afloat
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L29516 on Wikidata ↗adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L334316 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈfloʊt/ / /əˈfləʊt/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English float English afloat From a- + float.
- Floating.
“A rubber duck and other toys were afloat in the bath.”
“On such a full sea are we now afloat; / And we must take the current when it serves, / Or lose our ventures.”
- In, or found while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water.
“[…] that trade […] may likewise employ many useful hands both ashore and afloat,”
- Floating in the air; flowing freely; not tied, braided, etc. (of hair or clothing)
“her black hair loose and a-float down her dazzling white neck”
“unbound silvery-gold tresses afloat beneath a jeweled coronet”
- Covered with water, bearing floating objects.
“The decks are afloat.”
“The yard was afloat. Jody looked out of the window and saw two drowned biddies floating about with upturned bellies.”
- Covered, overspread, filled (with or in something).
“The larch-wood was afloat with clear, lyric green,”
“The world was afloat in primrose light, pale and exquisite.”
- Having just enough resources to continue to operate; barely able to pay expenses; (of a private individual, family, etc.) keeping one's head above water.
“The donation will keep our business afloat for quite a while.”
“[…] you nede not to be sorye, as thoughe your frendely liberalitie had not be very acceptable vnto me. I haue receaued euery thing, and now I am afloate, by your lyberall sendyng.”
- Believed or talked about by many people; being passed from person to person.
“The supervisor was never fired, though countless accusations of dishonesty were afloat.”
“[…] she and I were accepted, whatever ugly rumours had been afloat in the past year, as man and wife.”
- Stimulated, aroused, activated.
“You’ll find, when once my passion is afloat, / The soul of Caesar, in a petticoat!”
“My half frozen blood and my fears again afloat made me tremble through every limb;”
- In a state of confusion, bewilderment, or distraction.
“1789, Edward Gibbon, letter to Lord Sheffield dated August 1789, in Miscellaneous Works, London: A. Strahan et al., 1796, p. 201, I know not what to say; my mind is all afloat; yet you will not reproach me with caprice or inconstancy.”
“[…] he could correctly analyze and parse any sentence you could give him, no matter how complex; but when it came to talking he was all afloat.”
adv
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English float English afloat From a- + float.
- In or into a state of floating.
“You have so little Brains, that a Penn’orth of Butter melted under ’um, would set ’um afloat:”
“[…] I went down to my Boat, got the Water out of her, and got her afloat, loaded all my Cargo in her, and then went Home again for more;”
- In, or while in, a vessel at sea or on another body of water; at sea.
“[…] that trade […] may likewise employ many useful hands both ashore and afloat,”
“They was the roughest crew afloat, was Flint’s; the devil himself would have been feared to go to sea with them.”
- Under water (bearing floating objects).
“1695, Edmund Gibson (translator), Camden’s Britannia, London: A. Swalle, “Staffordshire,” […] it [the River Dove] overflows and lays the meadows afloat in April, like another Nile.”
- In or into circulation or currency.
“setting a lie aflote”
“[…] I shall not be judged fairly; it will get afloat that I am not a good girl,”
- In or into a condition of stimulation, arousal, confusion, bewilderment, etc.
“No angry passions rise to disturb the silent progress of the work, […] no irritable humours are set afloat:”
“[…] they knew how to abstain from the overdose of liquor that sets the brain afloat and loosens the tongue.”
prep
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English float English afloat From a- + float.
- Floating upon.
“early 1600s, John Webster and William Rowley, The Thracian Wonder, London: Thomas Johnson, 1661, Act I, Scene 1, But Huswife, as for you, / You with your Brat, wee’l send afloat the Main,”
“[…] great wee see must be the art and cunning of that man, that keeps him afloat the streame of Soveraigne favour,”