abreast
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English a (“on”) + brest (“breast”), in sense “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”;[1] roughly “breast-by-breast”.
Pronunciation [edit]
Adverb [edit]
abreast (comparative more abreast, superlative most abreast)
- Side by side, facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)][2]
- 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
- On Sunday afternoon it was as dark as night, with barely room for two riders abreast on a gradient that touches 20%.
-
- Two men could hardly walk abreast. - Thomas Babington Macaulay
- 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
- (figuratively) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17th century.][2]
- (obsolete): At the same time; simultaneously
-
- Abreast therewith began a convocation. - Thomas Fuller
-
Usage notes [edit]
- (nautical): Abreast is followed by the word of.
- (alongside): Abreast is followed by with or of.
- (informed): Abreast is followed by with or of.
- (up to a certain level): Abreast is followed by with or of.
Synonyms [edit]
- (informed): apprised, up to date/up-to-date
Translations [edit]
informed
|
|
side by side
|
|
nautical: side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
|
Adjective [edit]
abreast (comparative more abreast, superlative most abreast)
- Side by side, facing forward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470.)][2]
- (figuratively) Alongside; parallel to. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science. [First attested in the mid 17th century.][2]
- (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [First attested in the late 17th century.][2]
Preposition [edit]
abreast
- Abreast of; alongside.[3]
- This ship sank abreast the island.
References [edit]
- ^ “abreast” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2003 [1933], Brown, Lesley editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, edition 5th, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7, page 8:
- ^ 1976 [1909], Gove, Philip Babcock editor, Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged, Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Co., ISBN 0-87779-101-5, page 5:
