It forms all or part of: hyper-; insuperable; over; over-; sirloin; somersault; soprano; soubrette; sovereign; sum; summit; super-; superable; superb; superior; supernal; supra-; supreme; sur-.ETD *uper.3

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit upari, Avestan upairi "over, above, beyond;" Greek hyper, Latin super "above, over;" Old English ofer "over," German über, Gothic ufaro "over, across;" Gaulish ver-, Old Irish for.ETD *uper.4

upfield (adv.)

1951, from up (adv.) + field (n.).ETD upfield (adv.).2

upfront (adj.)

1932, up front "in the front," from up + front (n.). Meaning "honest, open" is from 1970; that of "paid in advance" is from 1967.ETD upfront (adj.).2

upgather (v.)

also up-gather, 1580s, from verbal phrase, from up (adv.) + gather (v.). Related: Upgathered; upgathering.ETD upgather (v.).2

upgrade (n.)

also up-grade, 1847, "upward slope," from up (adj.) + grade (n.). The meaning "upgraded version" is recorded from 1980.ETD upgrade (n.).2

upgrade (v.)

"increase to a higher grade or rank," 1904 (transitive); 1950 (intransitive), from up (adv.) + grade (v.). Related: Upgraded; upgrading.ETD upgrade (v.).2

upheaval (n.)

1834 in reference to convulsions in society; 1836 in geology, from verb upheave (c. 1300, from up (adv.) + heave (v.)) + -al (2). Similarly formed verbs are Old Frisian upheva, Old High German ufhevan, German aufheben.ETD upheaval (n.).2

upheld

past participle of uphold (q.v.).ETD upheld.2

uphill (adj.)

1610s, from up + hill (n.). As an adverb from c. 1600. Grose's "Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" (1785) has "Uphills, false dice that run high."ETD uphill (adj.).2

uphold (v.)

c. 1200, "support, sustain," from up (adv.) + hold (v.). Similar formation in Old Frisian upholda, Middle Dutch ophouden, German aufhalten. Meaning "maintain in good condition or repair" is from 1570s. Related: Upheld; upholding.ETD uphold (v.).2

upholster (v.)

1853, back-formation from upholsterer. Related: Upholstered; upholstering.ETD upholster (v.).2

upholsterer (n.)

"tradesman who finishes or repairs articles of furniture" (1610s), from upholdester (early 15c.; early 14c. as a surname), formed with diminutive (originally fem.) suffix -ster + obsolete Middle English noun upholder "dealer in small goods" (c. 1300), from upholden "to repair, uphold, keep from falling or sinking" (in this case, by stuffing); see uphold (v.).ETD upholsterer (n.).2

upholstery (n.)

"upholsterer's work, furniture covered with textile materials, interior fittings made from textiles," 1640s; see upholster + -y (4).ETD upholstery (n.).2

upkeep (n.)

"maintenance; cost of maintenance," 1849, from verbal phrase keep up "maintain in good order or condition" (1660s); see up (adv.) + keep (v.).ETD upkeep (n.).2

upland (n.)

"interior district of a country," Old English upland "the country" (as opposed to the town), from up- + land (n.). As an adjective from 14c. Related: Uplandish (Old English uplendisc "rural rustic"); uplander. Jock Upaland was a 16c.-17c. term for a rustic.ETD upland (n.).2

uplift (v.)

mid-14c., from up (adv.) + lift (v.). Related: Uplifted; uplifting.ETD uplift (v.).2

uplift (n.)

1845, from up (adj.) + lift (n.).ETD uplift (n.).2

uplink (n.)

1968, from up- + link (n.).ETD uplink (n.).2

upload (v.)

by 1980, from up (adv.) + load (v.). Related: Uploaded; uploading.ETD upload (v.).2

up-market (adj.)

