abreast

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English

WOTD – 7 December 2015

Etymology

From Middle English abrest. By surface analysis, a- (“on, at”) +‎ breast, meaning “breasts (chests) in line, side-by-side and exactly equally advanced”;[1] roughly “breast-by-breast”.

Pronunciation

Adverb

abreast (not comparable)

  1. Side by side and facing forward. [2]
    Hyponym: neck and neck (as horses racing)
    Coordinate term: tandem
  2. (figurative) Alongside; parallel to. [2]
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [2]
  4. Followed by of or with: up to a certain level or line; equally advanced. [2]
    She believes it is important to keep abreast of new scientific developments.
  5. (Scotland) Breast high (of an advancing wave).
    The west wind blew a tempest, and, according to the common expression, brought in the water [of the Solway] three foot abreast.
  6. (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; on a line with the vessel's beam. [2]
  7. (obsolete) At the same time; simultaneously.
    • 1842, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, From the birth of Jesus Christ until the year MDCXLVIII., 3rd edition, volume 1, page 412:
      Abreast therewith began a convocation.

Usage notes

  • (nautical): Abreast is followed by the word of.
  • (alongside): Abreast is followed by of.
  • (informed): Abreast is followed by of.
  • (up to a certain level): Abreast is followed by of.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

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Translations to be checked

Adjective

abreast (not comparable)

  1. Side by side, facing forward. [2]
  2. (figurative) Alongside; parallel to. [2]
  3. Informed, well-informed, familiar, acquainted. [2]
  4. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced [2]
    to keep abreast of [or with] the present state of science
    • c. 1900, Kate Chopin, A Reflection:
      Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy. It not only enables them to keep abreast of the times; it qualifies them to furnish in their own personality a good bit of the motive power to the mad pace.
  5. (nautical) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel's beam. [2]

Preposition

abreast

  1. Abreast of; alongside.[3]
    This ship sank abreast the island.

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “abreast”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abreast”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 8.
  3. ^ Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 , →ISBN), page 5

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