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单词 for
释义

forprep.conj.n.adv.

Brit. /fɔː/, U.S. /fɔr/ (weak forms)Brit. /fə/, U.S. /fər/
Forms: Old English fær, Old English far, Old English fur (rare), Old English (perhaps transmission error) early Middle English (chiefly Ormulum) forr, Old English–early Middle English fer, Old English– for, early Middle English fore (as conjunction), Middle English fo, Middle English uor (southern), Middle English vor (southern), Middle English–1600s ffor, 1500s forre; nonstandard, colloquial, or regional 1800s ver (English regional (Devon)), 1800s– fer, 1800s– fir (Scottish), 1800s– fo' (U.S. regional (chiefly southern)), 1800s– fuh (U.S. regional (southern) and Caribbean), 1800s– fur, 1800s– vor (English regional (southern)), 1900s– foah (U.S. regional (southern) and Caribbean). See also fi prep.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with (or formed similarly to) Old Frisian for (preposition) for, before, in the place of, in the name of, as, in favour of, Old Saxon for (preposition) for, before, in front of, in the presence or sight of, because of, for the sake of, and probably also Gothic faur (preposition) for, before, by, to, along, from, concerning, (adverb) before, probably reflecting a variant of the Germanic base of fore adv. and prep. with loss of the final vowel (compare similarly the development of Middle High German, German vor from Old High German fora ), and certainly ultimately showing the same Indo-European base as fore adv. and prep. and for- prefix1.Related formation. An ultimately related formation (with different suffixed vowel) is shown by Old Frisian fori , fore , Old Dutch furi , fure , Old Saxon furi (Middle Low German vore , vor , vȫre , vȫr ), Old High German furi (Middle High German vüre , vür , German für ), Old Icelandic fyri , fyrir , Old Swedish före , fyri , fore , forre (Swedish före ). History of use in English. In Old English for and fore seem both to have been used as prepositions with very similar semantic range, although for is significantly more frequent, especially when preceding the noun it agrees with, while fore is preferred in postposition. In Middle English they were gradually differentiated, although the spelling does not always clearly reflect this. Middle English uses as preposition with the spelling for have in all cases been regarded here as showing this entry rather than fore prep. Use as conjunction. With use as conjunction (chiefly from late Old English onwards) compare earlier use in compound conjunctions with demonstrative pronouns, etc., as second element (see Compounds a); compare especially for-thon conj., for-thy conj., which arose in Old English by use of for with the instrumental or dative case of the neuter singular demonstrative pronoun to form adverbial phrases in sense ‘therefore’ (also in correlative constructions as ‘wherefore…therefore’), from which developed parallel conjunctional phrases in sense ‘because’, very frequently with the addition of the relative particle þe (compare Old English for-þǣm þe , for-þon þe (see for-thon the conj. at for-thon conj. Derivatives), for-þȳ þe (see forthy the at for-thy conj. Derivatives)). Compare also for that conj.
A. prep. In Old English usually with dative or accusative, with the accusative used especially when motion towards is implied.
†I. Indicating position before something in space, time, or status; = before prep. in various uses. Cf. fore prep. 1, 2, 3.
1. Of place.
a. In front of; = before prep. 1. Obsolete.
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OE Beowulf (2008) 358 Eode ellenrof, þæt he for eaxlum gestod Deniga frean.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10497 Sco sagh þat angel for hir stand.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. iv. 3 For whose throne 'tis needfull..to kneele. View more context for this quotation
b. In or into the presence or sight of; = before prep. 3, 5. Obsolete.
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OE Beowulf (2008) 1649 Þa wæs be feaxe on flet boren Grendles heafod, þær guman druncon, egeslic for eorlum.
OE Genesis A (1931) 871 Ne dear nu forð gan for ðe andweardne.
OE Ælfric Homily: De Duodecim Abusivis (Corpus Cambr. 178) in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 302 Menig mann..is earm for worulde & ungesælig for Gode [a1225 Lamb. 487 uniseli for gode].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 23933 Leuedi..lede me wid þe for þi sun.
c. In asseverations: before (see before prep. 4a). In later use replaced by fore prep. 1b. Obsolete.Frequently in for God at god n. and int. Phrases 3a.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from use in adjurations (sense A. 20c), especially as the precise sense of the preposition may be somewhat weakened, as in by God at god n. and int. Phrases 3a.
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c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 346 Forr gode hit is speatewile þing forte þenche þron.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 107 For [c1225 Royal bi; L. per] þe drihtfule godd apollo..ich schal leote wilde deor..toteore þe.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2564 My prayer ys now ido. For gode..so ys myn al-so.
a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 3354 Ȝeysse, for god, quod þe knyȝt, dede he was.
c1557 Enterlude of Youth (new ed.) sig. Biiv A wyfe nay nay for God auowe He shall haue fleshe inoughe.
2. Of time: previous to a past period of time, before the beginning of; at a time earlier than (an event or date) or earlier than the existence of (a thing); = before prep. 7a, before prep. 8. Obsolete.See also for long.For use with reference to time cf. also fort prep. and further fort conj.
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OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xx. 190 Ic wat ðone mann on criste þe wæs gegripen nu for feowertyne gearum and gelæd oð ða þriddan heofenan.
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Hatton) (1900) Pref. 3 Ic wæs swyðe geswenced mid þam geruxlum & uneaðnessum sumra woruldlicra ymbhogena for [OE Corpus Cambr. ær] þam underfenge þyses bisceoplican folgoðes.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3076 Itt wass forrmaniȝ daȝȝ Ær cwiddedd þurrh prophetess.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 20 Bute hit beo hali nicht for feste.
3. In preference to, above; = before prep. 11. Obsolete.
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eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvi. 97 Sie he [sc. se lareow] for ealle upaðened mid ðære godcundan foresceawunge his inngeðances [L. prae cunctis contemplatione suspensus].
lOE Salisbury Psalter xliv. 3 Speciosus forma pre filiis hominum : wliti hiw for bearna manna [eOE Royal Psalter fore bearnum manna, OE Arundel Psalter for bearnum manna].
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6946 Ah for alle ure goden deore..Woden hehde þa hæhste laȝe.
c1300 Life & Martyrdom Thomas Becket (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 721 The statutz of Clarendone ech bischop holde scholde; And nameliche theo for [c1300 Laud bifore] alle other.
1486–1504 Let. 7 Jan. in W. Denton Eng. in 15th Cent. (1888) 318 It is mor meritory to support..yowre tenan[ts] rathere then a stronge man, the pore and the innocent for a gentylman or a gentylmans man.
a1500 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Chetham) l. 160 Sir, blessud be ye for all men!
II. Expressing representation, substitution, or exchange.
4. Representing, as representative of; on behalf of.See also to stand for —— 1c at stand v. Phrasal verbs 2, to stand for —— 1e at stand v. Phrasal verbs 2.Originally this sense in the member for (a parliamentary constituency), but this may now sometimes be interpreted as showing sense A. 12b.In the Old English phrase for þæs cyninges hand, literally ‘for the king's hand’ (see quot. OE2), with reference to a toll collected on behalf of the king; cf. later sense A. 13a.
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OE Guthlac A 200 Swa him yrsade, se for ealle spræc feonda mengu.
OE Manumission, Exeter (Bodl. 579) in J. Earle Hand-bk. Land-charters (1888) 253 Ælfric hasl nam þæt toll for þæs kynges hand.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 442 An for ham alle onswerede & seide.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 1829 Ches for ous bothen, I you preie.
1414 Rolls of Parl.: Henry V (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1414 §22. m. 3 Youre humble and trewe lieges that ben come for the commune of youre lond.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias v. 14 b Their Xeque..which was there for the king.
1658 W. Style Narrationes Modernæ 462 It is his [sc. a Counceller's] duty to speak for his Clyent, and it shall be intended to be spoken according to his Clyents instructions.
1842 T. B. Macaulay Ess. (1848) II. 187 The members for many counties and large towns.
1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 334 Walker returned thanks for his lady.
1913 P. Marquez Benitez Let. 5 July in V. Benitez Licuanan Paz Marquez Benitez (1995) i. 29 Decide for both of us; whatever the result is will be agreeable to me.
1976 Publishers Weekly 16 Apr. 88/1 Goldwater..speaks for many Americans currently disenchanted with Washington's government-by-bureaucracy.
2000 New Yorker 16 Oct. 252/2 In February..the XFL—the X is for ‘extreme’—will begin playing televised games on Saturday nights.
5. In place of, instead of.Sometimes (as in quot. 1801) difficult to distinguish from sense A. 16a.
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OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) ii. 22 He gehyrde þæt Archelaus rixode on Iudeaþeode for ðæne Herodem [L. pro Herode patre suo].
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) 4257 (MED) Þeȝȝ ummbeshærenn Cristess shapp Wiþþ stan forr cnifess egge.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9972 Maria..standes vs for sceild and targe, Agains all vre wiþerwyns.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 19 He died of puysoun, and his broþer regned for him.
1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 223 Some..will saye..Blacke Vellet, for blacke Veluet.
1611 Bible (King James) Luke xi. 11 Will he for a fish giue him a serpent? View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 49 Bacchus and..Ceres..gave us Corn for Mast, for Water Wine. View more context for this quotation
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the First 3 'Tis only Change of pain..Severer for severe.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 67 She could not..write..the count had written all that was wanting for her.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 208 For the old test..was substituted a new test.
1939 Mariner's Mirror 25 4 Errata: In the April 1938 issue, page 137..for dragnails read diagonals.
2012 Independent 27 Aug. 5/3 Legislation to make it mandatory to use polyunsaturated oils as a substitute for highly saturated cooking oils.
6. Expressing payment, purchase, recompense, sale, etc. Cf. in exchange for at exchange n. 1g.
a. Introducing a thing, such as a commodity, piece of work, misdemeanour, etc., on account of which a payment, fine, remuneration, etc., is made.Also following a verb, esp. in to pay for—— at pay v.1 Phrasal verbs.See also an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth).
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OE Genesis A (1931) 2071 Abraham sealde wig to wedde, nalles wunden gold, for his suhtrigan, sloh and fylde feond on fitte.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1140 Þe wise men..sahtlede sua ðat me sculde leten ut þe king of prisun for þe eorl & te eorl for þe king.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 143 I shall hafenn forr min swinnc. God læn.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 4331 Men gaf fiueten schillynges for a goos or a heen.
1542 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) To Nycholes for the byllet for the schyr and hys costis xv s.
1692 J. P. New Guide Constables 147 He that scours not his Ditches..shall forfeit 12 pence for every Rod so left unscoured.
1789 C. Durnford & E. H. East Rep. Cases King's Bench III. 467 The right of a seller to his goods, where he cannot receive payment for them.
1895 Bookman Oct. 17/2 The Duc d'Aumale's great work..for which some of us would gladly give all the novels ever written.
1997 Guardian 15 Aug. 14/2 Cosmonauts have contracts with incentive bonuses—reported to be £62 pounds for each day in orbit, and £620 for each space walk.
2006 Kent & Sussex Courier (Nexis) 11 Aug. 24 A man from Tonbridge has been fined £120..for failing to pay for a railway ticket.
b. Introducing a thing, typically a sum of money, given as remuneration, the price of something, etc. Frequently following verbs such as buy and sell.See also for the asking, for a song.
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OE Charter: Ealdorman Æðelred to Berkeley Abbey (Sawyer 218) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 21 And nu æft þæt ilce land æt Stoce þæt is twelf hida, ic sylle Cynulfe, Ceoluhtes suna, in ðreora manna dæg, for syxtigum mancesa clænes goldes.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15968 He selleþþ haliȝ gast forr fe. & biggeþþ helle pine.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 37 Hi habbeþ þri paneworþes of worke uor ane peny.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 9 Wan I by meit for money, I selle þe money þat þe toþer man bieþ.
1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16281) (imprint) The Imprinter to sell this Booke in Queres for two shillynges and sixe pence.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 70 I bought..a fat hen for two lires.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 44 To purchase..for Trifles, such as Beads, Toys, Knives, Scissars, Hatchets, bits of Glass, and the like; not only Gold Dust,..Elephants Teeth, &c. but Negroes.
1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 48 These three offices, of Pacha, Kadi, and Bishop,..might all be obtained for money.
1929 Times 8 Apr. 19/3 Sanction to dispose of a communion cup in their possession for $15,000 has been refused.
2008 Irish Times (Nexis) 1 Feb. 2 They handed over thousands of acres of woodland and pasture for a nominal sum.
c. In requital of (a good or bad deed, an act of service, etc.). Also: by way of amends for.See also tit for tat n., adv., and adj.