1972, from up- + market (n.).ETD up-market (adj.).2

*upo

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "under," also "up from under," hence "over."ETD *upo.2

It forms all or part of: above; assume; Aufklarung; eave; eavesdropper; hyphen; hypo-; hypochondria; hypocrisy; hypotenuse; hypothalamus; hypothesis; hypsi-; hypso-; opal; open; oft; often; resuscitate; somber; souffle; source; soutane; souvenir; sub-; subject; sublime; subpoena; substance; subterfuge; subtle; suburb; succeed; succinct; succor; succubus; succumb; sudden; suffer; sufficient; suffix; suffrage; suggestion; summon; supine; supple; supply; support; suppose; surge; suspect; suspend; sustain; up; up-; Upanishad; uproar; valet; varlet; vassal.ETD *upo.3

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit upa "near, under, up to, on," Greek hypo "under," Latin sub "under, below," Gothic iup, Old Norse, Old English upp "up, upward," Hittite up-zi "rises."ETD *upo.4

upon (adv.)

Old English upon; see up (adv.) + on (prep.).ETD upon (adv.).2

upon (prep.)

early 12c., from Old English uppan (prep.) "on, upon, up to, against," from up (adv.) + on (prep.); probably influenced by Scandinavian sources such as Old Norse upp a.ETD upon (prep.).2

upper (n.)

"part of a shoe above the sole," 1789, from upper (adj.). Sense of "stimulant drug" is from 1968, agent noun from up (v.).ETD upper (n.).2

upper (adj.)

c. 1300, originally comparative of up (adj.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch upper, Dutch opper, Low German upper, Norwegian yppare.ETD upper (adj.).2

Upper hand "advantage" is late 15c., perhaps from wrestling (get the over-hand in the same sense is from early 14c.); lower hand "condition of having lost or failed to win superiority" (1690s) is rare. Upperclassman is recorded from 1871. Upper crust is attested from mid-15c. in reference to the top crust of a loaf of bread, 1836 in reference to society. Upper middle class (adj.) is recorded from 1835. Upper ten thousand (1844) was common mid-19c. for "wealthier and more aristocratic part of a large community;" hence uppertendom.ETD upper (adj.).3

uppercut (n.)

in pugilism, a close-in strike upward with the fist, 1831, from upper + cut (n.). Perhaps the image is of chopping a tree by making cuts up (as well as down) in the trunk.ETD uppercut (n.).2

uppermost (adj.)

mid-15c., from upper (adj.) + -most.ETD uppermost (adj.).2

uppish (adj.)

1670s, "lavish," from up (adv.) + -ish. Sense of "conceited, arrogant, proudly self-assertive" attested from 1734. Related: Uppishly; uppishness.ETD uppish (adj.).2

uppity (adj.)

1880, American English, from up + -ity; originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive (first recorded use is in "Uncle Remus").ETD uppity (adj.).2

upraise (v.)

c. 1300, from up (adv.) + raise (v.). Related: Upraised; upraising.ETD upraise (v.).2

upright (adj.)

Old English upriht "erect, face-upward;" see up (adv.) + right (adj.1). Similar compounds are found in other Germanic languages (Old Frisian upriucht, Middle Dutch oprecht, Old High German ufreht, German aufrecht, Old Norse uprettr). Figurative sense of "good, honest, adhering to rectitude" is first attested 1520s.ETD upright (adj.).2

As an adverb, Old English uprihte. As a noun, 1560s in the sense "a vertical front;" c. 1700 as "a vertical timber in framing;" 1742 in the sense "something standing erect." Meaning "an upright piano" is from 1860.ETD upright (adj.).3

uprise (v.)

c. 1300, "stand up; get out of bed; ascend to a higher level," from up (adv.) + rise (v.). Similar formation in West Frisian oprize, Middle Dutch oprisen, Dutch oprijzen.ETD uprise (v.).2

uprising (n.)

mid-13c., "action of rising from death or the grave, resurrection," from up (adv.) + rising (n.). Meaning "action of rising from bed" is recorded from c. 1300; sense of "insurrection, popular revolt" first attested 1580s.ETD uprising (n.).2

up-river (prep.)

1773, from up + river. As an adverb from 1848.ETD up-river (prep.).2

uproar (n.)

1520s, "outbreak of disorder, revolt, commotion," used by Tyndale and later Coverdale as a loan-translation of German Aufruhr or Dutch oproer "tumult, riot," literally "a stirring up," in German and Dutch bibles (as in Acts xxi.38). This is from German auf (Middle Dutch op) "up" (see up (adv.)) + ruhr (Middle Dutch roer) "a stirring, motion," which is related to Old English hreran "to move, stir, shake" (see rare (adj.2)). The meaning "noisy shouting" is recorded from 1540s, probably by mistaken association with unrelated roar.ETD uproar (n.).2

uproarious (adj.)

