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ont |
1 definition found 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.
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