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OE Homily: Larspel & Scriftboc (Corpus Cambr. 421) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 244 Þæt we scylon..æfter þissum life for urum godum dædum mede onfon æt urum scyppende.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 63 Turne we to gode and beten for þat we hauen agilt.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1503 God..graunt ȝou ioye, for þe worchipe þat ȝe han wruȝt to me ȝore.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1977) l. 1797 Þus watȝ þat londe lost for þe lordes synne..þat defowled hade Þe ornementes of Goddeȝ hous þat holy were maked.
1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 107 That she giue vs something for our paines.
1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 151 Being found to yield considerably better than most other wheat, viz. somtimes twenty for one.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 129 Describe we next the Nature of the Bees, Bestow'd by Jove for secret Services. View more context for this quotation
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 209 A full punishment for all his misdeeds.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 869 Counsel..who should take nothing for their services.
1895 A. I. Shand Life E. B. Hamley I. ii. 21 He was very soundly thrashed for his pains.
1909 Eng. Hist. Rev. 24 397 The decree of Clement II which imposed a slight penance for consecration by a simonist.
1993 San Francisco Examiner 1 Aug. (Image section) 21/1 He was made an admiral for his efforts.
2013 Daily Tel. 6 Feb. 6/1 Exposing his lies over a speeding offence in revenge for him leaving her for a younger woman.
III. Senses relating to advocacy or support.
7.
a. In defence or support of; in favour of, on the side of. Frequently after words such as argument, case, vote. Opposed to against.See also Phrases 2a(a), to have (something, nothing, etc.) to say for oneself.
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OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) xiv. 14 Beoð eow stille, & Drihten fiht for eow.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 50 Se ðe nis ongen eow se is for eow.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 7 Heo sculen..bidden for heom deies and nihtes.
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1114 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 138 Fram Norehamptone bar he eode for holi churche to fiȝte.
a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 363 (MED) How shulde men fiȝte for a persone, þat þei witen not where he be a fend or tauȝt of God?
1677 T. Hobbes in tr. Homer Iliads (ed. 2) To Rdr. sig. A8v Homer indeed maketh some Gods for the Greeks and some for the Trojans.
1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. ii. vi Blinded contenders for monarchy.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 118. ⁋3 Take my Word for it she is no Fool.
1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins Voy. to South-seas Ded. 8 The Right Honourable Persons who will one Day determine for or against us.
1795 Hist. in Ann. Reg. 82 Fortune declared at last for the convention.
1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. ix. 168 You argue for it in vain.
1885 Law Rep.: Chancery Div. 30 13 I do not think that the cases..carry out the proposition for which he has cited them.
1939 Fortune Nov. 45/1 Now it is possible for the American to reject totalitarianism.., without positively deciding for Liberty, Justice, and the Rights of Man.
1977 National Geographic Apr. 498 (caption) The bridge where whites confronted blacks during the Selma-to-Montgomery march for black voting rights in 1965.
2001 B. Whitfield Extension of Franchise 235 The Liberation Society..campaigned for the abolition of tithes and church rates.
b. In honour of; (chiefly with verbs, and occasionally nouns, of naming or designating) in imitation or memory of, after (see also name v. 1c).
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the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > to the honour of [preposition] > in honour of
for1800
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1062 For þan duke Gualun, Wælsce men me heom hateð.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 213 Felisinda thus arriving here, for so was her name of blessed memory, Andrenio was much moved to hear her named for his Mother.
1719 N. F. Haym Brit. Treasury I. 86 They decreed and resolv'd to have no other King to govern them after Codrus except Jupiter, and erected a Statue for him with the Title of Jupiter Rex.
1800 H. Wells Constantia Neville I. 7 Louisa..had been named for the mother of Mr. Hayman.
1877 F. W. Seward Autobiogr. W. H. Seward 497 Steamboats were named after him; children christened for him.
1910 Town Talk (San Francisco) 10 Dec. 17/1 Miss Texas Guinan..was doubtless christened for her beloved native State.
1970 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Apr. 60 The name [Straitsville] is for the so-called ‘Straits’ nearby, where the Naugatuck River flows through a narrow defile.
2020 New Yorker 28 Sept. 37/2 The legal doctrine known as the Purcell principle, named for a Supreme Court case from 2006.
c. In exclamations, indicating the person, etc., favoured or praised. Hence: (with reference to cheering) in praise of. hey for ——: see hey int. 1b.
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1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden To Rdr. sig. Dv Yet you shall see me in two or three leaues hence, crie Heigh for our towne greene.
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 110 Did ride..Crying, hey for our town through the burrough.
1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer i. i. 3 Huzza then, huzza for the Queen, and the Honour of Shropshire.
1770 Trial W. Wemms 82 They took off their hats, and gave three cheers for the Main-guard.
1807 J. Stagg Misc. Poems (new ed.) 140 An hey for our town lads, stan' back, An' let's hev room to rally, We'll thump away till a' be black.
1820 J. S. Knowles Virginius i. i Cheer for him, if you are Romans.
1855 D. T. Shaw Britannia, Pride of Ocean 1 May the Service United ne'er sever, And both to their Colours prove true, The Army and Navy for ever! Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue!
1856 G. J. Whyte-Melville Kate Coventry ix The rustics huzzaed for their landlord.
1875 M. Thompson Hoosier Mosaics 54 ‘Hooray for the gal!’ cried a lusty youth.
1978 Time 3 July 1/3 Hooray for higher food prices... The American farm worker and farmer have subsidized the American dinner table long enough.
2019 A. Bhagwati Unbecoming xii. 221 Onlookers cheered for the..large formations of dress-blued Marines and soldiers in desert camouflage uniforms marching in unison.
IV. Expressing purpose or destination.
8.
a. With a view to; with the object or purpose of; as preparatory to.for company: see company n. Phrases 1a(a). See also for fun, for sale, for rent, what for.
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eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. v. 168 For leornunge haligra gewreota he wæs micelre tide in Ibernia Scotta ealonde wuniende.
OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xi. 4 Nys þeos untrumnys na for deaðe, ac for Godes wuldre.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 42 Þa Grickes hefden Troye mid teone bi-wonen..for þe wrake-dome of Menelaus quene..þa Paris Alixandre mid pret-wrenche bi-won.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 2889 Til wham þai ofte in gast apere..for warnyng of frendes þat lyefes.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxiv. 505 I byleve that god hathe sente theym to vs for our savynge.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxxx. 159 The Englyshmen neuer departed fro their batayls for chasynge of any man.
1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 40 The individual person set apart for the service of such a Church.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 99 I left the Iron Crow in the Wreck for next Day.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) III. xix. 95 [He] set sail..for the relief of Epidamnus.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 615 A considerable number of prisoners were immediately selected for execution.
1887 ‘L. Carroll’ Game of Logic ii. §6. 50 I have been out for a walk.
1901 R. Murray Hawick Characters 6 Ye waudna clean them for yer mother's burial, and ye'll no get them cleaned for yer wedding.
1960 W. Conton African xiv. 206 Not having had time to get my passport visaed for the journey.
2008 Daily Tel. 27 Nov. 27/4 A customer brought his faulty hi-fi amplifier in for repair so often, that we lent him a test meter to check his mains voltage.
b. For the purpose of being or becoming. Now chiefly in to go for a soldier. Now regional or archaic.
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1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 210 Berynge in theyr handes flowres and roses for a token.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 103 Whom to reserve for Husband of the Herd. View more context for this quotation
1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 11 He shall hear Reason; or, Wounds, I'll go for a Soldier.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House vii. 59 [He] went for a soldier, and never came back.
1885 G. Allen Babylon I. xiv. 287 I'm going to leave my place..and go for a pupil-teacher.
c1937 B. Anderson Interview in C. L. Perdue et al. Weevils in Wheat (1976) 10 I was born for a writer so I am going to wheel a pen.
1998 C. Harvie Scotl. & Nationalism (ed. 3) ii. 61 Scottish militarism gave the soldier a status he did not enjoy in England, where ‘going for a soldier’ implied a sort of social suicide.
c. Conducive to, beneficial to.
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a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. i. sig. A.iij To keepe the Queenes peace is more for his behoofe.
1664 J. Tillotson Wisdom of being Religious 31 It is for the general good of humane society.
c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 128 The Bishop does not care to stay long in this place not being for his health.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson I. Advt. p. x Such remarks as were greatly for the advantage of the Work.
1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 565 It is all for her good.
1951 L. P. Hartley My Fellow Devils xxxv. 376 Not believing what it would be for her own happiness to believe.
2017 ‘C. Lauren’ Autoboyography xx. 348 Why your tragedy is for the greater good, all in God's plan.
d. Chiefly British. In preparation for or anticipation of (the stated time of a dinner, a meeting, etc.).
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1834 Athenæum 19 Apr. 299/2 (advt.) Dinner on table at Half-past 5 for 6 precisely.
1855 Musical World 13 Jan. 32/2 (advt.) A Public Meeting will be held at the Beaumont Institution, Mile-End-Road, on Friday Evening, Jan. 19, 1855, at Half-past Seven for Eight o'clock.
1900 Athenæum 5 May 545/1 The Annual Dinner of the Society will take place on Wednesday, May 16..at 7, for 7.30 p.m.
1929 E. Wallace Iron Grip viii You can please yourself about accepting..No. 109 Grosvenor Place, and the hour is 7.30 for 8.
1970 ‘J. Burke’ Four Stars for Danger iii. 49 ‘Seven-thirty,’ he was saying, ‘for eight. Right?’
1997 XL for Men Aug. 70/3 Seven is a reasonable time to start. Don't bother with that seven for seven-thirty flimflam, no-one is ever quite sure what it means.
2012 Sc. Express (Nexis) 1 Sept. 50 Our reservation was at eight for eight-thirty, so we could peruse the menu over drinks in the drawing room.
9.
a. In order to obtain or secure. Frequently after verbs like ask, search, etc., or verbs implying motion, e.g. to go for, to send for, etc.: see the verbs. Also introducing an amount staked or a thing risked, such as one's life.to play for (a certain stake): see play v. 14b. (to be tried) for one's life: see life n. Phrases 2b(b). See also to run for one's life.
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OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) i. xii. 50 Him Bryttas sealdan..eardungstowe betwih him þæt hi for sibbe & hælo heora eðles campodon & wunnon wið heora feondum.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) 403-4 (MED) Follȝhenn rihhtwisnesse..Forr heofennlike mede.
c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 86 Te schal laði þi lif & bireowe þi sið þet tu eauer dudest te in to swuch þeowdom for worldliche wunne.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 788 Hauelok was war þat Grim swank sore For his mete, and he lay at hom.
a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) l. 362 He made..Massageres ryde..For dyvynoures and phylosophres wise, For such as weren famous physiciens And wel expert Astronomyens.
?1577 J. Northbrooke Spiritus est Vicarius Christi: Treat. Dicing 90 It is not lawfull to play for mony, to winne it, and purse it vp.
1611 Bible (King James) Prov. xxviii. 21 For a piece of bread that man will transgresse. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 141 Weary Proteus..Retir'd for Shelter to his wonted Caves. View more context for this quotation
1728 E. Young Love of Fame: Universal Passion (ed. 2) i. 50 What will not men attempt for sacred praise?
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. v. 99 After having fee'd very high for places at Mrs. Siddons's benefit.
1836 R. Southey in Q. Rev. Apr. 10 Major Beltran..had a narrow escape for his life.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 84 To bring a suit for this sum in the Court of King's Bench.
1883 Manch. Examiner 27 Nov. 5/5 The drawers..struck work for an advance of wages.
1948 Sunday Pictorial 29 Aug. 6/4 A prisoner will do anything for tobacco.
1958 J. Cannan And be Villain i. 36 Eve, you know the form—telephone for a doctor.
1994 Coin Collector Issue 8. 62 Those people who were gambling for large sums of money didn't use the same chips as you and I.
2020 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 16 Dec. a3/2 Once people receive an initial shot they will need to return to their care providers weeks later for an additional injection.
†b. In asseverations (in later use with the implication of a wager), e.g. for my life, for a ducat. Obsolete.
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c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) l. 110 For mi lif quoð hire feder þe schal laðin his luue for þu schalt beon ibeaten.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. i. sig. A.iijv I haue yond espied hym sadly comming, And in loue for twentie pounde, by hys glommyng.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 23 Dead for a Duckat.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. i. 47 Now for my life the knaue doth court my loue. View more context for this quotation
c. In exclamations emphasizing a negative statement, such as for my life, for my heart, for my soul, etc. (also for the life of me, etc.), whose sense varies between ‘if it were to save my life, (etc.)’, and ‘if I were to give my life, (etc.)’. Earliest (and now usually) in for (one's) life, for the life of me (see life n. Phrases 2b(a)).See also for (a person's) blood, for one's heart, for one's soul, one dare not for one's ears.
