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4 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  On \On\ ([o^]n), prep. [OE. on, an, o, a, AS. on, an; akin to D.
     aan, OS. & G. an, OHG. ana, Icel. [=a], Sw. [*a], Goth. ana,
     Russ. na, L. an-, in anhelare to pant, Gr. 'ana`, Zend ana.
     [root]195. Cf. A-, 1, Ana-, Anon.]
     The general signification of on is situation, motion, or
     condition with respect to contact or support beneath; as: 
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I stood on the bridge at midnight.    --Longfellow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken.
                                                    --Matt. xxi.
                                                    44.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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; based on
        certain assumptions.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     7. At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain
        from labor. See At (synonym).
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. At the time of; -- often conveying some notion of cause or
        motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in
        full dress or uniform; the shop is closed on Sundays.
        Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the
        ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded;
        start on the count of three.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     9. Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as,
        have pity or compassion on him.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     10. At the peril of, or for the safety of. ``Hence, on thy
         life.'' --Dryden.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
         [1913 Webster]
  
               His blood be on us and on our children. --Matt.
                                                    xxvii. 25.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     13. In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect
         punctuality; a satire on society.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     14. Of. [Obs.] ``Be not jealous on me.'' --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]
  
               Or have we eaten on the insane root
               That takes the reason prisoner?      --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Instances of this usage are common in our older
           writers, and are sometimes now heard in illiterate
           speech.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     15. Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three
         officers are on duty; on a journey; on the job; on an
         assignment; on a case; on the alert.
         [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     16. In the service of; connected with; a member of; as, he is
         on a newspaper; on a committee.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     17. In reference to; about; concerning; as, to think on it;
         to meditate on it.
         [PJC]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They have added the -en plural form on to an elder
              plural.                               --Earle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              We see the strength of the new movement in the new
              class of ecclesiastics whom it forced on to the
              stage.                                --J. R. Green.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Draught \Draught\, n. [The same as draft, the spelling with gh
     indicating an older pronunciation. See Draft, n., Draw.]
     1. The act of drawing or pulling; as:
        (a) The act of moving loads by drawing, as by beasts of
            burden, and the like.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  A general custom of using oxen for all sort of
                  draught would be, perhaps, the greatest
                  improvement.                      --Sir W.
                                                    Temple.
        (b) The drawing of a bowstring. [Obs.]
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught.
                                                    --Spenser.
        (c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Upon the draught of a pond, not one fish was
                  left.                             --Sir M. Hale.
        (d) The act of drawing liquor into the mouth and throat;
            the act of drinking.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the
                  draught forbore.                  --Trench.
        (e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  By drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when
                  he looketh not for you.           --Spenser.
        (f) (Mil.) The act of selecting or detaching soldiers; a
            draft (see Draft, n., 2)
        (g) The act of drawing up, marking out, or delineating;
            representation. --Dryden.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which is drawn; as:
        (a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
                  for a draught.                    --Luke v. 4.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which
                  brought him a very great draught. --L'Estrange.
        (b) (Mil.) The force drawn; a detachment; -- in this sense
            usually written draft.
        (c) The quantity drawn in at once in drinking; a potion or
            potation.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, .
                  . . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts
                  inspired.                         --Goldsmith.
        (d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written,
            designed, or drawn; a delineation.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the
                  Parliament by a private member.   --Macaulay.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  No picture or draught of these things from the
                  report of the eye.                --South.
        (e) (Com.) An order for the payment of money; -- in this
            sense almost always written draft.
        (f) A current of air moving through an inclosed place, as
            through a room or up a chimney. --Thackeray.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in .
                  . . a strong draught of air, until he was again
                  sent for.                         --Dickens.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. That which draws; as:
        (a) A team of oxen or horses. --Blackstone.
        (b) A sink or drain; a privy. --Shak. --Matt. xv. 17.
        (c) pl. (Med.) A mild vesicatory; a sinapism; as, to apply
            draughts to the feet.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw;
        traction.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest
              draught.                              --Mortimer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Naut.) The depth of water necessary to float a ship, or
        the depth a ship sinks in water, especially when laden;
        as, a ship of twelve feet draught.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See
        Draft, 4.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, in order
        that it may be drawn from the sand without injury to the
        mold.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     9. (Masonry) See Draft, n., 7.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Angle of draught, the angle made with the plane over which
        a body is drawn by the line in which the pulling force
        acts, when the latter has the direction best adapted to
        overcome the obstacles of friction and the weight of the
        body.
  