1791, from uproar + -ous. Related: Uproariously.ETD uproarious (adj.).2

uproot (v.)

1590s (implied in uprooted), in the figurative sense, from up (adv.) + root (v.). The literal sense is first recorded 1690s. Related: Uprooted; uprooting.ETD uproot (v.).2

upscale (adj.)

1966, "at the higher end of a scale, superior," a commercial word, from up (adv.) + scale (v.3).ETD upscale (adj.).2

upset (adj.)

early 14c., "erected," past-participle adjective from upset (v.). From 1805 as "distressed."ETD upset (adj.).2

upset (v.)

mid-15c., "to set up, fix," from up (adv.) + set (v.). Similar formation in Middle Dutch opsetten "set up, propose," German aufsetzen. Modern sense of "overturn, capsize" (1803) is that of obsolete overset. In reference to the stomach, from 1834. Meaning "to throw into mental discomposure" is from 1805. Related: Upsetting.ETD upset (v.).2

upset (n.)

early 15c., "insurrection," from upset (v.). Meaning "overturning of a vehicle or boat" is recorded from 1804.ETD upset (n.).2

upshot (n.)

1530s, from up (adj.) + shot (n.); originally, the final shot in an archery match, hence the figurative sense of "result, issue, conclusion" (c. 1600).ETD upshot (n.).2

upside (n.)

1610s, "upper side or surface," from up (adj.) + side (n.). Adverbial phrase upside (someone's) head in reference to a blow to the head is recorded from 1970, African-American vernacular.ETD upside (n.).2

upside down (adv.)

late 15c., earlier upsadoun (late 14c.), up so down (c. 1300); the so perhaps meaning "as if." As an adjective from 1866.ETD upside down (adv.).2

upsilon (n.)

20th letter of the Greek alphabet, 1640s, from Greek u psilon, literally "a mere (or bare) 'u;' " so called in later Greek in reference to its sound. The exact reason is variously explained, but it seems to have had something to do with distinguishing it from diphthongs.ETD upsilon (n.).2

upskirt (adj.)

by 1997, from up (adv.) + skirt (n.). As a verb by 2008.ETD upskirt (adj.).2

upstage (adv.)

1855 in theatrical jargon, "to the rear of the stage," from up (adv.) + stage (n.). From 1901 as an adjective, 1916 as a noun. The notion in the verb (1921) is of drawing attention to oneself (and away from a fellow actor) by moving upstage, so that the other actor must face away from the audience. Related: Upstaged; upstaging.ETD upstage (adv.).2

upstairs (adv.)

1590s, from up (adv.) + stairs (see stair). As an adjective from 1782. The noun is first attested 1872. Adjectival meaning "characteristic of upstairs life" (in private rooms of a household, as opposed to servants' quarters) is recorded from 1942.ETD upstairs (adv.).2

upstanding (adj.)

14c., altered from or replacing Old English upstandene, in the literal sense, from up (adv.) + standing (see stand (v.)); see -ing (2). Figurative sense of "honest" is attested from 1863. A verb upstand "stand up, be erect, rise" is recorded from c. 1200.ETD upstanding (adj.).2

upstart (n.)

1550s, "one newly risen from a humble position to one of power, importance, or rank, a parvenu," also start-up, from up (adv.) + start (v.) in the sense of "jump, spring, rise." As an adjective from 1560s. Compare the archaic verb upstart "to spring to one's feet," attested from c. 1300.ETD upstart (n.).2

upstate (adv.)

1901, American English, from up (adv.) + state (n.).ETD upstate (adv.).2

upstream (adv.)

also up-stream, 1680s, from up (adv.) + stream (n.). As an adjective from 1838.ETD upstream (adv.).2

upsurge (n.)

1916, from up (adv.) + surge (n.).ETD upsurge (n.).2

upswing (n.)

1922, in golf, from up (adv.) + swing (n.). Sense in economics is attested from 1934.ETD upswing (n.).2

upsy-daisy (adv.)