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c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 1078 He ne miȝte for his liue Iso þat man wiþ hire speke.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Lentulus in Panoplie Epist. 52 He had never had the audacitie and boldnesse for his hart, to set one foote forward into Syria.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 38 I..could not get him for my heart to do it. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. iii. 149 I dare not for my head fill my belly. View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 85. ¶1 I can't, for my Heart, leave a Room before I have thoroughly studied the Walls [etc.].
a1806 H. K. White Remains (1807) I. 27 You can't, for the soul of you, learn how to frown.
1951 D. Thomas Let. 31 Aug. (1987) 804 I had a foggy feeling..that you and I had fixed a date to meet, but, for the death of me, I couldn't remember if or no.
1999 F. D. Rast Don's Nam viii. 182 For the soul of me, I never know where you whities get your thoughts.
d. With non-referential it as object, following a verb or noun denoting rapid movement, forming expressions such as to bolt, dash, jump, swim for it; to make a dash, a bolt, a break for it. Recorded earliest in to run for it. See also to make a run for it.
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1642 W. Mountagu Let. (modernized text) in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 306 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 My Lord of Stamford..made them run for it, and took their arms away.
1648 D. Lloyd Legend Capt. Iones Continued 3 You must swim stoutly for't, or drink your fill.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 78 The Gunner was forced to fly for it, with about twenty two Men that stood to him.
1844 C. J. Lever Tom Burke II. lxix. 142 Lose no time now, but make a dash for it, and you'll get away.
1990 P. Matthiessen Killing Mister Watson (1991) 90 Give them varmints a bullet at the waterline, sink the old skiff and let 'em swim for it.
2005 J. Gavron Acre of Barren Ground 281 The rabbits would make a break for it and the boys would hit them with their sticks and everyone would eat coney stew for supper that night.
10. Indicating the object to which a faculty or feeling is directed. Frequently after verbs such as care, long, search, etc.; nouns such as an eye, genius, talent, taste, desire, love, etc.; and adjectives such as eager, watchful, etc. to be for: see Phrases 2a(f). now for, oh for: see Phrases 1e.
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OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxv. 302 Micel heap holdra freonda ure andbidað ðær, orsorh be him sylfum, carful gyt for ure hælðe [L. adhuc de nostra salute sollicita].
c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 47 He wule carie for hire, þet ha haueð itake to.
c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 119 (MED) Many þingis þe which shoulde be knowen be some tyme vnknowen, outhir be negligence to conne it, or be slownes in asking it, or be shame to serche for it.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. vi. f. xlviii Consider the birdes of the ayer: they sow not, they reape not, they lay not vp in barnes, carefull for tyme to come.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 131 Such a Zeal they have for flow'ry Sweets. View more context for this quotation
1796 J. Owen Trav. Europe I. lii. 265 A German baron, whose penchant for butterfly-hunting was extraordinary.
1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. III. 67 The free yeomanry, and the youth of the towns, have an eye for the right, and a heart for the true.
1887 E. C. Stedman Victorian Poets xi. 389 America, with her strange, pathetic, misunderstood yearning for a rightful share of the culture..of the older world.
1916 N.Y. Times 30 Apr. 14/4 Transportation companies are held responsible for the consignee signing a receipt attested by a notary public.
1935 J. Lindsay Runaway 201 Racking their brains, they sought for means by which they could trap the Moors without a hand-to-hand fight.
1981 Washington Post 18 Mar. a5/6 But old fears die hard, and the far right is ever-vigilant for signs of creeping Trilateralism within the citadel.
2015 Model Engineer 20 Feb. 280/2 (advt.) We share our customers' enthusiasm for their hobby—regularly posting pictures of their projects online on our company blog.
11. Before an infinitive.
a. In for to (formerly also † forto). Also in † for till (obsolete (Scottish in later use)).
(a) Indicating the purpose of an action: in order to. In later use archaic or regional (now chiefly Scottish and Irish English).
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lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Se kyng hit dide for to hauene sibbe of se eorl of Angeow & for helpe to hauene togænes his neue Willelm.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1006 All þeȝȝre lac wass swillc. & swillc Forr oþerr þing to tacnenn.
a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 187 Manie mannisshe folgeden ure drihte..for to isen his wunderliche deden.
c1240 ( Writ of Harold, Wells (Sawyer 1163) in S. E. Kelly Charters of Bath & Wells (2007) 248 Ich bidde eou alle þæt ge bien hym on fultume at þys cristendome, Godes yerichtten for to setten & to driuen.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 53 For to clense þe wounde, vse þe medicyn of mel roset.
c1425 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Harl.) 25 He bi gan to schake ys axe, for to smyte anon.
?a1525 (c1450) Christ's Burial & Resurrection i. l. 528 in F. J. Furnivall Digby Plays (1896) 189 What can þou saye, Thy-self for till excuse?
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xxviii. C He..maketh to moch haist for to be riche.
1578–1600 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 162 For till obscure thy light.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 86/1 A Billet is a piece of Cleft Wood for to Burn.
1748 G. Washington Jrnl. 8 Apr. in Writings (1889) I. 6 You must ride round ye back of ye Mountain for to get below them.
1774 A. Adams in J. Adams & A. Adams Familiar Lett. (1876) 41 Having only put off its present glory for to rise finally to a more happy state.
a1835 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 312 I have aye been wanting for till have an opportunity for till gie you as muckle as to buy the wedding gown.
1878 Scribner's Monthly Jan. 448 An' so, for to amuse he-se'f, he steamed some wood an' bent it.
1950 Forfar Disp. 2 Mar. I gaed doon tee fish-shop for tae see if I cud get rans tae my tea.
2001 M. Henry in M. Hickey Irish Days (2004) 219 And in my school, if you wanted to go on for to do the Service (Civil Service)..she'd have what she called an extra class.
(b) Preceding an infinitive in general functions. In later use archaic or regional (now chiefly Scottish and Irish English).
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a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 47 Is hit god for to hiheren godes weordes and heom athalden.
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 23 Þe eppel þet ich loke on is forbode me to etene & nout forto biholden.
c1300 St. Swithun (Harl.) l. 14 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 43 Seint swythin..swiþe ȝung bigan Forto seruie ihesu crist.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 717 Satanas..þoȝt þat ioy for-til stynt.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxxvi. 152 The kyng of Englande..wyst nat where for to passe the ryuer of Some, the which was large and depe.
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 328 (note) Blustring winds..make the Seas for to rage and roar.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 84 Birds, Beasts, Fishes, which it was unlawfull for to bring in at the foredoor.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. i. 220 I hope I am above being so unpitiful as for to owe her a grudge for it now she's so down in the mouth.
1819 J. Wilson Let. 20 Jan. in D. Palk Prisoners' Lett. Bank Eng. 1781–1827 (2007) 138 A poor femeal prisner who is now suffering for her faults and waiting for to leve her Native Country for the long periad of forteen years.
1898 S. MacManus Bend of Road 18 Don't you go for to tell me..that the Masther hadn't a notion, an' a mortal powerful notion, of the Widow's Mary.
1990 S. Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 65 Then een aifterneen, he spotted Violet and started for tae chat her up.
2001 M. Henry in M. Hickey Irish Days (2004) 219 But it would be only the brightest that would be picked for that. If they were able for to do it.
b. With bare infinitive. See also fi prep. Now regional (chiefly U.S. regional, Hawaiian, and West African).
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a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) l. 182 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 225 Brecð nafre eft crist helle dure for lesen hem of bende.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) l. 53 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 163 Þo þe er doð eni God for [a1200 Trin. Cambr. for to, a1225 Digby to, a1300 McClean uor] habben godes are.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6642 Ich æm icumen þe þus næh. for muchelere neode for suggen þe tiðende.
1455–6 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 97 A buyschel of schyryds for make cole.
1829 T. Tenney Female Quixotism II. viii. 84 Let me make noise fuss, for fright away ghos.
1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron 69 How you been ax me for sing, Maus Lewis? Me an't got no voice for sing.
1887 J. C. Harris Free Joe & Other Georgian Sketches 89 It make yo' blood run col' fer lissen at 'im.
1971 Okike Dec. 11 Awrighto. Now make we talk business. We no be bad tief. We no like for make trouble. Trouble done finish.
1990 B. Bryson Mother Tongue ii. 28 In Hawaiian creole the person who bought a shirt would say, ‘I bin go store go buy shirt’, while the person who failed to buy a shirt would say, ‘I bin go store for buy shirt.’
12. Indicating appropriateness, suitability, or appointment.
a. Following a verb, adjective, or qualitative noun, introducing the thing or activity for which something is appropriate, suitable, appointed, designed, etc.good for: see good adj. 8a. ready for: see ready adj. 6d. sufficient for: see sufficient adj. 1b.
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a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 73 It wanted nouȝt..þat þei ne fond him as faire as for here state longed, & þe beter, be ye sure.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 1 Deth withouten ende, the whiche was ordeyned for vs.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 296 (MED) Here we xal Asay If þe cros for þe be mete.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV Introd. f. ix Henry duke of Lancastre..a prince apt for a kyngdom.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxj The vesture appoincted for that ministracion.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias ii. 5 To put himselfe in a readinesse for that voiage.
1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) iii. 60 Fitter for a large Inne than a Lady's Chamber.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 9 Loaded with Baggage and fitted out for travelling.
1764 S. Foote Patron ii. 53 Robinson Crusoe is advertis'd for this evening.
1789 W. Blake Ecchoing Green in Songs of Innocence Many sisters and brothers, Like birds in their nest, Are ready for rest.
1816 J. Austen Emma I. v. 74 Very fit for a wife, but not at all for a governess. View more context for this quotation
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) III. xxii. 247 Quite sufficient for his purpose.
1840 Peter Parley's Ann. 54 What is a clock good for?
1893 Field 18 Feb. 225/3 The club's opening day..is set for April 22.
1966 K. Tynan Let. 28 June (1994) vi. 356 She is a buxom Negress, built for wrestling, who performs the first and only Black power strip I have ever seen.
1997 Security Specifier Oct. 9/1 (advt.) Recording over old material..will compromise a tape's acceptability for evidential purposes.
2014 Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) (Nexis) 27 Aug. Suppl. 7 Events planners can note Melton Estate is well set up for corporate events.
b. Following a noun phrase: appropriate or suitable for, appointed or designed for, assigned or allocated to. Also predicatively: see Phrases 2a(b).minister for foreign affairs, etc.: see minister n. 6a. See also to be a match for, not to be long for this world.
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a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 294 Clothed in comly cloþing for any kinges sone.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (1870) l. 3411 This Nicholas..dooth ful softe vn to his chambre carie Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye.
1469 in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 102 Item, xii cade sprattes for Lente season.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. v. sig. Kvjv/1 There is mention made..of Hospitals for olde men, of spittles for beggars.
1634 W. Wood New Englands Prospect i. xii. 52 Here likewise must not be forgotten all vtensils for the Sea, as Barbels, splitting-knives, Leads, and Cod-hookes, and Lines.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. v. 64 Sea-Carriages are made less, as the Block-maker that makes them hath Rules for.
1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia Generalis 475/1 We had half a loaf; Dainty broth; Good Porridge indeed; A new laid egg; A veal pie; Collops and Eggs, for dinner.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 250 The sheets, a term for various ropes.
1840 Peter Parley's Ann. 55 Do you know it is time for school?
1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 68 The momentous questions which have interest only for noble souls.
1885 Manch. Examiner 22 Sept. 5/3 The old law making hanging the inevitable penalty for murder.
1897 H. G. Wells Invisible Man ix. 74 Here..is an outcast like myself. This is the man for me.
1916 Econ. Jrnl. 26 410 An interesting criticism of W. Johnson's article in the Economic Journal for December, 1913.
1972 N.Y. Times 5 Nov. x. 3/1 There is no word for hotel in the language of the Inupiat Eskimos of northern Alaska.
2012 National (Abu Dhabi) (Nexis) 11 Aug. If one fasts, one gets the reward for fasting.
c. Following an adjective or adverb modified by too, enough, etc. with the sense ‘to require’, ‘to allow’, ‘to constitute’, etc.
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1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 7v So that he [sc. a bow] be..spedye ynough for far casting.
1610 J. Boys Expos. Dominical Epist. & Gospels 123 Winter daies are too short for hunting.
1624 T. Adams Temple 21 God is too infinite for the comprehension of our soules, why should we then labour to bring him into the narrow compasse of bords & stones?
1807 W. Wordsworth Ode in Poems II. 158 Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. View more context for this quotation
1832 Westm. Rev. 17 82 The passages..are too frequent for quotation.
1888 J. Payn Myst. Mirbridge I. xvii. 192 ‘A show-place’—as country mansions important enough for exhibition are called.
1983 M. G. Lindley in T. H. Grenby et al. Devel. Sweeteners—2 viii. 238 Stevioside is sufficiently stable for incorporation into all types of food systems.