     Black draught. See under Black, a.
  
     Blast draught, or Forced draught, the draught produced by
        a blower, as by blowing in air beneath a fire or drawing
        out the gases from above it.
  
     Natural draught, the draught produced by the atmosphere
        flowing, by its own weight, into a chimney wherein the air
        is rarefied by heat.
  
     On draught, so as to be drawn from the wood (as a cask,
        barrel, etc.) in distinction from being bottled; as, ale
        on draught.
  
     Sheer draught. See under Sheer.
        [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  On \On\, prep. [OE. on, an, o, a, AS. on, an; akin to D. aan,
     OS. & G. an, OHG. ana, Icel. [=a], Sw. [*a], Goth. ana, Russ.
     na, L. an-, in anhelare to pant, Gr. 'ana`, Zend ana.
     [root]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.
  
     Note: 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.
  
     Note: 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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Draught \Draught\, n. [The same as draft, the spelling with gh
     indicating an older pronunciation. See Draft, n., Draw.]
     1. The act of drawing or pulling; as:
        (a) The act of moving loads by drawing, as by beasts of
            burden, and the like.
  
                  A general custom of using oxen for all sort of
                  draught would be, perhaps, the greatest
                  improvement.                      --Sir W.
                                                    Temple.
        (b) The drawing of a bowstring. [Obs.]
  
                  She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught.
                                                    --Spenser.
        (c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
  
                  Upon the draught of a pond, not one fish was
                  left.                             --Sir M. Hale.
        (d) The act of drawing liquor into the mouth and throat;
            the act of drinking.
  
                  In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the
                  draught forbore.                  --Trench.
        (e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
  
                  By drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when
                  he looketh not for you.           --Spenser.
        (f) (Mil.) The act of selecting or detaching soldiers; a
            draft (see Draft, n., 2)
        (g) The act of drawing up, marking out, or delineating;
            representation. --Dryden.
  
     2. That which is drawn; as:
        (a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
  
                  Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets
                  for a draught.                    --Luke v. 4.
  
                  He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which
                  brought him a very great draught. --L'Estrange.
        (b) (Mil.) The force drawn; a detachment; -- in this sense
            usually written draft.
        (c) The quantity drawn in at once in drinking; a potion or
            potation.
  
                  Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, .
                  . . still thou art a bitter draught. --Sterne.
  
                  Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts
                  inspired.                         --Goldsmith.
        (d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written,
            designed, or drawn; a delineation.
  
                  A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the
                  Parliament by a private member.   --Macaulay.
  
                  No picture or draught of these things from the
                  report of the eye.                --South.
        (e) (Com.) An order for the payment of money; -- in this
            sense almost always written draft.
        (f) A current of air moving through an inclosed place, as
            through a room or up a chimney. --Thackeray.
  
                  He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in .
                  . . a strong draught of air, until he was again
                  sent for.                         --Dickens.
  
     3. That which draws; as:
        (a) A team of oxen or horses. --Blackstone.
        (b) A sink or drain; a privy. --Shak. --Matt. xv. 17.
        (c) pl. (Med.) A mild vesicatory; a sinapism; as, to apply
            draughts to the feet.
  
     4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw;
        traction.
  
              The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest
              draught.                              --Mortimer.
  
     5. (Naut.) The depth of water necessary to float a ship, or
        the depth a ship sinks in water, especially when laden;
        as, a ship of twelve feet draught.
  
     6. (Com.) An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See
        Draft, 4.
  
     7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
  
     8. The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, in order
        that it may be drawn from the sand without injury to the
        mold.
  
     9. (Masonry) See Draft, n., 7.
  
     Angle of draught, the angle made with the plane over which
        a body is drawn by the line in which the pulling force
        acts, when the latter has the direction best adapted to
        overcome the obstacles of friction and the weight of the
        body.
  
     Black draught. See under Black, a.
  
     Blast draught, or Forced draught, the draught produced by
        a blower, as by blowing in air beneath a fire or drawing
        out the gases from above it.
  
     Natural draught, the draught produced by the atmosphere
        flowing, by its own weight, into a chimney wherein the air
        is rarefied by heat.
  
     On draught, so as to be drawn from the wood (as a cask,
        barrel, etc.) in distinction from being bottled; as, ale
        on draught.
  
     Sheer draught. See under Sheer.

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