DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
For prep. In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.
1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.
With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. --Shak.
How to choose dogs for scent or speed. --Waller.
Now, for so many glorious actions done,
For peace at home, and for the public wealth,
I mean to crown a bowl for Cæsar's health. --Dryden.
That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant. --Hooker.
2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.
The oak for nothing ill,
The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill. --Spenser.
It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters. --Bacon.
Shall I think the worls was made for one,
And men are born for kings, as beasts for men,
Not for protection, but to be devoured? --Dryden.
For he writes not for money, nor for praise. --Denham.
3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.
We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. --2 Cor. xiii. 8.
It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate. --Tillotson.
Aristotle is for poetical justice. --Dennis.
4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ░ntending to go to.
We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. --Bacon.
5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. --Ex. xxi. 23, 24.
6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
We take a falling meteor for a star. --Cowley.
If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru░? --Locke.
Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model. --Dryden.
But let her go for an ungrateful woman. --Philips.
7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.
The writer will do what she please for all me. --Spectator.
God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene. --Dr. H. More.
For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us. --Swift.
8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.
For many miles about
There 's scarce a bush. --Shak.
Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing. --prior.
To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day. --Garth.
9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.]
We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet. --Beau. & Fl.
For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently. See under As.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. --Josh. xxiv. 15.
For me, my stormy voyage at an end,
I to the port of death securely tend. --Dryden.
-- For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of.
For all the world, wholly; exactly. “Whose posy was, for all the world, like cutlers' poetry.” --Shak.
For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since.
For by. See Forby, adv.
For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever.
For me, or For all me, as far as regards me.
For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook.
For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] “For that I love your daughter.” --Shak.
For thy, or Forthy
For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- “What went ye out for to see?” --Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4.
O for, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically expressing desire or prayer. “O for a muse of fire.” --Shak.
Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. “Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will.” --Sir M. Hale.
In, prep. The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. It is used: --
1. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
The babe lying in a manger. --Luke ii. 16.
Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. --Shak.
Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude. --Gibbon.
Matter for censure in every page. --Macaulay.
2. With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. “Fettered in amorous chains.”
Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils. --Shelley.
3. With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.
Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry. --Swift.
4. With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.
When shall we three meet again,
In thunder, lightning, or in rain? --Shak.
5. With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor. “In sight of God's high throne.”
Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh. --Cowper.
6. With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; -- sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God.
He would not plunge his brother in despair. --Addison.
She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets. --Fielding.
7. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
In as much as, or Inasmuch as, in the degree that; in like manner as; in consideration that; because that; since. See Synonym of Because, and cf. For as much as, under For, prep.
In that, because; for the reason that. “Some things they do in that they are men . . . ; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error.” --Hooker.
In the name of, in behalf of; on the part of; by authority; as, it was done in the name of the people; -- often used in invocation, swearing, praying, and the like.
To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.]
To be in with or To keep in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. [Colloq.]
Syn: -- Into; within; on; at. See At.