2002 H. Marshall in S. E. Porter & A. R. Cross Dimensions Baptism i. 20 It is possible that the river may not have been deep enough for immersion.
13. Indicating destination.
a. Introducing the intended recipient, or the thing to which something is intended to belong, or in connection with which it is to be used.
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a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 2029 In the Monthe of Maii..This kyng..Hath for himself his Charr araied, Wher inne he wolde ride amaied Out of the Cite forto pleie.
1411 Rolls of Parl.: Henry IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1411 §13. m. 14 Certein commune of pasture..whiche the sayd lord..claymes for hym self and his tenantz.
1551 W. Turner New Herball sig. F vv Byrche..is good to make..twygges for baskettes.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. xxi. 27 Were set up 2 faire pavillions, the one for him..the other for the Ambassador.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. i. 117 Madam, they are for you. View more context for this quotation
a1640 P. Massinger Bashful Lover v. i. 48 in 3 New Playes (1655) Your Bottles too, that I carry For your own tooth?
1660 Act 12 Chas. II c. 4 Sched. at Boxes French boxes for Marmelade or Gelly.
1759 Idler 3 Feb. 33 The Idler holds the shield for Virtue, as well as the glass for Folly.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. iv. 253 She came running into Cecilia's room, saying she had very good news for her. ‘A charming opening!’ cried Cecilia, ‘pray tell it me.’
1836 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 518/1 For this group of animals M. D'Haan has proposed the name of Asiphonoidia.
1839 C. Sinclair Holiday House xii. 281 He bought gowns for all the maids.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 20 He had..secured for himself a place in history.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 413 A fireproof chamber for the muniments.
1932 A. Johannsen Descr. Petrogr. Igneous Rocks II. 63 The term orthorhyolite was originally suggested in 1919 for rhyolites whose only feldspar is potassic.
1992 Daily Mirror TV Weekly 3 Oct. 13/1 Bea and Evie accept a commission to design costumes for a ballet company.
2010 Independent 8 Oct. 53/4 Next he created a waterproof, airtight lid for his plastic container.
b. In order to arrive at or reach; with the purpose of going to or towards, in the direction of. Now chiefly after verbs denoting the start of a journey, such as depart, leave, sail, set off, start, or the action of directing movement, such as bear away, head, steer; also after the adjective bound. †Formerly sometimes after go, journey, travel, etc., and after verbs of decision, such as intend, resolve.to be for: see Phrases 2a(d). See also to be getting on for, going on for, to make for —— 3 at make v.1 Phrasal verbs 2.
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1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 36 She asked whi they were departed for the kynges courte.
1595 F. Drake Will in J. G. Nichols & J. Bruce Wills Doctors' Commons (1863) 77 Her Majesties fleete nowe in service for the west Indyes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iii. 71 For England Cosen, goe. View more context for this quotation
1646 H. Markham Let. in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 2 [I am] most certainly informed that hee is at Newcastle and intends for France.
1661 A. Marvell Let. 12 Jan. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 17 Mr Mabbot..is shortly to goe for Ireland.
1718 J. Addison Remarks Italy (ed. 2) 4 We sailed from hence directly for Genoa.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 303 We resolved for Newark.
1763 J. Wesley Jrnl. 20 Aug. (1827) III. 138 We concluded to try for Larn, though we knew not the way.
1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship ix. 42 The curb broke, and he [sc. a horse] ran straight on for the cliffs.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 83 His frosted breath..seem'd taking flight for heaven, without a death.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. i. 7 They rowed away for Crowland.
1879 R. W. Church Spenser i. 9 Spenser was sixteen or seventeen when he left school for the University.
1885 Manch. Examiner 12 Mar. 4/6 Lord Reay left London yesterday for India.
1949 ‘M. Innes’ Journeying Boy iv. 39 So might the earth's first space-traveller exclaim as his rocket took off for the moon.
1993 E. Mavor Captain's Wife Introd. p. xi Captain Graham and his wife set out for Brazil in the 42-gun frigate Doris.
14. Indicating result or effect; following words such as cause, ground, motive, reason, etc.
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1531 W. Tyndale Answere Mores Dialoge f. xc And finally I haue better reasons for my felynge that ye pope is antichrist then M. More hath for his endeuorynge him selfe & captiuinge his wittes yt he is ye true church.
1536 in G. P. McNeill Exchequer Rolls Scotl. (1897) XVI. 539 The samin salbe of nane availe..and speciale cause for retractioun thairof.
1670 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 143 No smoke without some fire, i.e. There is no strong rumour without some ground for it.
1760 C. Johnstone Chrysal II. ii. viii. 210 My motive for writing to you so pressingly to come to me.
1856 Manch. Guardian 4 Dec. 4/2 The reason for his suspension was that he had charged 4s. in one case; 2s. for the message, and the same sum for the reply message.
1951 S. Spender World within World iv. 247 Political exigence was never a justification for lies.
1992 Economist 22 Feb. 105/1 He sees grounds for hope in Spain's new liberalism.
2003 Brit. Jrnl. Hist. Sci. 36 90/2 Spatiality..is a necessary condition for there being such a thing as science (or art or the market economy or football).
15.
a. Indicating an amount to be received or paid. Cf. sense A. 6. See also good for (good adj. 26c(a)).
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1577 D. Gray Store-house Breuitie in Woorkes Arithemetike iii. f. 82v I demaund how much Turnois or Frenche money paieth the bills for the saide 100. li. starlyng.
1776 Trial Maha Rajah Nundocomar for Forgery 23/2 Bollakey Doss drew a draught on Benares..for a lack of rupees.
c1800 Authentic Mem. from Jrnl. King of Swindlers 239 He wished to retrieve his loss;—lent him another cheque for fifty.
1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 159 [He] sent the author a bank-bill for £100.
1960 P. Larkin Sel. Lett. (1992) 322 I also enclose a cheque for £9, dated for 1st December as I have made up my accounts for November.
1994 New Scientist 5 Nov. 5/1 One of Vodafone's customers in east London received a massive August phone bill for £358.08.
b. Cricket. Used to indicate the number of runs scored by a team or conceded by a bowler, or the number of wickets lost by a team in scoring a specified total.The use indicating the number of wickets lost is not standard in Australia, where scores are given as the number of wickets for the total of runs (see quot. 1936, and cf. quot. 2022).
Π
1735 Gen. Evening Post 17 June The second Innings of the Country, the first four were out for 10 Notches.
1882 Durham Univ. Jrnl. 8 July 47/1 City 102 for eight wickets, when rain came on.
1936 Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 Dec. 8/6 Colts, 8 for 299 (declared), and 2 for 120 v. South Brisbane, 260.
1977 World of Cricket Monthly June 88/3 They were all out for 133.
1994 Barbados Advocate 10 Aug. 40/4 Gittens who took two for four, brought victory for Barbados with McKenzie's dismissal.
2022 CANA News (Nexis) 6 Aug. Set to resume from their overnight 165 for three, two protracted rain breaks..frustrated the hosts before they ended the day on 263 for five.
V. Expressing advantage or disadvantage.
16.
a. With the purpose or result of benefiting or gratifying; as a service to; so as to help.Frequently after verbs such as pray.See also to be there for, to see for oneself.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > for the benefit or advantage of [preposition]
forec900
forOE
fornea1325
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) iii. 201 On deaðe he wæs geset, & þeah he bæd mid soðre lufe for his cwellerum.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 22 Þe eareste fiue [Psalmes]. for ouseolf & for alle þet ou god doð.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 33 Þat he þeos soðfeste word segge..for his fader saule.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 5 Þis boc is ywrite uor englisse men, þet hi wyte hou hi ssolle ham-zelue ssriue.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 21 He to prey for my soule at euery meel, mete, or sopeer.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. i. 66 If't be so, For Banquo's Issue haue I fil'd my Minde. View more context for this quotation
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes v. Ded. 406 Leave me not to shift for my selfe.
1645 J. Milton Passion ii, in Poems 17 Dangers..Which he for us did freely undergo.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland 118 If he sees convenient he may set up for himself.
1706 J. Savage tr. R. de Piles Art of Painting 375 He drew his Picture for him at several sittings.
1816 Ld. Byron Parisina iii, in Siege of Corinth 65 They only for each other breathe.
1904 M. Weston Pamela's Choice x. 112 If ever there is anything I can do for you, you will only have to ask me.
1966 H. Davies New London Spy (1967) 23 Pages who will exercise your pets for you in the Park across the road.
2021 New Yorker 4 Jan. 62/1 Occasionally, she..translated for him an obscure term in Sakalava dialect.
b. Used ironically in expressions denoting a punitive or detrimental act.
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1667 S. Pepys Diary 22 Apr. (1974) VIII. 176 Thence home, and find the boy out of the house and office..I did pay his coat for him.
a1704 T. Brown Lett. from Dead (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) II. ii. 168 Believing for some Reasons he had an underhand design of Liquoring his Boots for him.
1731 C. Coffey & J. Mottley Devil to Pay iv. 16 To Work, to Work, come and spin, you Drab, or I'll tan your Hide for you.
?1856 F. E. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship liii. 388 It would have been a mercy if I hadn't broken some of his bones for him.
1937 K. A. Porter Let. 29 Sept. (1990) iii. 152 I hope I do not ruin this letter for you by enclosing a little vetivert; add this to the smells in the street.
2000 S. King On Writing 141 Don't tell that to the parent of a child mauled by a pit bull or rottweiler; he or she is apt to bust your beak for you.
17. As affecting the interests or condition of (a person or thing), whether for good or evil. Chiefly after adjectives, nouns of quality, or adverbs.to augur well (also ill, badly) for: see augur v. 4.
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1537 Bible (Matthew's) Psalms cxviii. [cxix]. 71 It is good for me that I haue bene in trouble.
1632 J. Story tr. Short Surv. Sweden 7 Grain, butter, cheese, and such other commodities usefull for the life of man.
1760 R. Brown Compl. Farmer: Pt. 2 68 Wool-nippings..are beneficial for lands.
1883 Daily News 22 Sept. 4/6 This..bodes ill for the peace of Europe.
1891 Sir. A. Wills in Law Times 91 233/2 Things had..begun to look badly for all concerned.
1953 Life 8 June 41/2 (advt.) Lanolin Plus Liquid is also beneficial for youthful skin because it supplies the esters and cholesterols, closest duplications to Nature's own skin lubricants.
1998 Chicago Tribune 6 July ii. 6/2 The Asian crisis is terrible for Asia and bad for us in the long run.
VI. Expressing attributed or assumed character.
18.
a. As being, as equivalent to, in the character of. Now chiefly restricted to use with certain verbs and in set phrases.Used especially to introduce the complement after copular verbs, where as, as being, or to be may generally be substituted: see, e.g., have v. 5a, hold v. 12d, know v. 11c, mistake v. 7, pass v. 43a, to take for —— 1c at take v. Phrasal verbs 2.
(a) With a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase as complement. Often following with + a noun, with the sense ‘having a —— as a ——’.to beg (a person) for a fool: see beg v. 5a. (to know) for a fact: see fact n., int., and adv. Phrases 5. to see (a person) for what he (or she) is: see see v. 3c(b). not to take no for an answer: see no adv.2 1c.
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OE Beowulf (2008) 1175 Þæt þu ðe for sunu wolde hereri[n]c habban.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Deut. (Claud.) xxxi. 20 Þonne forlætað hi me..& tellað min wedd for naht.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 387 Þatt mann hemm hallt forr gode menn.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 2991 Þis word was for dom yholde.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 219 He is i-preysed for a parfite techere of philosofie.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 110 Þer ben but vj. boonys, whanne þat þou rekenest as [read os] coronale for oon boon.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxxxiv. 265 Know for trouth that..god loueth fayth.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iii. iii. sig. D.iiij He vaunteth him selfe for a man of prowesse greate.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 446 The Englishe Ambassadours receyuing this for aunswere, tooke their leaue.
1644 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 78 Celebrated in France for the best in the kingdom.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 256 You'll be hanged for a Pirate.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 40 That distance went for nothing.
1824 Ld. Byron Deformed Transformed iii. i. 55 'Twas sport..To go forth, with a pine For a spear, 'gainst the mammoth.
1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters ii. ii. 71 The pines look down upon the rest for underwood.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues ii. 23 Marcelle must have figured me for a fly cat too, and her curiosity was aroused.
