O·ver prep.
1. Above, or higher than, in place or position, with the idea of covering; -- opposed to under; as, clouds are over our heads; the smoke rises over the city.
The mercy seat that is over the testimony. --Ex. xxx. 6.
Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning. --Longfellow.
2. Across; from side to side of; -- implying a passing or moving, either above the substance or thing, or on the surface of it; as, a dog leaps over a stream or a table.
Certain lakes . . . poison birds which fly over them. --Bacon.
3. Upon the surface of, or the whole surface of; hither and thither upon; throughout the whole extent of; as, to wander over the earth; to walk over a field, or over a city.
4. Above; -- implying superiority in excellence, dignity, condition, or value; as, the advantages which the Christian world has over the heathen.
5. Above in authority or station; -- implying government, direction, care, attention, guard, responsibility, etc.; -- opposed to under.
Thou shalt be over my house. --Gen. xli. 40.
I will make thee rules over many things. --Matt. xxv. 23.
Dost thou not watch over my sin ? --Job xiv. 16.
His tender mercies are over all his works. --Ps. cxlv. 9.
6. Across or during the time of; from beginning to end of; as, to keep anything over night; to keep corn over winter.
7. Above the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea of measurement; as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes.
8. Beyond; in excess of; in addition to; more than; as, it cost over five dollars. “Over all this.”
9. Above, implying superiority after a contest; in spite of; notwithstanding; as, he triumphed over difficulties; the bill was passed over the veto.
Note: ☞ Over, in poetry, is often contracted into o'er.
Note: ☞ Over his signature (or name) is a substitute for the idiomatic English form, under his signature (name, hand and seal, etc.), the reference in the latter form being to the authority under which the writing is made, executed, or published, and not the place of the autograph, etc.
Over all Her., placed over or upon other bearings, and therefore hinding them in part; -- said of a charge.
Over one's head, Over head and ears, beyond one's depth; completely; wholly; hopelessly; as, over head and ears in debt.
head over heels (a) completely; intensely; as, head over heels in love. [Colloq.] (b) in a tumbling manner; as, to fall head over heels down the stairs. (c) precipitously and without forethought; impulsively.
Over the left. See under Left.
To run over Mach., to have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; -- said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece.
All n. The whole number, quantity, or amount; the entire thing; everything included or concerned; the aggregate; the whole; totality; everything or every person; as, our all is at stake.
Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. --Shak.
All that thou seest is mine. --Gen. xxxi. 43.
Note: All is used with of, like a partitive; as, all of a thing, all of us.
After all, after considering everything to the contrary; nevertheless.
All in all, a phrase which signifies all things to a person, or everything desired; (also adverbially) wholly; altogether.
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee,
Forever. --Milton.
Trust me not at all, or all in all. --Tennyson.
-- All in the wind Naut., a phrase denoting that the sails are parallel with the course of the wind, so as to shake.
All told, all counted; in all.
And all, and the rest; and everything connected. “Bring our crown and all.” --Shak.
At all. (a) In every respect; wholly; thoroughly. [Obs.] “She is a shrew at al(l).” --Chaucer. (b) A phrase much used by way of enforcement or emphasis, usually in negative or interrogative sentences, and signifying in any way or respect; in the least degree or to the least extent; in the least; under any circumstances; as, he has no ambition at all; has he any property at all? “Nothing at all.” --Shak. “If thy father at all miss me.” --1 Sam. xx. 6.
Over all, everywhere. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Note: ☞ All is much used in composition to enlarge the meaning, or add force to a word. In some instances, it is completely incorporated into words, and its final consonant is dropped, as in almighty, already, always: but, in most instances, it is an adverb prefixed to adjectives or participles, but usually with a hyphen, as, all-bountiful, all-glorious, allimportant, all-surrounding, etc. In others it is an adjective; as, allpower, all-giver. Anciently many words, as, alabout, alaground, etc., were compounded with all, which are now written separately.