1711, up-a-daisy, baby talk extension of up (adv.). Compare lackadaisical. A word upsee was in use in English late 17c. in phrases such as upsee-Dutch "in the Dutch style" (of drinking), from Dutch op zijn, and also occasionally as an adverb, "extremely," and could have had an influence on this word.ETD upsy-daisy (adv.).2

uptake (n.)

"capacity for understanding, perceptive power," 1816, from up (adv.) + take (v.). Compare Middle English verb uptake "to pick or take up" (c. 1300). Meaning "pipe leading up from the smoke box of a steam boiler to the chimney" is from 1839.ETD uptake (n.).2

uptick (n.)

"upward trend," 1962, an economist's term, from up (adv.) + tick (v.), in reference to some recording mechanism.ETD uptick (n.).2

uptight (adj.)

"tense," slang, 1934, from up- + tight (adj.). Meaning "straight-laced" first recorded 1969. It was used in a sense of "excellent" in jazz slang c. 1962.ETD uptight (adj.).2

up-to-date (adv.)

1840, "right to the present time," from phrase up to date, probably originally from bookkeeping. As an adjective from 1865. Meaning "having the latest facts" is recorded from 1889; that of "having current styles and tastes" is from 1891.ETD up-to-date (adv.).2

uptown (adv.)

1802, "to or in the higher or upper portion of a town," from up (adv.) + town (n.). As an adjective from 1838. As this usually was the residential portion of a town (especially a port) the word had overtones of "residential quarter" as opposed to "commercial and industrial district." As a noun from 1946, often meaning "more prosperous area of town."ETD uptown (adv.).2

upturn (n.)

1868, "upturned part," from up (adv.) + turn (n.). Meaning "improvement" (especially in economics) is from 1930.ETD upturn (n.).2

upward (adv.)

also upwards, Old English upweard, upweardes "up, upward, toward heaven;" see up (adv.) + -ward. Similar formation in Middle Low German upwart, Middle Dutch opwaert, Dutch opwaart, Middle High German ufwart. As an adjective from c. 1600 (also in Old English). Phrase upward mobility first recorded 1949; mainly restricted to sociologists' jargon until 1960s.ETD upward (adv.).2

upwelling (adj.)

1841, from up (adv.) + present participle of well (v.). As a noun from 1847. A verb upwell is attested from 1885.ETD upwelling (adj.).2

upwind (adv.)

also up-wind, 1838, from up (adv.) + wind (n.1). Originally a nautical term. As an adjective from 1892.ETD upwind (adv.).2

ure (n.)

"effect, operation, practice," early 15c., from Old French uevre (13c., Modern French oeuvre), from Latin opera (see opera).ETD ure (n.).2

ur-

prefix meaning "original, earliest, primitive," from German ur- "out of, original," from Proto-Germanic *uz- "out," from PIE *ud- "up, out" (see out (adv.)) At first only in words borrowed from German (such as ursprache "hypothetical primitive language"); since mid-20c. a living prefix in English. Compare also Urschleim under protoplasm and Urquell under Pilsner.ETD ur-.2

-ure

suffix forming abstract nouns of action, from Old French -ure, from Latin -ura, an ending of fem. nouns denoting employment or result.ETD -ure.2

uracil (n.)

pyramidine base, coined in German, 1885, perhaps from urea + German Acetsäure "acetic acid" (or possibly acrylic) + chemical suffix -il.ETD uracil (n.).2

Ural

mountain range between Europe and Asia (the river is named for the mountains), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Vogul urala "mountain peak" or from Tatar ural "boundary."ETD Ural.2

Urania

name of the Muse of astronomy and celestial forces, from Latin Urania, from Greek Ourania, fem. of ouranios, literally "heavenly," from ouranos (see Uranus).ETD Urania.2

uranian (adj.)

