uplift

Etymology

The verb is inherited from Middle English upliften,^[2][3][4][5] formed from English up- + lift;^[6][3][7] Etymonline takes the first element as the adverb up.^[3] The OED compares Swedish upplyfta and Danish opløfte, from Middle Swedish and Middle Danish compounds of the same kind.^[6] The second element is from Old Norse lypta (“to raise”), from Proto-Germanic *luftijan.^[3] The adjective, raised, is formed from the prefix and lift, a variant past participle of the verb.^[6][4] The noun is formed from the prefix and the noun lift, or from the verb.^[6][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

As an adjective, raised, uplifted: 1303, in Robert Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^[6] Etymonline dates the verb, to lift to a higher or more erect position, to about 1300,^[3] and the OED's first verb quotations, for raising in rank or honour, are from Mannyng's Chronicle of 1338.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English the verb meant to lift up or raise, and also to raise one's head or eyes;^[2] Gower used it four times.^[8] By the mid-14th century it was used of raising someone in rank, honour or estate, and by the late 14th century of lifting the spirit, according to Etymonline;^[3] the OED records "to elevate morally" only from 1883.^[6] In Scotland it meant to collect rents or draw wages from 1508,^[6] and in the 20th century to pick up passengers or goods, a use found in Scotland and New Zealand.^[6][9] In Scots and northern dialects it also meant to cheer, and uplifted could mean proud.^[10][6] The noun is recorded from 1845 for the fact of being raised, and in geology from 1853 for a rise in the level of the earth's surface.^[6][3] Its figurative sense, an elevating influence, followed in 1873,^[6][3] and the 20th century added the lift given by a garment such as a bra (1929) and an increase in prices or wages (1949).^[6]

Timeline

• 1303 – adjective, raised, uplifted.^[6]
• 1338 – verb, to raise in rank, honour or estimation.^[6]
• before 1340 – to lift up to a higher or more erect position.^[6]
• 1508 – in Scotland, to collect rents or draw wages.^[6]
• 1845 – noun, the fact of being raised.^[6][3]
• 1853 – noun, a rise of part of the earth's surface.^[6][3]
• 1873 – noun, an elevating effect on the mind or morals.^[6][3]
• 1883 – verb, to elevate morally.^[6]
• 1929 – the support given by a garment such as a bra.^[6]
• 1949 – an increase in prices or wages.^[6]
• 1961 – chiefly in Scotland, to pick up passengers.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To lift up; to raise to a higher position; in geology, to push part of the earth's surface above the surrounding land.^[9][4][7][6]
2. To raise the spirits of, or to improve the moral, social or cultural condition of: The speech uplifted the tired volunteers.^[9][4][6]
3. (Scotland, New Zealand) To collect or pick up passengers, goods or money due.^[9][4][6]
4. To raise in rank or esteem; now rare.^[7][6]

Noun

1. The act, process or result of lifting up.^[9][4][6]
2. In geology, the raising of part of the earth's surface, or an uplifted mass of land.^[9][4][6]
3. A raising of the spirits, or an effort to improve moral, social or cultural conditions.^[9][4][6]
4. Support given by a garment that raises the bust, or the garment itself, as an uplift bra.^[9][6]
5. Upward pressure, as of water on the base of a structure.^[4]

Adjective

1. (archaic) Raised; uplifted.^[4][6]

Word family

• uplifter
• upliftment

Related words

• lift
• up

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ Benson, Larry D., Glossarial Concordance to Middle English (Chaucer, Gower), Johns Hopkins University, github.com/jhu-digital-manuscripts/gcme
9. ^ a b c d e f g h Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
10. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)