abreast

abreast
abreast (adv.) mid-15c., on brest, from A- (Cf. a-) (1) + BREAST (Cf. breast) (n.); the notion is of "with breasts in line." To keep abreast in figurative sense of "stay up-to-date" is from 1650s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • abreast of — 1 : next to (someone or something) Another runner drew abreast of her. [=drew alongside her] 2 : aware of or informed about (new occurrences, facts, etc.) She is always abreast of the latest political news. He likes to keep/stay abreast of the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Abreast — A*breast , adv. [Pref. a + breast.] 1. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, Two men could hardly walk abreast. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. (Naut.) Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the vessel s beam; with of. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • abreast — [adv1] next to, alongside beside, equal, in alignment, in line, level, opposite, shoulder to shoulder, side by side; concept 586 abreast [adv2] up to date acquainted, au courant, au fait, contemporary, familiar, informed, in touch, knowledgeable …   New thesaurus

  • abreast — ► ADVERB 1) side by side and facing the same way. 2) alongside. 3) (abreast of) up to date with …   English terms dictionary

  • abreast — index equal, informed (having information) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • abreast — [ə brest′] adv., adj. [ A 1 + BREAST] 1. side by side, as in going or facing forward: often with of or with 2. informed (of) or conversant ( with) recent developments …   English World dictionary

  • abreast — [[t]əbre̱st[/t]] 1) ADV: ADV after v, num ADV If people or things walk or move abreast, they are next to each other, side by side, and facing in the same direction. The steep pavement was too narrow for them to walk abreast. ...a group of youths… …   English dictionary

  • abreast — adj. (usu. does not stand alone) abreast of (to be abreast of the news; to keep smb. abreast of the latest developments) * * * [ə brest] (usu. does not stand alone) abreast of (to be abreast of the news; to keep smb. abreast of the latest… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • abreast — a|breast [əˈbrest] adv 1.) keep/stay abreast of sth to make sure that you know all the most recent facts or information about a particular subject or situation ▪ It s important to keep abreast of the latest developments in computers. 2.)… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • abreast — a|breast [ ə brest ] adverb next to each other, facing or moving in the same direction: We set off cycling two abreast. abreast of: He drew abreast of me and immediately started talking. keep/stay abreast of something to make sure that you know… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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