On , adv. [See On, prep.]
1.
Forward, in progression; onward; --
usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on. "Time glides on."
Macaulay.
The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger.
Shak.
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; as, a game is on.
&fist; 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.
On (?), prep. [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. 'ana`, 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 island.
I 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 earth.
Whosoever 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 piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's
feelings; to make an impression on the mind.
4. 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.
6.
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.
7. At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See At (synonym).
8. At the time of, conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress
or uniform. Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the
ratification of the treaty, the armies were
disbanded.
9. Toward; for; -- indicating the object of
some passion; as, have pity
or compassion on him.
10. 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 honor.
12. 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
on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?
Shak. &fist; Instances of this usage are common in
our older writers, and are sometimes now heard in
illiterate speech.
15. Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey.
16. In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as,
he is on
a newspaper; on a committee.
&fist; 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. See under Board, Draught, 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, etc. See under Road, Way, etc. -- 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.
Hear it pronounced