On the top of; at the highest point of something. Used to indicate position above or on the surface of another object.
Formed by combining 'a-' (a prefix meaning 'on' or 'at') with 'top'. This construction follows the pattern of other positional words like 'aboard' and 'ashore', emerging in Middle English.
The word 'atop' is beautifully economical, compressing 'on top of' into a single word that flows more smoothly in both speech and writing. It's particularly favored in poetic and descriptive writing for its rhythmic quality.
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