Mark, above / beside / beyond / close to / near / up to

Any number of prepositions can precede 'the mark' as in 'near' or 'up to' the mark. A mark meaning a fixed or recognised target, goal, or standard, and dates from the Middle English period, which the OED defines as anytime between 1150 to 1350. The original mark was probably a target in archery. A mark meaning a brand or a particular make of something dates from the early 1500s, and to mark up or down in price dates from the mid-1500s. A mark meaning a die or stamp for impressing a manufacturer's identity on goods, dates from 1797. A mark can also refer to a fair catch in rugby and dates from 1867, and to mark an opponent in a game of football dates from 1887.