उप n. ind. (a preposition or prefix to verbs and nouns, expressing) towards, near to (opposed to
अप, away), by the side of, with, together with, under, down (
e.g. उप-√ गम्, to go near, undergo;
उप-गमन, approaching; in the
वेद the verb has sometimes to be supplied from the context, and sometimes
उप is placed after the verb to which it belongs,
e.g. आययुर् उप =
उपा-ययुः, they approached). (As unconnected with verbs and prefixed to nouns
उप expresses) direction towards, nearness, contiguity in space, time, number, degree, resemblance, and relationship, but with the idea of subordination and inferiority (
e.g. उप-कनिष्ठिका, the finger next to the little finger;
उप-पुराणम्, a secondary or subordinate
पुराण;
उप-दश, nearly ten)
उप-मूलम् sometimes forming with the nouns to which it is prefixed compound adverbs (
e.g. , at the root;
उप-पूर्व-रात्रम्, towards the beginning of night;
उप-कूपे, near a well) which lose their adverbial terminations if they are again compounded with nouns (
e.g. उपकूप-जला-शय, a reservoir in the neighbourhood of a well)
उप prefixed to proper names may express in classical literature ‘a younger brother’ (
e.g. उपे-न्द्र, ‘the younger brother of
इन्द्र’), and in
Buddhist literature ‘a son.’ (As a separable adverb rarely expresses) thereto, further, moreover (
e.g. तत्रो-प ब्रह्म यो वेद, who further knows the
ब्रह्मन्),
[RV.] ;
[AV.] ;
[ŚBr.] ;
[PārGṛ.] (As a separable preposition) near to, towards, in the direction of, under, below (with
acc. e.g. उप आशाः, towards the regions)
near to, at, on, upon
उप सानुषु at the time of, upon, up to, in, above (with
loc. e.g. , on the tops of the mountains)
उप धर्मभिः with, together with, at the same time with, according to (with inst.
e.g. , according to the rules of duty),
[RV.] ;
[AV.] ;
[ŚBr.] उप, besides the meanings given above, is said by native authorities to imply disease, extinction; ornament; command; reproof; undertaking; giving; killing; diffusing; wish; power; effort; resemblance, &c.;
उप [
cf. Zd. upa;
Gk. ὑπό;
Lat. sub;
Goth. uf; Old
Germ. oba;
Mod. Germ. ob in
Obdach,
obliegen, &c.]