1951 A. Hirschfeld Show Business is No Business 47 A schmendrick with a noodle for a brain.
2005 N. Hornby Long Way Down 215 I never pegged you for a quitter.
(b) With an adjective as complement. Now chiefly in set expressions, as in to give a person up for lost, to leave a person for dead, to take for granted, etc. for certain, for fair, for ordinary, for real, for short, for sure, etc.: see the second element.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxvii. 403 Æne he wæs gestæned oð deað, swa ðæt þa ehteras hine for deadne leton.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9721 Forr ði þatt wherrfedd follc hemm hallt Forr gode. & forr rihhtwise.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (1872) §2162 Thre of his olde foos..leften hire for deed.
c1405 (c1380) G. Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (1875) l. 457 We that knowen thilke name so ffor vertuous, we may it nat withseye.
a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 136 (MED) I holde it for vndouted þat the people off his lande woll be well wyllunge.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius iii. f. 462v Historyes do report..that some of those Ashes be at Genes..and some at Rome..will our religious Reliquary defend these for true, being so manifestly false?
1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman 209 Can any one whose iudgement is not blinded,..esteeme that Person for honourable, whose [etc.]?
1686 J. Goad Astro-meteorologica iii. i. 377 He must be very Resty that will not allow it for probable at least.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii, in Fables 74 He quiver'd with his Feet, and lay for Dead.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron II. vi. xxx. 111 Admitted for morally certain.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 16 Laniska's friends..gave the young man up for lost.
1846 Brackenridge's Mod. Chivalry (rev. ed.) I. xxiii. 114 You are welcome, Sir, if you wish to stop..though since my old man's time, we don't take in strangers for common.
1858 C. Patmore Betrothal ix, in Angel in House (ed. 2) I. 112 I..blamed the print for old.
1886 Locomotive Firemen's Mag. Feb. 109/1 The long lost Sullivan, (P. H.), of North Platte has been heard from. Verily, Pat, we had given you up for gone.
1996 H. Fielding Bridget Jones's Diary (1997) 10 Bridget! We'd almost given you up for lost!..Just about to start without you.
2004 M. St. Amant Committed (2005) x. 99 Picking up a hitchhiker, robbing him, duct-taping his mouth shut, and leaving him for dead.
(c) In curses, such as damn you for a stupid bastard. Now archaic.
Π
1683 J. Zeale Narr. Phanatical Plot 2 She reply'd, I believe I shall see you in Newgate for your Plotting-contriving-tricks and Roguery; said he, Damn you for a Bitch, how dare you talk so impudently to Doctor Oates and Captain Bedlow?
1702 S. Centlivre Beau's Duel iii. 31 Damn him for a Cowardly Blockhead.
1752 W. Goodall Adventures Capt. Greenland II. iv. xi. 94 G—d confound you for a Rogue!
1888 J. M. Allan Lady's Four Perils I. iv. 59 Blast you for a couple o' cowards. Ain't we three more'n a match for two men servants, let alone my barkers?
1965 B. Friel Philadelphia, here I come! in Sel. Plays (1984) 38 Damn you, anyhow, for a bloody stupid bastard!
1996 J. Feather Vice 73 Oh, be damned to you for a Judasly rogue!
b. Indicating the occasion on which something is occurring, with its place in a series specified by an ordinal numeral or last, final, etc., e.g. for the first time, for the second time, for the last time. See also for the nth time.
ΚΠ
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. iv. xxix. 41 In Tacking for the first time after the Pruning.
1718 R. Bradley Gentleman & Gardeners Kal. 93 Clip for the second time Box Edgings.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall VI. lxvi. 431 (note) He [Aldus] printed above sixty considerable works of Greek literature, almost all for the first time.
1863 C. E. L. Riddell World in Church III. 253 Is he a man likely to fall in love for a second time?
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. 399 That they may converse with Socrates for the last time.
1930 W. M. Mann Wild Animals in & out of Zoo xvi. 202 An opportunity for the only time in our history of exhibiting a Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
1971 S. Howatch Penmarric (1972) iv. v. 454 I was just discussing the subject with Walter for the umpteenth time.
2017 Herald Sun (Austral.) (Nexis) 18 Dec. 36 Before the curtain draws for the final time I've got to look into the faces of the people who put me here in the first place.
VII. Expressing the cause or reason.
19. By reason of, under the influence of (a feeling or subjective condition); in, with, or out of. Now chiefly in phrases such as jump for joy, weep for joy, blush for shame (cf. for shame).
Π
OE Beowulf (2008) 338 Wen ic þæt ge for wlenco, nalles for wræcsiðum ac for higeþrymmum, Hroðgar sohton.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1101 Ægðer ge for heoran [read heora] agenan mycelan ungetrywðan & eac þurh þone eorl Rodbert of Normandig.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 17 He..ȝef us seodðan ane muchele ȝef for his muchele eadmodnesse.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2053 He wax neiȝh out of wit for wraþ þat time.
c1425 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Harl.) 58 He by gan hym by þenche, And hys wraþþe toward þe kyng, for drede of þe erl, quenche.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 72 Boldere to synne for trust of þe mercy of god.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xvi. sig. Z4v Like the poore childe, whose father while he beates him, will make him beleeue it is for loue.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 143 Our Men raised a Shout for Joy.
1802 Noble Wanderers II. 32 Arsaces, panting for rage, had already grasped his poniard.
1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 776 They had, for pure wantonness, set fire to some of the houses.
1911 F. H. Burnett Secret Garden xv. 158 She clasped her hands for pure joy and looked up in the sky and it was so blue and pink and pearly and white and flooded with springtime light.
1995 J. Banville Athena 112 I almost laughed for fright.
2017 L. Singh How to be Bawse xxxiv. 211 I jumped for joy when I found out Dwayne Johnson would be doing a signing in my city.
20.
a. Because of, on account of.In some contexts, such as sorry for, with admixture of sense A. 10.
(a) With a person or people as object. Now in a limited range of collocations, such as grateful for, pity for.
ΚΠ
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xx. 3 Efne ðu scealt sweltan nu Abimalech, for þam wife ðe þu name.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7216 Þin hired þe hateð for me & ich æm iuæid for þe.
?a1300 Dame Sirith l. 175 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 8 Wiþ muchel hounsele [= misery] ich lede mi lif, And þat is for on suete wif Þat heiȝtte margeri.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms xxvi. 11 Dresse me in a riȝt path for myn enemys.
1549 in J. G. Nichols Chron. Grey Friars (1852) 62 The cause was for them that rose in Essex.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King Lear (1623) ii. ii. 229 Thou ishalt [sic] haue as many Dolors for thy Daughters.
a1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Æsacus transformed into Cormorant in J. Dryden Wks. (1808) XII. 155 His ceaseless sorrow for the unhappy maid Meagred his look, and on his spirits preyed.
1879 A. Trollope Eye for Eye II. vii. 234 Though her heart melted with no ruth for the woman,..though pity for Kate O'Hara did not influence her, she did acknowledge the sanctity of a gentleman's word.
2006 Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News (Nexis) 23 Nov. g1 I am grateful for my in-laws, Eric and Dixie, kind, considerate and loving.
(b) With a thing as object. Now especially after nouns and adjectives referring to esteem and gratitude such as famous, reputation, thankful, etc.for cause that, for cause of, for my (his, etc.) cause: see cause n. 6. for love: see love n.1 Phrases 1c.Some adjectives formerly followed by for now take other prepositions, such as of; e.g. glad of, proud of.
ΚΠ
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Exod. (Claud.) xviii. 9 Ða wæs Gethro bliðe for eallum ðam godum ðe Drihten dyde Israhela folce.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 17 Þine frond þu luuest for þam goddede þe he þe deð.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 25 Þei shulden not be aferd for perelis.
c1425 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Harl.) 113 Ac for ȝoure coming ich am glad.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) xxxvii. 60 The one is prowde for his scyence.
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iv. xii. 390 Faith herein will make us thankfull for all manner of prosperity.
1718 J. Addison Remarks Italy (ed. 2) 4 The Gulf..is..remarkable for Tempests.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 38 A mother respected..for her feminine virtues.
1836 J. Baillie Let. 30 Nov. (1999) II. ix. 661 His parishioners..loved him for his active benevolence and the good he did amongst them.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 308 Notorious both for covetousness and for parsimony.
1924 A. MacLeish Let. 3 Aug. (1983) 144 I am so dreadfully sorry for these upsets she has been having.
1995 Fine Cooking Feb. 84/3 Hawaiian red salt is interesting for its color, but its flavor is unremarkable.
2020 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 18 Aug. c2/4 But the show..was notable for simply depicting Black urban life on television at all.
†b. On account of one's regard for. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Dream of Rood 113 Se ðe for dryhtnes naman deaðes wolde biteres onbyrigan, swa he ær on ðam beame dyde.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) l. 23 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 161 Þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6600 Ich bad hine for Gode [c1300 Otho for lofue of God] don þat child of hade.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iii. l. 170 To be maried for monye mede hath a-sented.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 981 I leeue þe proloug for shortnes.
1694 T. Ken Morning & Evening-Hymn in New-Year's Gift 113 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 46 Lycoris..for thy Rival tempts the raging Sea.
c. In adjurations: for the sake of. Now chiefly in for shame: see shame n. Phrases 6b. Somewhat archaic.See also for mercy!, for pity.
ΚΠ
eOE Metres of Boethius (transcript of damaged MS) (2009) i. 64 Sende ærendgewrit ealdhlafordum degelice, and hi for drihtne bæd ealdum treowum ðæt [etc.].
OE Blickling Homilies 213 Sum þearfa..bæd him þa for Gode hrægles & ælmessan.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 30 Nu biddeð Laȝamon alcne æðele mon for þene almiten Godd..þet he [etc.].
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. ii. l. 54 Ich fraynede hure faire þo, for hym þat hure made.
a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) l. 1782 Mercy, Richard, for Mary maid!
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. ii. 75 God for his mercy! what treachery is here? View more context for this quotation
1820 Ld. Byron Blues ii. 64 Lady Blueb. Oh fie! Miss Lil. And for shame!
1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in Lamia & Other Poems 18 For pity do not melt!
2016 L. Erdrich LaRose 264 Let's give it to the one who tried to steal my husbands, all six of them, one right after the other one. She tried to snatch away the fathers of my children by jiggling her stuffs at them! For shame!
d. In exclamations, chiefly of pain or sorrow, esp. alas for. Now archaic or literary.
Π
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 1756 Allas for..Sir Harald, for him was mikelle reuth; fulle wele his awen suld hald if he had kept his treuth.
a1425 in Poems L. Minot (1914) App. ii. 104 We for his Ending!
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxii. 280 Alas for my master..That yester-euen..Before Caiphas was broght!
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) ii. i. sig. C.iijv Ah for these long nights, heyhow, when will it be day?
1610 Bible (Douay) II. Joel i. 15 Crie ye to our Lord: A a a, for the day.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. 81 But I have not found it so, Alas for me.
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol iii. 90 Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch.
1996 L. Al-Hafidh Europe: Rough Guide (ed. 3) ii. xxii. 1029 Alas for the Saxons, their citadels were no protection against the tide of history, which eroded their influence after the eighteenth century.
21.
a. Indicating the direct cause of a condition or action: in consequence of, due to the effect of. Now chiefly after comparatives.Other constructions are now usually formed with prepositions such as from, of, or through.See also the worse for, —— would be none the worse for, the worse for wear. Also in for want of: see want adj. and n.2 Phrases 1.
Π
OE Blickling Homilies 111 Vton we þonne georne teolian þæt we æfter þon ðe beteran syn & þe selran for ðære lare ðe we oft gehyrdon.
OE Ælfric Homily: De Falsis Diis (Corpus Cambr. 178) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 681 Sume hi gelyfdon on fyr for his færlicum bryne.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13885 Þa eorðe gon beouien. for þan vnimete blase.
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 35 For þine wle lete Wel oftich mine song forlete.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 101 & þou fyndist a man hauynge þe crampe for a wounde.
a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 349 (MED) Scarioth was þe worse for beyng in þis holi cumpanye.
a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. xl. f. lx/1 For the grete hete of the sonne, She hadde the febres or axes.
a1500 Roberd of Cisyle (Cambr. Ff.2.38) (1879) l. 218 Bettur he were..So to do þen for hunger dye.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 11 For defaute of such issue to remaigne to oure Soveraigne Lorde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. xiiii To die for thirst standyng in the riuer.
1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) at Vetustas He lacketh teeth for age.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper ii. 121 For the abundance of milk she [the cow] did give, the owner might eate butter.
1718 F. Hutchinson Hist. Ess. conc. Witchcraft Ded. p. xi Her Chin and her Knees meeting for Age.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ix. 128 In this very room a debtor of his..died for want.
1850 T. T. Lynch Memorials Theophilus Trinal v. 84 Shall we be the brighter spirits for being the duller men?
1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 103 They breathed the easier for the news.
1927 Nation & Athenæum 11 June 349 (advt.) Whether you are on the river, in the car, or away in a country cottage, you will be all the happier for the companionship of the best portable gramophone in the world.
