for

views updated May 18 2018

for / fôr; fər/ • prep. 1. in support of or in favor of (a person or policy): they voted for independence in a referendum.2. affecting, with regard to, or in respect of (someone or something): she is responsible for the efficient running of their department the demand for money.3. on behalf of or to the benefit of (someone or something): these parents aren't speaking for everyone. ∎  employed by: it was a good firm to work for.4. having (the thing mentioned) as a purpose or function: she is searching for enlightenment | the necessary tools for making a picture frame.5. having (the thing mentioned) as a reason or cause: Aileen is proud of her family for their support I could dance and sing for joy.6. having (the place mentioned) as a destination: they are leaving for Swampscott tomorrow.7. representing (the thing mentioned): the “F” is for Fascinating.8. in place of or in exchange for (something): swap these two bottles for that one. ∎  charged as (a price): copies are available for only a buck.9. in relation to the expected norm of (something): she was tall for her age | warm weather for this time of year.10. indicating the length of (a period of time): he was in prison for 12 years I haven't seen him for some time.11. indicating the extent of (a distance): he crawled for 300 yards.12. indicating an occasion in a series: the camcorder failed for the third time.• conj. poetic/lit. because; since: he felt guilty, for he knew that he bore a share of responsibility for Fanny's death.PHRASES: for all ——see all.for eversee forever.for why inf. for what reason: you're going to and I'll tell you for why.oh for —— I long for ——: oh for a strong black coffee!there's (or that's) —— for you used ironically to indicate a particularly poor example of (a quality mentioned): there's gratitude for you.

for

views updated May 17 2018

for prep. †before; representing, instead of; in defence of; with a view to; in the character of; by reason of, in spite of OE.; to obtain, in order to XIII; with the object of; in relation to XIV; during XV; conj. (for OE. for þon þe, for þǣm þe, for þȳ þe on account of the fact that) because, since XII. OE. for = OFris., OS. for, Goth. faur, prob. reduction of Gmc. *fora before (of place and time), repr. by OE. fore = OFris., OS., OHG. fora, Goth. faura, beside OS., OHG. forms with -i, viz. furi (G. für) and ON. fyrir; see FORE-.
Hence forasmuch (arch.) seeing that. XIII. tr. OF. por tant que for so much as.

FOR

views updated May 29 2018