upstairs English · revision 15312

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1584}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌʌpˈstɛəz/, /ˈʌpˌstɛəz/ ''(UK)''; /ˌʌpˈstɛɹz/, /ˈʌpˌstɛɹz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|up|stairs]], from the verbal phrase up stairs.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ So as to go up a flight of stairs, to an upper floor: 1584 in Merriam-Webster, the 1590s in Etymonline, 1596 in the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adjective, on an upper floor, it is from 1781–82,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the noun, the upper floors of a building, is attested by 1872.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Kicked upstairs'', promoted to get someone out of the way, goes back to a remark by Lord Halifax recorded about 1697.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In Parliament, sending a bill upstairs referred it to a committee, from 1835,^(OED 1989) and in aviation going upstairs meant climbing into the air, from 1908.^(OED 1989) The adjective sense, characteristic of the family's rooms as opposed to the servants' quarters, is from 1942.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1584 – upstairs (adverb).^(MWU 2024)

+ * c. 1697 – kicked upstairs.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1782 – upstairs (adjective).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1872 – the upstairs (noun).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1942 – upstairs life.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Up the stairs; to or on an upper floor.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To or at a higher rank or level.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' In the mind: ''a little weak upstairs''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # On an upper floor.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The upper floor or floors of a building.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[downstairs]]

+ * [[stair]]

+ * [[stairs]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Yorkshire, Cheshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire dialect, ''to be upstairs'' meant to be confined to bed.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}