2011 New Statesman 11 July 50/2 The collection does not take flight or do magic, but..is..all the better for its relative sobriety.
†b. Indicating means: by means of, by, through. Obsolete.
Π
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xvii. 140 Se wæs gecyrred to geleafan for þæs ylcan fæder lare Benedictes [L. eiusdem Benedicti patris fuerat admonitione conuersus].
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2198 Horse ne hounde for non hast ne miȝt him of-take.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16567 Þeþen moght þai for na might it stere a fote o strete.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Squire's Tale (Hengwrt) (1874) l. 184 Ther may no man out of the place it dryue ffor noon engyn of wyndas or polyue.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xx. 313 Thei..assembled as moche peple as thei myght..somme for preyer and some be force.
22. Of a preventive cause or obstacle.
a.
(a) In spite of, notwithstanding. In later use only as in sense A. 22a(b).
Π
eOE Laws of Ælfred (Corpus Cambr. 173) v. 50 Gif hie [sc. cirican] fahmon geierne oððe geærne, þæt hine seofan nihtum nan mon ut ne teo..gif he for hungre libban mæge, buton he self utfeohte.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 12 Þet hit ne forwurðe naut, for wa þet me do me, ne for wele nowþer.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1226 Þe ȝong kene kniȝtes..rescuede him rediliche for rinkes þat him ladden.
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. eijv Forrgeet not this lession for thyng that may fall.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxvi. 341 And for thyng that be may, Kepe hym well vnto the thryd day.
(b) for all: (followed by a noun phrase) despite all ——; (sometimes simply, without the universal sense of all) despite. Similarly † for any: despite any —— (obsolete).See also for all this (also that) at Phrases 1a(a).
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OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.i) anno 1011 Þonne nam mon frið & grið wið hi, & naþelæs, for eallum þissum griðe & gafole, hi..heregodon ure earme folc.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) l. 1040 Ah for al his forbode nes hit þet te bodies neren ifatte iþe niht ant feire biburiet.
a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 32 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 120 Wrmes sal ete mi [read þi] wite þrote for al þi riche parage.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 2842 For alle þan craftes þat hii wid-houte couþe..ne mihte hii of Rome-wal noþing awelde.
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) l. 1001 (MED) For al þat heuer he miȝte do, His menesoun miȝt nowt staunche tho.
c1390 King of Tars (Vernon) l. 1108 in Englische Studien (1889) 11 61 He..smot him so for al his scheld.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Physician's Tale (Hengwrt) (1872) l. 129 This mayde shal be myn for any man.
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 8058 (MED) Loue him she wold for ony drede.
c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) l. 12872 With opyn batell wende wyll I and dyng hym doun for all his dyn.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. liij But for all that he could do, he lost almoste. ccc. of his fotemen.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias lv. 117 b Their ships were driuen on shore, for all their Ankors.
1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy ii. i. 26 I shall go near to out-trick your Ladyship for all your Politick Learning.
1681 H. More Plain Expos. Daniel iii. 68 This Alexander the Great for all his greatness died.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xv. 28 Sit still, Pamela,..and mind your Work, for all me.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 83 The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold.
1870 D. G. Rossetti Poems 69 I was a moody comrade to her then, For all the love I bore her.
1954 L. M. Starr Bohemian Brigade viii. 174 For all his raving at the press,..there were reporters who admired him, and said so.
2014 Guardian 7 Aug. 28/3 For all his japes about useless Brussels bureaucrats, Johnson has been a stayer-inner rather than a getter-outer.
b. In negative contexts, chiefly with words expressing ability: indicating the presence or operation of an obstacle, hindrance, or counteracting agency, as in unable to sleep for the racket. Formerly also occasionally: †for fear of (obsolete). but for: see but prep., adv., conj., and n.2 Phrases 3. if it were not for, were it not for: see be v. Phrases 3d. See also not to see the wood for the trees.
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OE Beowulf (2008) 2549 Ne meahte horde neah unbyrnende ænige hwile deop gedygan for dracan lege.
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xvi. 10 Þin sæd byð swa swyðe gemenigfyld, þæt man hyt geriman ne mæg for þære meniu.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 3673 Hii ne mowe noȝt wel fle Vor feblesse of hor brode.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xv. l. 282 Þat no man miȝte hym se for mosse and for leues.
c1450 (a1375) Octavian (Calig.) (1979) 682 That wyf therst not say nay, For wordes ylle.
a1592 R. Greene Comicall Hist. Alphonsus (1599) ii. sig. C4 That you dare Not vse your sword for staining of your hands.
1701 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 3) ii. 219 The Torrid Zone must indeed have been..unhabitable for heat.
1744 G. Berkeley Let. 19 June in Wks. (1871) IV. 298 Last night being unable to sleep for the heat.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake v. 237 Spare not for spoiling of thy steed.
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda III. vi. xliii. 261 At times she could not stand for the beating of her heart.
1906 J. A. Fairlie Local Govt. in Counties, Towns, & Villages iv. xiv. 246 The systemizing of quarantine, the preparation for epidemics,..would all have largely been left undone if it had not been for the part taken by the state.
1999 Independent 31 Mar. ii. 1/2 In some gardens you cannot see green for the layers of old clothes, food wrappers, boxes, papers, nappies...
2003 A. Schwartz Living Memory x. 268 We went out to Teleki-ter where the open market of Budapest was. You couldn't move for so many people.
†c. As a precaution against; (also simply) against. Also: (with particular verbs) (to beware) of; (to hinder, keep, prevent) from. Obsolete.In use with reference to remedies (cf. quots. OE3, a1400) originally this sense; in later use apprehended as showing sense A. 13a.
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OE Genesis A (1931) 2475 Lætað frið agon gistas mine, þa ic..wille gemundbyrdan, gif ic mot, for eow.
OE Christ & Satan 671 Brohte him to bearme brade stanas, bæd him for hungre hlafas wyrcan.
OE tr. Medicina de Quadrupedibus (Vitell.) iii. 244 Wið stede & for gebinde heortes hær beoð swiðe gode mid to smeocanne wifmannum.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) l. 701 & tet beali [perhaps read belial] blencte & breid him aȝeinwart bihinden hare schuldren, as for a schoten arewe.
c1300 St. James Great (Laud) l. 102 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 37 Huy me wullez a-sle..and þare-fore ich bidde þe Þat þov me take sum þing þat ich mouwe for heom bere with me.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 662 Nembrot gat hise feres red, For ðat he hadde of water dred, To maken a tur wel heg & strong Of tigel and ter for water-gong.
a1400 Siege Jerusalem (Laud) (1932) l. 92 Þer is a worldlich [read worlich] wif..Þat haþ softyng & salue for eche sore out.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 2987 Sone after mydnyght..in þe snowe for syght, scho ȝede out in hir smok.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 285 Þat wald for hurte or for harme any hathill kepe.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxiiiv Se that they..holde his heed hygh ynough for drownynge.
1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 40v He must also beware for taking cold.
1590 R. Greene Neuer too Late sig. Bv A hat of straw like a swaine Shealter for the sunne and raine.
1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley i. ii Ah, how light he treads, For dirting his silk stockings!
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. xii. 213 That may hinder the Corner of the Edge of the Chissel for coming at the Work.
1728 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 88 To prevent..the constitution of it for being entirely subverted.
1775 J. Greenman Jrnl. 27 Nov. in Diary of Common Soldier (1978) 21 To prevent the kings troops for burning and plundering thair housan.
VIII. Expressing duration and extension.
23.
a. Marking actual duration. During, throughout.See also for long, for the time.
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OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 452 Sum þegn læg alefed lange on paralisyn, and ne mihte of his bedde for manegum gearum.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xxxiii. 1181 Olde wommen and ryuelede semen ȝonge wenches for a tyme.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (1873) l. 918 Thus with hir fader for a certein space Dwelleth this flour of wifly pacience.
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 122 Who seyth oure ladyes sawtere dayly ffor A ȝer þus, he hath pardon.
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xxviijv We..restyd vs for that nyght.
1564 W. Bullein Dialogue against Fever Pestilence f. 5 His Stewarde..applied the poore menne with the purse, with muche deuotion for the tyme.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 93 How dooes your honour for this many a day? View more context for this quotation
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 86. ¶2 I have seen an Eye curse for half an Hour together.
a1792 Bp. Horne Serm. (1799) III. 68 Reflect for a moment, on these two pictures of virtue and vice.
1843 Fraser's Mag. 28 334 The Brigand's Bride ran for many nights.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 166 The two great parties..had for a moment concurred.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 15 316 The catch..was worn away, and probably had been so for..months.
1931 P. White Let. 16 Mar. (1994) i. 6 I haven't been to a show for ages, not a real show with professional West-End finish.
2007 Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) (Nexis) 12 Apr. a11 After battling the fire for about 90 minutes, the crew had to abandon ship.
b. Marking intended duration.Frequent already in early use in for ever, for ay: see ay adv. 3a, forever adv. 1.See also for all days, for long, for now, for the present, for this present, for the time being. for all time, for the time, etc.: see time n., int., and conj. Phrases 3i. for a while: see while n. 1c.Earliest in for life at life n. Phrases 2d.
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OE Record of Dispute over Lands purchased by Abp. Dunstan (Sawyer 1447) in A. J. Robertson Anglo-Saxon Charters (1956) 90 Þa gesealde se cyng & gebecte þæt land Æðelstane ealdormenn to hæbbenne & to syllanne for life & for legere þam him leofost wære.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4006 For auere to ure liue we m[a]ȝen ouer-sitten þis lond.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 981 (MED) Þanne ys my worschip lost for ay.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lv A peace was concluded..for a certain space.
1636 in Quarter Sessions Rec. (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1886) IV. 52 He shall enter bond for his good abeareing for a year.
1642 Protests Lords I. 11 Whether we shall adjourn for six months.
1706 Acct. Soc. propagating Gospel Foreign Parts 33 The Society..ordered fifty Pounds per annum to be ascertained to him for Three Years.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 129 I resolv'd to sit down for all Night.
1764 L. Sterne Let. 29 Sept. in Lett. 1739–64 (2009) 387 About Christmas..I..fix my head quarters at London for the winter.
1870 M. Bridgman Robert Lynne II. v. 117 I sha'n't get up for another hour.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 892 The driver..was practically placed at the disposal of the defendants for the day.
1950 V. Nabokov Let. 9 May (1989) 101 I am anxious to place this piece before I go away for the summer.
2012 E. Elliott Dark Knight iv. 62 You nap often enough on the window cushions. They should make you an adequate bed for the next few nights.
24. Marking an amount of spatial extension: over, over the space of, to the extent of.
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1549 W. Thomas Hist. Italie f. 161v Thei haue a very fayre conduite of water conueighed on arches..for the space of .v. myles or more.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 36 The River of Trent in the moneth of June flowed not for the space of a mile.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 458 For many miles about ther's not a bush. View more context for this quotation
1707 T. Heton Some Acct. Mines App. 169 And all these Mines are wrought for many hundred Yards between firm Sides, and still grow richer, as they go farther under the Ground.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 159 After travelling for five and twenty miles.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies i. 8 Not only did he own all the land about for miles.
1885 Manch. Examiner 28 Sept. 5/3 When a..man has walked briskly even for a mile.
1978 Nature 5 Jan. 50/2 The Bathurst and McDonald faults..are major sinistral and dextral strike-slip fault systems that extend for hundreds of kilometres.
2009 Argus (Sussex) (Nexis) 20 June Turn left along the drive for 100 yards and, just before a house called Murrells, take the right turning at a signed three-way junction.
IX. Expressing reference.
25.
a. With regard or respect to, as regards, concerning. Now chiefly in set expressions or in contexts relating to provision, as in how are you off for money? (cf. sense A. 25c).as for: see as adv. and conj. Phrases 3a. for the general: see general adj. and n. Phrases 2b. for one's (own) part: see part n.1 Phrases 1b. for the more part, for the most part: see part n.1 Phrases 1a(c). for the rest: see rest n.3 Phrases 1a. so much for: see so adv. and conj. 39h. what for ——: see what adv. 5.
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OE Cynewulf Elene 1064 Þa gen Elenan wæs mod gemynde ymb þa mæran wyrd, geneahhe for þam næglum þe ðæs nergendes fet þurhwodon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13082 Nis he in nare kuððe þe hit þe maȝe icudðe [emended in ed. to icuððe] for alle þan uolke þe uulieð þan kinge.
c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 1290 (MED) He and þe steward of pris Were brouȝt bifor þe iustise, To swere for þat dede.
1444 in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 25 He preyith yow to holde hym excused þat he writyth not to yow for this matier, for he is ocupied in other wise.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Sij He is deliuered from the lawe, for somuch as perteineth to his condemnation, but he is not fre for so muche as belongeth to the due obedience, which he oweth vnto God.