"homosexual," 1893, from the reference to Aphrodite in Plato's "Symposium;" Urania "Heavenly" (Greek Ourania; see Uranus) being an epithet of Aphrodite as born of Uranus and also as distinguished from the vulgar Venus of commonplace lust.ETD uranian (adj.).2

Also as a noun, "a homosexual person" (1908). Related uranism "homosexuality" (1893).ETD uranian (adj.).3

uranium (n.)

rare metallic element, 1797, named 1789 in Modern Latin by its discoverer, German chemist and mineralogist Martin Heinrich Klaproth, for the recently found planet Uranus (q.v.).ETD uranium (n.).2

Uranus

first planet discovered that was not known in ancient times, named for the god of Heaven, husband of Gaia, the Earth, from Latin Uranus, from Greek Ouranos literally "heaven, the sky;" in Greek cosmology, the god who personifies the heavens, father of the titans.ETD Uranus.2

The planet was discovered and identified as such in 1781 by Sir William Herschel (it had been observed before, but mistaken for a star; in 1690 John Flamsteed cataloged it as 34 Tauri); Herschel proposed calling it Georgium Sidus, literally "George's Star," in honour of his patron, King George III of England.ETD Uranus.3

The planet was known in English in 1780s as the Georgian Planet; French astronomers began calling Herschel, and ultimately German astronomer Johann Bode proposed Uranus as in conformity with other planet names. However, the name didn't come into common usage until c. 1850.ETD Uranus.4

Urban

masc. proper name, from Latin urbanus "refined, courteous," literally "of a city" (see urban (adj.)).ETD Urban.2

urbane (adj.)

1530s, "of or relating to cities or towns," from French urbain (14c.) and directly from Latin urbanus "belonging to a city," also "citified, elegant" (see urban). The meaning "having the manners of townspeople, courteous, refined" is from 1620s, from a secondary sense in classical Latin. Urbanity in this sense is recorded from 1530s. For sense connection and differentiation of form, compare human/humane; german/germane.ETD urbane (adj.).2

urbanity (n.)

1530s, from French urbanité (14c.) and directly from Latin urbanitatem (nominative urbanitas) "city life; life in Rome; refinement, city fashion or manners, elegance, courtesy," also "wit, raillery, trickery," from urbanus (see urban).ETD urbanity (n.).2

urbanization (n.)

1888, noun of action from urbanize.ETD urbanization (n.).2

urban (adj.)

"characteristic of city life, pertaining to cities or towns," 1610s (but rare before 1830s), from Latin urbanus "of or pertaining to a city or city life; in Rome," also "in city fashion, polished, refined, cultivated, courteous," but also sometimes "witty, facetious, bold, impudent;" as a noun, "city dweller," from urbs (genitive urbis) "city, walled town," a word of unknown origin.ETD urban (adj.).2

The word gradually emerged in this sense as urbane became restricted to manners and styles of expression. In late 20c. American English gradually acquiring a suggestion of "African-American." Urban renewal, euphemistic for "slum clearance," is attested from 1955, American English. Urban sprawl recorded by 1958. Urban legend attested by 1980.ETD urban (adj.).3

urbanism (n.)

1885, from urban + -ism.ETD urbanism (n.).2

urbanize (v.)

1640s, "to make more civil;" 1884 "to make into a city," from urban + -ize; in the latter sense from French urbaniser (1873). Related: Urbanized; urbanizing.ETD urbanize (v.).2

urbanisation (n.)

chiefly British English spelling of urbanization. For spelling, see -ize.ETD urbanisation (n.).2

urbanite (n.)

1897, from urban + -ite.ETD urbanite (n.).2

urceolate (adj.)

1760, with -ate (1) + Latin urceolus, diminutive of urceus "pitcher," of uncertain origin (see urn).ETD urceolate (adj.).2

urchin (n.)

c. 1300, yrichon "hedgehog," from Old North French *irechon (cognate with Picard irechon, Walloon ireson, Hainaut hirchon), from Old French herichun "hedgehog" (Modern French hérisson), formed with diminutive suffix -on + Vulgar Latin *hericionem, from Latin ericius "hedgehog," enlarged form of er, originally *her, from PIE root *ghers- "to bristle" (source also of Greek kheros "hedgehog;" see horror).ETD urchin (n.).2

Still used for "hedgehog" in non-standard speech in Cumbria, Yorkshire, Shropshire. Applied throughout 16c. to people whose appearance or behavior suggested hedgehogs, from hunchbacks (1520s) to goblins (1580s) to bad girls (1530s); meaning "poorly or raggedly clothed youngster" emerged 1550s, but was not in frequent use until after c. 1780. Sea urchin is recorded from 1590s (a 19c. Newfoundland name for them was whore's eggs); Johnson describes it as "a kind of crabfish that has prickles instead of feet."ETD urchin (n.).3

