germanic source are Old Frisian, Old Saxon up "up, upward," Old Norse upp; Danish, Dutch op; Old High German uf, German auf "up;" Gothic iup "up, upward," uf "on, upon, under;" Old High German oba, German ob "over, above, on, upon."

up(v.)

1550s, "drive and catch (swans)," from up (adv.). The intransitive meaning "get up, rise to one's feet" (as in up and leave) is recorded from 1640s and is a separate development. The sense of "move upward" is recorded from 1737. The meaning "increase" (of prices, etc.) is attested by 1915.

Compare Old English verb uppian "to rise up, swell." Related: Upped; upping. Upping block, used for mounting or dismounting horses, carriages, etc., is attested from 1796; earlier was horsing-block (1660s).

also from 1550s

up(adj.)

c. 1300, "dwelling inland or upland," from up (adv.). It is attested by late 14c. as "having risen from bed" and 1530s as "not yet gone to bed." The meaning "going up" is from 1784 in reference to trains, coaches, etc.; by 1948 of elevators.

It is attested from 1815 as "excited, exhilarated, happy," hence "enthusiastic, optimistic." In baseball, "at bat," by 1896. From the adverb in the sense of "so as not to fall short (of), keeping even with" (1510s) as in catch up, keep up in a race, etc., comes the extended senses of "in a condition to understand; well equipped with experience and skill." Up-and-coming "promising" is from 1848 (compare upcoming). Musical up-tempo (adj.) is recorded from 1948.

also from c. 1300

up(n.)

1530s, "that which is up," from up (adv.). As "state of mental excitement or stimulation," by 1966. The phrase on the up(-and-up) "honest, straightforward" is attested by 1863, American English. The noun phrase ups and downs is by 1844 (see up-and-down).

also from 1530s

Entries linking to up

up-and-down(adj.)

"alternately on or to a higher and a lower level; in a vertical position or direction," 1610s, from adverbial phrase up and down (c. 1200); see up (adv.) + down (adv.). Earlier "in every particular, completely, wholly" (1540s). By 1640s as "variable, changeable."

upcoming(adj.)

1848, "rising;" 1949, "about to happen, forthcoming," from up (adv.) + present-participle adjective from come (v.)). It was a noun from Middle English, "action of ascending" (mid-14c.), also "an attack, onslaught" (c. 1300), and the noun sense of "act or process of coming up" is the only sense in Century Dictionary (1895). A verb upcome, in reference to plants, "spring up, grow," was in Old English.