Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [on, awn ej]
- /ɒn, ɔn ɛdʒ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [on, awn ej]
- /ɒn, ɔn ɛdʒ/
Definitions of on edge words
- noun on edge a line or border at which a surface terminates: Grass grew along the edges of the road. The paper had deckle edges. 1
- noun on edge a brink or verge: the edge of a cliff; the edge of disaster. 1
- noun on edge any of the narrow surfaces of a thin, flat object: a book with gilt edges. 1
- noun on edge a line at which two surfaces of a solid object meet: an edge of a box. 1
- noun on edge the thin, sharp side of the blade of a cutting instrument or weapon. 1
- noun on edge the sharpness proper to a blade: The knife has lost its edge. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of on edge
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English egge, Old English ecg; cognate with German Ecke corner; akin to Latin aciēs, Greek akís point
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for On edge
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
on edge popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
on edge usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for on edge
adj on edge
- aflame — If something is on fire, you can say it is aflame.
- all shook up — shaken, upset
- anguished — Anguished means showing or feeling great mental suffering or physical pain.
- bundle of nerves — a very nervous person
- changeful — often changing; inconstant; variable
adverb on edge
- anxious — If you are anxious to do something or anxious that something should happen, you very much want to do it or very much want it to happen.
- impatient — not patient; not accepting delay, opposition, pain, etc., with calm or patience.
- jumpily — Nervously, or restlessly.
- jumpy — subject to sudden, involuntary starts, especially from nervousness, fear, excitement, etc.
- wired — made of wire; consisting of or constructed with wires.
adjective on edge
- edgy — nervously irritable; impatient and anxious.
- excited — awakened
- expectant — Having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting.
- jittery — extremely tense and nervous; jumpy: He's very jittery about the medical checkup.
- overanxious — excessively anxious.
Antonyms for on edge
adjective on edge
- comfortable — If a piece of furniture or an item of clothing is comfortable, it makes you feel physically relaxed when you use it, for example because it is soft.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with o
- Words starting with on
- Words starting with one
- Words starting with oned
- Words starting with onedg
- Words starting with onedge