As an adjective, high means being far above the ground or at a great level or amount, like a high building or high temperature. As an adverb, it means “to a great height.” As a noun, it can mean a peak or a time of great success or happiness.
From Old English “hēah,” meaning “of great height, tall, exalted,” related to other Germanic words with the same sense. The idea of physical height later extended to levels of degree, status, and emotion.
“High” is one of those words that escaped gravity—it started with physical height and then floated into money (high prices), feelings (high spirits), and even weather (high pressure). We instinctively treat “up” as good and “down” as bad, so “high” quietly carries a positive bias. Even saying you feel “high” emotionally suggests your mood has literally risen.
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