From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
above
adj : appearing earlier in the same text; "flaws in the above
interpretation"
adv 1: at an earlier place; "see above" [syn: supra] [ant:
below]
2: in or to a place that is higher [syn: higher up, {in a
higher place}, to a higher place] [ant: below]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Above \A*bove"\, prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon;
an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under.
[root]199. See Over.]
1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper
surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.
[1913 Webster]
Fowl that may fly above the earth. --Gen. i. 20.
[1913 Webster]
2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect;
surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as,
things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct
above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my
gifts." --Marlowe.
[1913 Webster]
I saw in the way a light from heaven above the
brightness of the sun. --Acts xxxvi.
13.
[1913 Webster]
3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a
hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above,
adv., 4.)
[1913 Webster]
above all, before every other consideration; chiefly; in
preference to other things.
[1913 Webster]
Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Above \A*bove"\, adv.
1. In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the
clouds above.
[1913 Webster]
2. Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a
foregoing page. "That was said above." --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
3. Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court
above.
[1913 Webster]
4. More than; as, above five hundred were present.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by
omitting the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as,
the above observations, the above reference, the above
articles. -- Above is also used substantively. "The
waters that come down from above." --Josh. iii. 13.
[1913 Webster] It is also used as the first part of a
compound in the sense of before, previously; as,
above-cited, above-described, above-mentioned,
above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified, above-written,
above-given.
[1913 Webster]