uponabout

Uponabout is a proposed term in linguistic discussions describing a hypothetical cross-prepositional construction that blends spatial and topical meanings into a single unit. In this account, uponabout functions as a prepositional or adverbial marker that signals both a location and a subject matter, rather than treating location and topic as separate elements.

Etymology and status: The term is a portmanteau of upon and about, used mainly in speculative or playful discussions of grammar. It is not widely attested in standard reference grammars or major dictionaries, and examples typically appear in online forums, creative-writing analyses, or language-meeets rather than formal literature.

Definition and use: A sentence employing uponabout would aim to convey that an entity is situated relative to a place while also relating to a particular topic or domain. For example: “The plaque uponabout the square describes the festival’s history.” In such uses, the word acts as a single cohesive marker rather than two sequential prepositions, encoding dual information in a compact form. Acceptability and interpretation can vary, and many linguists treat uponabout as a theoretical or experimental construct rather than a conventional feature of English.

Relation to other concepts: Uponabout is related to the study of prepositional blending, polyfunctional prepositions, and cross-layered meaning in grammar. It sits alongside discussions of compound prepositions and multi-attachment constructions that fuse semantic domains.

See also: preposition, grammar, blending (linguistics), compound prepositions.

References: Due to its status as a speculative or nonstandard term, there are no widely recognized scholarly references. Mentions appear mainly in non-academic forums and language-focused wikis.