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. I3 For person like to prooue a second Mars.
1628 T. Hobbes tr. Thucydides Peloponnesian War (1822) 99 This year..was of all other for other diseases most free.
a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) 176 For old Marinus, I know not how to excuse him.
1665 S. Pepys Diary 7 Apr. (1972) VI. 75 Sir Philip did show me nakedly the King's condition for money.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 466 Thus much..for the privileges and disabilities of infants.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 250 How he managed for water I could not learn.
1992 R. Gunesekera Monkfish Moon (1998) 46 How are we doing for time? Are we late?
2009 T. Hodges Richmond Hill ix. 73 How are you off for food? can I go shopping for you?
b. So far as concerns (a person or thing). Used with a limiting or restrictive force (cf. sense A. 22). Chiefly in set expressions. †for me (also thee, etc.): (as a comment on a proposed or possible action) with no opposition from or intervention by me (you, etc.) (obsolete).See also for all I care, for all I know, for all of, for aught I know, for what I care, for what I know.
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c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 1668 (MED) Þe leuedi was ful wroþ..& swore..He schuld haue noiþer mete no drink..For hir after þat day.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3206 ‘Fader’, he said, ‘be þou ful bald, For me sal it neuer be tald’.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. iii. 33 To dede may we dryfe, Or lif, for the, For want.
1578 T. Tymme tr. J. Calvin Comm. Genesis x. i. 238 Let them..for all me, inioy the fruite..of their labours.
1655 S. Hartlib Legacy (ed. 3) 160 This Art for what I can perceive, is no way demonstrable à priori.
1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! I. 321 They shall have it untouched for me.
1809 J. Moser Don Quixote in Barcelona ii. v [He] shall carry all the limbs he has got to heaven for me.
1837 W. S. Landor Pentameron in Wks. (1846) II. 314/2 The banks of the Hebrus may be level or rocky, for what I know about them.
1890 W. Besant Demoniac vi After the first month you ought to have come home again, for all the good it has done.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze xxiii. 261 She looked at him blankly. ‘You might as well be speaking a click language for all I got of that.’
c. With words signifying privation or want. Frequently (and in earliest use) in to want for at want v. 3c.See also at a loss for, to be stuck for.
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1560 Bible (Geneva) Ezra i. 6 (margin) Rather then the children of God shulde want for their necessities, he wolde stirre vp the heart of the very infideles to helpe them.
1656 Court Rec. 8 May in Publ. Colonial Soc. Mass. (1975) 49 76 Mrs. Glover (being as she supposeth exigented for monie to answer her occasions, having a numerous family..) did borrow of her the sum of fourtie pounds.
a1800 W. Cowper Retired Cat in W. Hayley Life & Posthumous Writings Cowper (1803) I. 256 With hunger pinch'd, and pinch'd for room.
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 87 In..distress for money.
1804 J. Marshall Life of Washington II. i. 38 The people..were in great distress for provisions, arms, and ammunition.
1855 W. M. Thackeray Rose & Ring i He need want for nothing.
1948 K. Ferrier Let. 12 Jan. (2003) ii. 49 We're going to be hard up for money as hotel, food, and everything else is very dear so I'm not shopping much till I see how I stand.
2008 Independent 11 Nov. (Life section) 5/4 If you're strapped for cash, you can always make do and manicure at home.
26.
a. Following an adjective or adverb modified by too, enough, etc. In proportion to, considering the capacity of; to meet the requirements of.See also to be too many for.
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1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. x. sig. avii I warne yow al, your enemyes are passyng strong for yow.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 704/2 Shorten your mater, for it is to longe for this audyence.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. xi. sig. Ev A scalde hors is good ynough for a scabde squier.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 40 Il'e to my trundle bed: This field bed is too cold for mee.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 119 His Bulk too weighty for his Thighs is grown. View more context for this quotation
1829 T. Flint George Mason iii. 41 A trip of sixteen miles, through dark forests, in which they would not pass a single house, was an exploit sufficiently daunting for two such young and inexperienced boys.
1951 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 4 Feb. (advt.) Is five years of retirement enough for you? Keeping active in your retirement.
1991 J. C. Oates Heat & Other Stories 245 He was a tall weedy boy with a head too large for his narrow shoulders.
2012 C. Ewan Safe House vii. 59 The road was only wide enough for one vehicle.
b. Considering the nature of, making the allowance required by.
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1526 R. Whitford tr. P. de Natalibus Catalogus Sanctorum in Martiloge Addicyons f. xlij The feest also of saynt Gemyne bysshop of nisebene, a man of grete lernynge for his age, & of synguler sanctite.
1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido iv. iv Aeneas, for his parentage, deserves As large a kingdom as is Lybia.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 536 This Lawier was a very honest man for those times.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. ii. 6 A man of an excellent character for a Lawyer.
1861 C. M. Yonge Stokesley Secret iii. 42 As poor a man for an esquire, as her father was for a surgeon.
1886 Manch. Examiner 15 Mar. 5/4 The weather..phenomenally severe for the season.
1952 K. Farrer Missing Link (1955) iii. 37 She was a tactful child for her age.
1991 Publish Feb. 106/2 For a Windows program, it's quite speedy, and the interface makes it easy to learn and use.
2002 J. Cohen & I. Stewart Evolving Alien iii. 62 The family had pretty high standards of street-wisdom, even for those times.
X. Indicating correspondence or correlation.
27. Preceded and followed by the same noun (without article or defining word) in expressions indicating equality in number or quantity between objects compared or contrasted, as point for point, ton for ton, etc. bulk for bulk: taking an equal bulk of each. †day for day: on one day as on every other; (hence) day by day (obsolete). end for end: see end n. 19. See also hand for hand, like for like, man for man, word for word adv.
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c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 2660 (MED) Þi child worþ þe noblest man Of al þis world, an for an.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (1873) l. 577 Of Grisildis wordes..He tolde hym poynt for poynt.
1591 (?a1425) Christ at House Simon the Leper (Huntington) in R. M. Lumiansky & D. Mill Chester Myst. Cycle (1974) I. 258 Elles such marveyles..hee ney did daye for daye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iv. ix. 22 A Braine that..can Get gole for gole of youth. View more context for this quotation
1692 R. Bentley Confut. Atheism from Struct. & Origin Humane Bodies: Pt. II 11 Bulk for bulk heavier than a Fluid.
1759 S. Johnson Idler 11 Aug. 249 May, Sandys, and Holiday confined themselves to the toil of rendering line for line.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Salute If a foreign admiral..salutes them, he shall receive gun for gun.
1865 Daily Milwaukee (Wisconsin) News 25 Oct. The gold backs are simply certificates to be exchanged for gold, dollar for dollar.
a1918 W. Owen Coll. Poems (1963) 39 Faces that used to curse me, scowl for scowl, Shine and lift up with passion of oblation, Seraphic for an hour.
2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 4 Jan. (Week in Review section) 5/3 He demanded that the United States free five convicted Cuban spies in exchange. He calls that ‘gesto por gesto’—gesture for gesture.
28. Preceding a designation of number or quantity to which another is stated to correspond proportionally. Cf. to prep. 19b.
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a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 1407 Goddes speken in Amphibologies, And for a soth þey tellen .xx. lyes.
c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) ii. l. 42 For on þat ȝe merkyd ȝe myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis.
1583 T. Watson Passionate Cent. of Loue xcvii, in Poems (1870) 133 For eu'ry pleasure that in Loue is found, A thousand woes and more therein abound.
1686 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 3) v. i. 6 I will undertake to shew any man Twenty other Horses lame..for One Hunter.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 270 They were..twice our Number in the Whole, and their Foot three for one.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vi. 124 It contains..for one inch of lean, four or five of stringy fat.
1887 ‘L. Carroll’ Game of Logic i. §3. 32 For one workable Pair of Premisses..you will probably find five that lead to no Conclusion at all.
1929 Times 5 Jan. 14/1 For every practical man of affairs there are a hundred obstructionists.
1989 Which? Sept. 454/1 You may well have to pay an extra premium, eg £5 a year for every £1,000 of cover.
XI. Introducing a subordinate clause.
29. Introducing a noun, personal pronoun, or existential there followed by an infinitive, approximately equivalent to a finite subordinate clause introduced by that and a modal verb construction with may, might, should, etc., e.g. he arranged for her to look after his house ‘he arranged that she should look after his house’, though there is not always such an equivalence, e.g. it is difficult for me to speak for him.Originally, the preposition was used in sense A. 12 or sense A. 16a and the infinitive was either the subject of the sentence or expressive of purpose; but the use was early extended to include cases to which this analysis is inapplicable.In the 15th-16th centuries the Latin use of the accusative and infinitive was often imitated in English: e.g. ‘Behold how good..it is, brethren to dwell together in unity’ (Psalm cxxxiii. 1, Prayer-bk. version).
a. Introducing a complementary clause.
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a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 325 Þe lond is nouȝt couenable for men to wonye ynne in somer for hete and in wynter for colde and derk.
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (1874) l. 1422 I wol conclude that it is bet for me To sleen my self.
1449 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Feb. 1449 §17. m. 5 The generall povert of contree was so grete, that it was impossible for hem to bere eny more here after suche charges.
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. dd.iii It is better for a synner to suffre trybulacyon..in this lyfe..than to be eternally turmented in hell.
1533 T. More Confutation Barnes in Wks. 770/1 Ye saye shee is some where abrode in the wylde world, whych worlde is a place to wyde..for a woman to ouerwalke well.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxvv A tent of purple velvet for the counsailers to mete in.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias vi. 16 It was verye needefull and necessarye for him to take a Pilot.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie (1641) Ded. sig. Aij It is high time for the Satyrist to pen somthing which may [etc.].
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 128 I must forsake This Task; for others afterwards to take. View more context for this quotation
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 339. ¶5 The Day is not too far spent for him to enter upon such a Subject.
1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will (1762) ii. xii. 181 For if that were possible, then it would be possible for there to be a Change in God's Knowledge and View of Things.
1777 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip II I. vi. 128 The [island] lay at so great a distance from Europe, as had made it almost impossible for the christians to send assistance to the besieged.
1843 tr. F. Elssler in Fraser's Mag. Dec. 713/2 What a condition for me to come to.
1883 Law Times 20 Oct. 408/1 The new rules..render it more difficult for a defence to be kept up.
1896 ‘M. Field’ Attila i. 19 When a girl becomes A woman, it is usual for her mother To speak to her of life.
1954 R. H. Cochrane Farm Machinery & Tractors (ed. 2) 116 When starting a tractor or when accelerating, there is a tendency for the driving pinion to climb the ring gear.
2016 T. Osman Islamism (2017) ii. 42 Less than two years earlier it would have been inconceivable for that man to get the required licences..to undertake such a dramatic expansion.
b. Introducing a subject clause.
Π
1645 W. Lilly Coll. Anc. & Mod. Prophesies To Rdr. sig. A3 For me to inquire how and by what meanes these preceding Wisemen were partakers so many Ages since of the actions and calamities of these present times, were an Herculean labour.
1680 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Second Pt. II. 899 For him to turn tail against my Lord Deputy, must needs be a foul fault.
1734 Weekly Amusement 8 Mar. 448/1 For one to dream that he goes over a broken bridge, signifies fear.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 220 For a man who had such good blood to part with it so wantonly was a shame.
1894 Jrnl. Royal Asiatic Soc. Oct. 756 The Emperor Jahángir remarks in his Memoirs, that for Muhammadans to marry Hindu women was not so bad.
1993 S. Marshall Nest of Magpies (1994) xii. 102 For you to accuse me of acting really does take the cake!
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Feb. i. 12/2 The European conviction that for the United States to have acted on its own would have grievously damaged the Atlantic alliance.
c. With the clause standing alone, in exclamatory use.
ΚΠ
1757 S. Foote Author ii. 40 For this low, lousy Son of a Shoe-maker, to talk of Families.
2020 Austral. Online (Nexis) 20 Oct. This bloke Andrews, for him to accuse Josh (Frydenberg) of being political... I almost fell off my chair.
d. Chiefly U.S. Introducing an object clause. Chiefly after verbs such as love, like, hate, prefer, want, etc., and now chiefly after would love, etc.In Standard British English such clauses are generally formed without introductory for. This construction is distinct from that in which the clause is the complement of a prepositional verb with for, which can alternatively license simple noun phrase complements; e.g. he longed for her to arrive (he longed for her arrival), she called for it to be banned (she called for a ban on it).
Π
1835 Metropolitan Dec. 441 I should like for you to look to her, though I don't want you to be nutty upon her, or to dorse it.
1859 A. Cary Pictures Country Life 157 I want for you to make me a pair of tip-top stogy boots.
1928 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 7 Jan. 21/2 Now would you like for mamma to go on reading to you.
