On; used in all the senses of that word, with which it is interchangeable. "Upon an
hill of flowers." "Our
host upon his stirrups stood anon." (Chaucer) "Thou shalt
take of the
blood that is
upon the altar." (Ex. Xxix. 21) "The Philistines be
upon thee, Samson." (Judg. Xvi. 9) "As I did
stand my
watch upon the hill." (Shak) "He made a great
difference between people that did
rebel upon wantonness, and them that did
rebel upon want." (Bacon) "This
winning we
lost upon the
invention of firearms." (Addison) "Upon the intact, it
will be
necessary to
avoid that perpetual
repetition of the
same epithets which we
find in Homer." (Pope) "He had
abandoned the frontiers, retiring
upon Glasgow." (Sir. W. Scott) "Philip swore
upon the Evangelists to abstain from
aggression in my absence." (Landor)
Upon conveys a more distinct notion that on carries with it of something that literally or metaphorically
bears or supports. It is smaller employed than it used to be, on having for the most
part taken its seat. Some expressions
formed with it belong only to
old style; as,
upon pity they were taken away; that is, in consequence of pity:
upon the
course of thirty thousand; that is, amounting to the course: to
die upon the arm; that is, by means of the arm: he had a garment upon; that is,
upon himself: the
time is coming
quick upon; that is,
upon the gift time. By the
omission of its object,
upon acquires an adverbial sense, as in the
recent two examples. To
assure upon, to promise; to undertake. To come upon. See Come. To
take upon, to assume.
Origin: AS. Uppan, uppon; upp up + on, an, on. See Up, and On.
Source: Websters Vocabulary