Etymology Dictionary

UP,  towards a higher place, aloft.  (E.)   M.E. vp, up; common.—A.S. up, upp, up, adv.; Grein, ii. 630. + Du. op. + Icel. upp. + Dan. op. + Swed. upp. + Goth. iup. + G. auf; O.H.G. úf.   β. All from the Teut. type UP, up; closely allied to Teut. UF, as seen in Goth. uf, under, uf-ar, over (comparative form), and in E. over; further allied to Lat. sub, under, Gk. ὑπὸ, under, Skt. upa, near, on, under.   See the full account under Over.   Der. upp-er, M.E. vpper, King Alisaunder, 5691; Chaucer uses over in the same sense, as in ouer lippe = upper lip, C. T. 133.   Hence upper-most (not an old form), as in 'euen vpon the vppermoste pinnacle of the temple,' Udall, On St. Luke, c. 4; this is not a correct form, but made on the model of Aftermost, q.v.   Also up-most, Jul. Cæs. ii. I. 24, which appears to be simply a contraction for uppermost, though really a better form.   And see Up-, and Upon; also Open.