'on edge' definitions:
Definition of 'on edge'
From: GCIDE
- Edge \Edge\ ([e^]j), n. [OE. eg, egge, AS. ecg; akin to OHG. ekka, G. ecke, Icel. & Sw. egg, Dan. eg, and to L. acies, Gr. 'akh` point, Skr. a[,c]ri edge. [root]1. Cf. Egg, v. t., Eager, Ear spike of corn, Acute.]
- 1. The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe. Hence, (figuratively), That which cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc. [1913 Webster]
- He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. --Rev. ii. 12. [1913 Webster]
- Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge; as, the edge of a table, a precipice. [1913 Webster]
- Upon the edge of yonder coppice. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Sharpness; readiness or fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of desire. [1913 Webster]
- The full edge of our indignation. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
- Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
- 4. The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning or early part; as, in the edge of evening. "On the edge of winter." --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Edge joint (Carp.), a joint formed by two edges making a corner.
- Edge mill, a crushing or grinding mill in which stones roll around on their edges, on a level circular bed; -- used for ore, and as an oil mill. Called also Chilian mill.
- Edge molding (Arch.), a molding whose section is made up of two curves meeting in an angle.
- Edge plane. (a) (Carp.) A plane for edging boards. (b) (Shoemaking) A plane for edging soles.
- Edge play, a kind of swordplay in which backswords or cutlasses are used, and the edge, rather than the point, is employed.
- Edge rail. (Railroad) (a) A rail set on edge; -- applied to a rail of more depth than width. (b) A guard rail by the side of the main rail at a switch. --Knight.
- Edge railway, a railway having the rails set on edge.
- Edge stone, a curbstone.
- Edge tool. (a) Any tool or instrument having a sharp edge intended for cutting. (b) A tool for forming or dressing an edge; an edging tool.
- To be on edge, (a) to be eager, impatient, or anxious. (b) to be irritable or nervous.
- on edge, (a) See to be on edge. (b) See to set the teeth on edge.
- To set the teeth on edge, (a) to cause a disagreeable tingling sensation in the teeth, as by bringing acids into contact with them. [archaic] --Bacon. (b) to produce a disagreeable or unpleasant sensation; to annoy or repel; -- often used of sounds; as, the screeching of of the subway train wheels sets my teeth on edge. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Synonyms of 'on edge'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- all nerves,
- antsy,
- antsy-pantsy,
- anxious,
- apprehensive,
- breathless,
- chafing,
- eager,
- edgy,
- excitable,
- excited,
- fearful,
- fretful,
- fretting,
- frightened,
- hasty,
- high-strung,
- hopped-up,
- impatient,
- impetuous,
- in a lather,
- in a stew,
- in a sweat,
- in suspense,
- irritable,
- keyed-up,
- nerves on edge,
- nervous,
- nervy,
- on tenterhooks,
- on tiptoe,
- overstrung,
- panicky,
- quivering,
- restive,
- restless,
- squirming,
- squirmy,
- taut,
- tense,
- uneasy,
- unpatient,
- unquiet,
- with bated breath,
- with muscles tense
Words containing 'on edge'
- Edge,
- Edged,
- Edging,
- Edgingly,
- To be on edge,
- To edge down,
- To edge in,
- To edge in with,
- To edge off,
- edge in,
- edge up,
- Advancing edge,
- Deckle edge,
- Edge Hill,
- Edge joint,
- Edge mill,
- Edge molding,
- Edge of regression,
- Edge plane,
- Edge play,
- Edge rail,
- Edge railway,
- Edge stone,
- Edge tool,
- Edging machine,
- Entering edge,
- Entrant edge,
- Fiducial edge,
- Following edge,
- Fore edge,
- Gilt Edge,
- Hamburg edging,
- Leading edge,
- Pearl edge,
- River Edge,
- To edge away,
- To turn the edge of,
- Tooth edge,
- Trailing edge,
- Vandyke edge,
- Wire edge,
- cuspidal edge,
- cutting edge,
- double edged,
- gilt edged,
- knife edge,
- razor edge,
- take the edge off,
- Edge Hill, GA,
- Feather-edge,
- Feather-edged,
- Gilt Edge, TN,
- Gilt-edge,
- Gilt-edged,
- Knife-edge,
- Marble-edged,
- River Edge, NJ,
- To set the teeth on edge,
- Two-edged,
- cutting-edge,
- deckle-edged,
- double-edged,
- razor-edged,
- sawtoothed-edged,
- spiny-edged,
- white-edged,
- Knife-edge file,
- prickly-edged leaf,
- deckled deckle-edged featheredged