Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Above \A*bove"\, prep. [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon;
   an (or on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under.
   [root]199. See {Over}.]
   1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper
      surface; over; -- opposed to {below} or {beneath}.

            Fowl that may fly above the earth.    --Gen. i. 20.

   2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect;
      surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as,
      things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct
      above reproach. ``Thy worth . . . is actions above my
      gifts.'' --Marlowe.

            I saw in the way a light from heaven above the
            brightness of the sun.                --Acts xxxvi.
                                                  13.

   3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a
      hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See {Above},
      adv., 4.)

   {above all}, before every other consideration; chiefly; in
      preference to other things.

   {Over and above}, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.

Source : WordNet®

above all
     adv 1: above and beyond all other consideration; "above all, you
            must be independent" [syn: {most importantly}, {most
            especially}]
     2: taking everything together; "she was first and last a
        scientist" [syn: {first and last}]