aground, adv., orig. phr.
(əˈgraʊnd)
[a prep.1 on + ground.]
† 1. On or upon the ground, either of position or direction; on the earth, to the earth. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 378 Manne orf deyde alaground [i.e. all aground], so gret qualm þer was þo. 1340 Ayenb. 91 Þe drope of þe deawe..ualþ agrund. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. i. 90 He is a god bi þe gospel Agrounde and aloft [1362 on grounde]. 1490 Caxton Eneydos li. 145 Eneas that sawe Mezencyus agrounde came towarde hym. 1562 Romeus & Juliet (in Wr.) She fel flat downe before his feete aground. |
2. On or to the strand or shallow bottom of any water, where a boat or ship lodges, and is no longer ‘afloat.’ to be aground: to be stranded; to run aground: to run into a place where the ship lodges on the bottom.
| c 1500 Cocke Lorelles Bote (1843) 6 Some at saynt Kateryns stroke a grounde. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 55 A little fishe swimmeth continually before the great Whale to shewe him the shelues that he run not a ground. 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. i. 4 Speake to th' mariners: fall too't yarely, or we run ourselves a ground. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1858) 264 The water was ebbed considerably away leaving their boat aground. 1813 Southey Nelson v. 149 Before the lead could be hove again he was fast aground. 1856 Kane Arctic Expl. I. v. 60 The bergs were aground well out to seaward. |
b. fig.
| 1665 Glanville Sceps. Sc. xiii. 76 And run aground on that more desperate absurdity, Atheism. a 1687 J. M. in Cleveland's Wks. 1687, 282 For in Discourse his Wit did never rest, When others were aground with one dry jest. 1832 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) II. 57 The arguments against competition..all finally come aground on this rock. |