Urdu

official language of Pakistan, 1796, formerly also known as Hindustani, from Urdu urdu "camp," from Turkish ordu (source of horde); short for zaban-i-urdu "language of the camp." Compare Dzongkha, a variant of Tibetan and the official language of Bhutan, literally "the language of the fortress." A form of Hindu heavily leavened with Persian and Arabic. "So named because it grew up since the eleventh century in the camps of the Mohammedan conquerors of India as a means of communication between them and the subject population of central Hindustan." [Century Dictionary]ETD Urdu.2

urea (n.)

compound found in the urine of animals, 1806, Latinized from French urée (1803), from Greek ouron "urine" (see urine).ETD urea (n.).2

uremia (n.)

1857, Modern Latin, from Latinized form of Greek ouron "urine" (see urine) + haima "blood" (see -emia) + abstract noun ending -ia.ETD uremia (n.).2

ureter (n.)

1570s, from medical Latin ureter, from Greek oureter "urinary duct of the kidneys," from ourein "to urinate," from ouron (see urine). Related: Ureteral.ETD ureter (n.).2

uretic (adj.)

1849, from Late Latin ureticus, from Greek ouretikos, from ourein (see urine).ETD uretic (adj.).2

urethane (n.)

1838, from French uréthane (1833), coined by Dumas, apparently from urea + ether + -ane as a generic chemical suffix.ETD urethane (n.).2

urethritis (n.)

1823, medical Latin, from urethra + -itis "inflammation."ETD urethritis (n.).2

urethra (n.)

"canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder," 1630s, from Late Latin urethra, from Greek ourethra "the passage for urine," coined by Hippocrates from ourein "to urinate," from ouron (see urine). Related: Urethral.ETD urethra (n.).2

urge (n.)

1610s, "act of urging," from urge (v.). Marked as "rare" in Century Dictionary (1902); "in frequent use from c. 1910" [OED].ETD urge (n.).2

urge (v.)

1550s, from Latin urgere "to press hard, push forward, force, drive, compel, stimulate," perhaps [de Vaan] from a PIE root *urgh- "to tie, bind" (source also of Lithuanian veržti "tie, fasten, squeeze," vargas "need, distress," vergas "slave;" Old Church Slavonic vragu "enemy;" Gothic wrikan "persecute," Old English wrecan "drive, hunt, pursue"), via a notion of "to weigh down on," hence "to insist, impel." The other possibility is that the PIE root is *ureg- "to follow a track." Related: Urged; urging.ETD urge (v.).2

urgency (n.)

1530s, probably from urgent + abstract noun suffix -cy.ETD urgency (n.).2

urgent (adj.)

mid-15c., from Old French urgent "pressing, impelling" (14c.), from Latin urgentem (nominative urgens), present participle of urgere "to press hard, urge" (see urge (v.)). Related: Urgently.ETD urgent (adj.).2

Uriah

masc. proper name, in Old Testament, the Hittite husband of Bathsheba; of non-Hebrew (possibly Horite) origin, but explained by folk etymology as Hebrew Uriyyah, literally "flame of the Lord." Uriah Heep, character from Dickens' "David Copperfield" (1850) sometimes is invoked as the type of a hypocritically humble person.ETD Uriah.2

uric (adj.)

"pertaining to or obtained from urine," 1797, from French urique, from urine (see urine). Uric acid attested from 1800.ETD uric (adj.).2

urinal (n.)

c. 1200, "glass vial to receive urine for medical inspection," from Old French urinal, from Late Latin urinal, from urinalis (adj.) "relating to urine," from Latin urina (see urine). Meaning "chamber pot" is from late 15c. Modern sense of "fixture for urinating (for men)" is attested from 1851.ETD urinal (n.).2

urination (n.)

early 15c., from Medieval Latin urinationem (nominative urinatio), noun of action from past participle stem of urinare (v.), from urina (see urine.ETD urination (n.).2

unsupported (adj.) — updraft (n.)

urine (n.) — Uzi