Origin and history of upcast

c. 1200, "throw, throw violently, fling, hurl," from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse kasta "to throw" (cognate with Swedish kasta, Danish kaste, North Frisian kastin), a word of uncertain origin.

The meaning "to form in a mold" is late 15c. In the sense of "to throw" it replaced Old English weorpan (see warp (v.)), and itself largely has been superseded by throw, though cast still is used of fishing lines (17c.) and glances (13c.).

From c. 1300 as "emit, give out;" also "throw to the ground;" also "shed or throw off;" also "calculate, find by reckoning; chart (a course)." From late 14c. as "to calculate astrologically." From late 15c. as "bring forth abortively or prematurely." From 1711 as "distribute the parts (of a play) among the actors." Of votes, from 1840, American English. To cast up is from 1530s as "compute, reckon" (accounts, etc.), late 15c. as "eject, vomit."

a prefix bringing various senses of up, including "toward a more elevated position; at or to a source, head, or center; in or to an erect position;" originally from Old English up (adv.). It corresponds to Dutch op-, German auf-, Old Norse upp-.

Modern formations with it include upchuck, update, upfield, upgrade (v.), upload, upswing (n.), upscale, uptight, all from 20c.

The prefix was highly productive in Old and Middle English (and among poets of all eras), forming up-verbs where modern English uses "verb up." Some of these (uplift) survive.

Many do not: Upbear, upblaze, upblow, upbreak, updress, upgive, uphang, upshut, upsit, upspeak, uptie, upthrow, upwake, etc. The old verbs are not so much archaic as dissolved. In a few cases two forms survive to sustain (sometimes contrary) distinct senses: Hold up and uphold; set up and upset.