▪ I. alow, adv.1 (and prep.), orig. phr.
(əˈləʊ)
Forms: 3–7 alowe, 4 aloȝ, a-logh, a-loughe, (5 north. a-lawe) 6 alowe, 5– alow.
[a prep.1 + low a. Cf. on high, afar.]
Contrasted with aloft.
1. Of position: Low down, below.
| c 1260 E.E.P. (1862) 14 Hit nas no wonder þoȝ ȝo wep · for hir swet child alowe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 234 His mouth..Rather þan his lykam a-low [v.r. aloȝ]. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. vii, The corps is layde in earth alowe. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 324 A lowe, even by the ground. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xviii. (1632) 903 The Queene her selfe sate alone alow on the rushes. a 1733 North Lives of Norths (1826) II. 344 The reason given for the sun's absence a-low. 1867 J. Ingelow Lily & Lute ii. 146 Floating of the film aloft, Fluttering of the leaves alow. |
2. Of direction: Downwards, towards the ground.
| a 1423 James I. Kingis Q. ii. xvi, As I beheld, and kest myn eyen alawe. a 1528 Skelton Image Hypoc. i. 91 They may not stoop alowe. 1700 Dryden Cymon & Iph. 370 Toss'd and retoss'd, aloft and then alow. |
3. Naut. In or into the lower part of a vessel, i.e. the deck as opposed to the rigging, the cabin or hold as opposed to the deck.
| 1509 Barclay Ship of Fooles (1570) 177 Within this ship a lowe or els a hye. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Wks. 65/2 Downe, downe alow, into the hold. 1863 C. Reade Hard Cash I. 268 With studding sails alow and aloft. |
4. fig. In low condition or estate.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 222 Why somme be alowe [v.r. alouȝ] and somme alofte. 1535 Coverdale Deut. xxviii. 43 Thou shalt come downe alowe and lye euer beneth. |
† 5. In a low voice, quietly: opposed to aloud.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 670 Þou laȝed a-loȝ. 1482 Monk of Evesham (1869) 23 Sykyng alow in his breste. |
† B. prep. ellipt. for alow in or on. Obs. rare.
| 1533 Tindale Answ. Frith in Southey Bk. of Ch. 112 (R.) Creep alow the ground. 1591 Harington Orl. Fur. ii. xii, Alow the vale a hermit she did find. |
▪ II. alow, adv.2 north. dial.
(əlɔːˈʊ, əlʌʊ)
[a prep.1 in, on + low flame.]
Ablaze, in flame.
| c 1200 Ormin 16185 Teȝȝ alle þrenngdenn ut Of all þatt miccle temmple, All alls itt wære all oferr hemm O loȝhe. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xlv. 350 To speak to him about that..wad be to set the kiln a-low. |
▪ III. † aˈlow, v. Obs.
Also allow.
[f. a- prefix 11 + low: cf. alow adv., and abase.]
To lower, bring down, lessen. lit. and fig.
| 1530 Palsgr. 414/1, I abate, or lay downe, or beate downe, or alowe one in his accompt. Je abas. a 1541 Wyatt Ps. cii. (R.) Whereby he..gynneth to alowe his payne and penitence. c 1576 Turberville Fall of Pride (R.) They may most plainely see how pride hath beene allowde. |