aloft
adv.high up in the air or over your head. You often use it to describe things that are flying, floating, or being held up high.
adv.positioned or held at a great height; in the air or in flight. In a nautical context, it refers specifically to the area above the deck, such as in the rigging or on the masts.
“The eagle stayed aloft for hours without flapping its wings.”
“The crowd cheered as the winning captain held the silver trophy aloft for everyone to see.”
“The hot air balloon remained aloft by virtue of the burner's constant heat, drifting silently over the valley as the morning mist began to clear.”
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of a clause; often pairs with verbs of motion or position like 'hold', 'stay', or 'remain'.
From Old Norse á lopti (“in the sky”); equivalent to a- + loft.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.