1963 R. A. Heinlein Let. 14 Jan. in R. A. Heinlein & V. Heinlein Grumbles from Grave (1990) 112 But I would still prefer for you to blurb it.
1991 S. Faludi Backlash iii. xi. 299 I'd love for us to become the most famous feminist bashers.
2004 Tampa Tribune (Nexis) 6 Mar. Metro 2 I would hate for my children to see this.
B. conj.
†1. Introducing the cause of a fact, the statement of which precedes or follows: because. Cf. sense A. 20a(b). Obsolete (archaic in later use).Rare in Old English and chiefly late. Some of the earliest uses may be transmission errors for for-thon conj. 2 or for-thy conj. (or even for-thon the conj. at for-thon conj. Derivatives, forthy the at for-thy conj. Derivatives). Compare discussion in the etymology section.
ΚΠ
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) ii. xxxvi. 174 Sume his wisan..ic forgange & forlæte, for [OE Otho forðon; L. quia] ic þæncende efste to þam dædum & wundrum oþra æþelra wera.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Ac hit naht ne beheld, for se biscop of Særesbyrig wæs strang.
lOE tr. Alcuin De Virtutibus et Vitiis (Vesp.) in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 95 We sculen fleon þa unðeawes, na þa mænn sylfe, þeh heo yfele seon, for heo synd Godes gesceafte.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 76 Eneam he..biheyte..al his drihliche lond. for he nefde nenne sune.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 6907 Þus for þai did ay ogayns Goddes lawe, Vermyn and wode bestes sal þam ay gnawe.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 1075 And for he was a straunger sumwhat sche Likede hym the bet.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1331 For sir Torent the fend did fall, Gret lordys honoured hym all.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 11 And for god made all thinges in syx dayes..therfore [etc.].
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ii. xix. 23 Nor for he sweld with ire was she affraid.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 158 They are..iealous for they are iealous. View more context for this quotation
1691 J. Dryden King Arthur i. i. 6 Why comes not he?..For, he's a puleing Sprite.
1799 A. Seward Sonn. xlix In balance true Weigh it, but smile at the objections vain Of sickly Spirits, hating for they do.
1872 Ld. Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 26 And, for himself was of the greater state,..he trusted his liege-lord Would yield him this large honour all the more.
2.
a. Introducing a new clause or series of clauses stating the ground or reason for something previously said: seeing that, since. Now somewhat literary.
ΚΠ
OE Vision of Leofric in Rev. Eng. Stud. (2012) 63 549 Þa ne wænde he him nanes incymes. Ac feng þa on his gebedo, swa his gewuna wæs, for þær wæs an forehus æt þære cyrcan duru.
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 135 Hwu sceal þiss gewurðen, for ic ne cann naht of weres gemane?
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1135 On þis kinges time wes al unfrið & yfel & ræflac, for agenes him risen sona þa rice men þe wæron swikes.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 119 & teȝȝ wærenn..Rihhtwise menn..Forr eȝȝþerr here ȝede..Rihht affterr godess lare.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 358 Louerd, quat same is me bi-tid, For ic am naked.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 219 (MED) The conquerour..on his deesse ryche, Fore he was demyde þe doughtyeste þat duellyde in erthe.
c1450 (c1425) Brut (Cambr. Kk.1.12) 378 Nowe is gode tyme, for alle Engelond prayeth for vs.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 25 For xij. tymes 30. maketh 360.
1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. M A Churchman shee dare not venture vpon; for shee hath heard Widowes complaine of dilapidations.
1664 J. Tillotson Wisdom of being Religious 59 Just such is he who for fear of any thing in this world ventures to grieve God; for in so doing he runs away from men and falls into the hands of the living God.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. iii. 17 Near a fortnight passed away..for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow.
1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 806 This oil or resinous-like body contains phosphorus; for..we find phosphoric acid in the residue.
1883 Manch. Guard. 22 Oct. 5/3 This is no party question, for it touches us not as Liberals or Conservatives, but as citizens.
1904 P. Fitzgerald Robert Adam iii. 26 Piranesi..who himself might be called a pictorial architect, for he built as it were on paper, and restored on paper many hundreds of the old Roman buildings.
1968 Observer 14 Jan. 28/4 The days of the disc, in the pop world at least, are numbered. For soon will come the video.
2012 Independent 12 Mar. 17/1 The same young man went on to Rio and capered around there. More big pictures. For it is Prince Harry, out and about selling the Firm and its subsidiary, the Commonwealth.
b. Chiefly Mathematics. Introducing a formal proof of the preceding assertion.
ΚΠ
1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 20v For forasmuch as DC is equal to CE, & [etc.] therfore [etc.].
1716 R. Cotes Let. 6 Mar. in Philos. Trans. 1720–21 (Royal Soc.) (1722) 31 69 For let A B, represent the plane of the Horizon..E F, a fund of Vapours or Exhalations at a considerable height above us.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 588 For, let there be three bodies at H, O, and D; if [etc.].
1915 Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. 50 203 For let 0Q be a line passing through 0, Figure 1, and let (x1,y1) be the coördinates of R and (x,y), the coördinates of Q.
2011 H.-O. Georgii Gibbs Meas. & Phase Transitions iii. 48 For let γ ∈ Γ have determining function g.
†3. In order that. Cf. sense A. 8. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) l. 102 Neddre..nimeð vnneðes ðurȝ, For his fel he ðer leteð.
c1300 St. Katherine (Harl.) l. 171 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S.-Eng. Legendary (1956) 94 Noman neȝaf hire mete ne drinke: for heo scholde for hunger deye.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 907 Þay..byndeþ þer-wiþ is eȝene about for he ne schold noȝt sene.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4753 For þair trauail sulde noȝt be waste.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 9 And for the time shall not seeme tedious, Ile tell thee what [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
†4. Introducing an indirect question: whether (see whether conj.1 3, 4). Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2651 We sulen nu witen for it dede Ðis witterlike or in child-hede.
c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) l. 350 Woldest þou me tellen For þei ben..syker on to trosten, Y wolde quyten þe þi mede.
C. n.
1. Coupled with against: an argument or point in favour of something. Frequently in plural, in fors and againsts: pros and cons. Cf. against n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > arguments for or against
armsa1250
pro and conc1450
pros and contrasc1450
pro et contraa1554
pro and contra1570
pros and cons1654
fors and againstsa1817
1794 T. Ruggles Hist. Poor II. xli. 222 The for and the against are so interwoven in all our schemes and plans.
a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) IV. ix. 185 I was privy to all the fors and againsts, I was the friend to whom he confided his hopes. View more context for this quotation
1829 F. Wright Courses of Pop. Lect. iii. 72 Search out the ground of your opinions, the for and the against.
1892 Temple Bar Nov. 424 The fors and againsts..so inextricably mixed.
1939 D. Thomson Personality in Politics iv. 65 There are..two sides to every question—a for and an against—just as there are two answers to a question—yes and no.
2016 G. Julier in G. Concilio & F. Rizzo Human Smart Cities vi. 113 (heading) Design Citizenship: Fors and Againsts.
2. A person in favour of something, esp. in a vote. Chiefly in plural.
Π
1843 Churchman June 421 We should like to see a call of the house.., and we should be curious to examine the lists of the ‘fors’ and the ‘againsts’ on the division.
1977 Z. D'Aprano Zelda (1995) xiii. 166 All the seats in front of the bench were occupied by men, the ‘fors’ and ‘againsts’.
2001 C. Glazebrook Madolescents 147 Prossie says it's a profound statement worthy of further exploration and perhaps we'd like to form a debating group, fors and againsts.
D. adv.
In support of a proposition, person, action, etc.
Π
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia II. vi. ii. 10 Among the simple People, arose rumours of omens, preternaturalisms, for and against.
1889 Daily News 5 Apr. 4/7 The actual majority, however, would have been the same in any case—a pair is a pair; one for, one against.
1943 Jrnl. National Proctol. Assoc. Sept. 10 To read Blond's book on this paper means for one to become curious or interested and perhaps even obtain an idea but not to be convinced or have a real proof for or against.
2006 Managem. Today Jan. 63/2 You have to declare where you stand, for or against.

Phrases

P1. In non-finite phrases.
a.
(a) for all this (also that): in spite of all this (or that), nevertheless.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding
though-whetherc897
nathelesseOE
though971
whetherOE
yetOE
neverlOE
what for-thyc1175
nethelessa1200
never the latterc1225
algatec1230
in spite of (despite, maugre, etc.) one's teethc1230
nought for thatc1275
(all) for noughtc1325
(in) spite of one's nosec1325
alway1340
thoughless1340
ne'er the later (also latter)a1382
ne'er the lessa1382
neverlatera1382
neverthelessa1382
ne for-thia1400
neverlessa1400
not-againstandinga1400
nauthelessc1400
nouthelessc1400
algatesc1405
noughtwithstanding1422
netherless?a1425
notwithstanding1425
nethertheless1440
not gainstandingc1440
not the lessa1450
alwaysa1470
howbeit1470
never þe quedera1475
nought the lessc1480
what reck?a1513
nonetheless1533
howsomever1562
after all1590
in spite of spite1592
meantime1594
notwithstand1596
withal1596
in the meanwhile1597
meanwhile1597
howsoever1601
in (one's) spite?1615
however1623
in the meantime1631
non obstante1641
at the same time1679
with a non-obstante to1679
stilla1699
the same1782
all the same1803
quand même1825
still and all1829
anyhow1867
anyway1876
still and ona1894
all the samey1897
just the same1901
but1939
OE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Tiber. B.i) anno 1006 Ac for eallum þissum se here ferde swa he sylf wolde.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 124 Al were [he] þurch Miracle iboren..ȝet for al þis ne durste he wune bi mong monne.
c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 431 Bred and ale is þe derrer and neuer þe better schepe For al þat.
1580 P. Hume Promine L'envoy 15 Gif, for all this, thay ceis not to maling [etc.].
1632 H. Hawkins tr. G. P. Maffei Fuga Sæculi 276 Yet fayled he not for all that, to employ himselfe when need was, with a most exact diligence, in consecrating, or rehallowing of Churches.
1795 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 762 The rank is but the guinea's stamp [1800 guinea stamp], The Man's the gowd for a' that.
1873 F. Hall Mod. Eng. p. xv For all that, I have contrived..to give some thought to my mother-tongue.
1927 Amer. Mercury Feb. p. vi (advt.) It is pre-eminently a reference work of and by Americans; but, for all this, there is no trace of chauvinism in it.
1958 J. Kesson White Bird Passes vii. 103 But for all that, Jimmy's a bit too free with his hands the moment he gets within an inch of a woman.
2007 J. Kavenna Inglorious (2008) 80 For all this, she wasn't quite sure what he wanted from her.
(b) for all that (also for all): (as a compound conjunction) despite the fact that, notwithstanding that, although. Now rare (chiefly literary or English regional).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > on condition that [conjunction] > in spite of, notwithstanding
thougha1240
albeita1325
albec1405
not-for-thy1413
for all that1523
still1722
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. clvi. 189 For all that the frenche kynge sende to hym to delyuer the same castels, yet he refused so to do.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xvi. 39 They have beaten us openley..for all that we are Romans.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 22 I tell you D. Stannop (for all you are so proude).
1611 Bible (King James) John xxi. 11 For all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. View more context for this quotation
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 24 [Conscience]..(for all he was now so debauched) did terrifie..them sore. View more context for this quotation
1786 H. Mackenzie Lounger No. 90. ⁋7 For all her feelings are so fine.
1841 L. Hunt Seer (1864) 40 I am not a very bad play-fellow..for all I am so much bigger.
a1866 J. Keble Lett. Spiritual Counsel & Guidance (1870) 185 For all she seemed so calm, she had often to bear up against the same kind of feelings.
1944 M. Irwin Young Bess (1956) vii. 95 Free with his money he was, like Hal, and saw to it that the conduits ran wine in the Strand..which was more than his elder brother did, for all that he called himself the Protector.
2001 N.Y. Times Mag. 16 Sept. 54/2 Maybe a fishbowl existence, for all he complains about it, is one of the useful tensions of his life.
2002 A. Kellett Yorks. Dict. (ed. 2) 63/1 'E supped nowt, for all 'e wor thirsty.
2010 Independent 3 Dec. (Viewspaper section) 20/2 Many of the stars of Hollywood's so-called golden age, for all that they remain screen legends, weren't actually much cop at acting.
b. Introducing paired, contrasting (chiefly comparative) adjectives in, or imitating, the formula of the marriage service (see quot. 1549), in sense A. 18a(b) (with admixture of sense A. 8). Chiefly in for better or (also for, or for) worse, for richer, for poorer. See also for fairer, for fouler.
Π
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. ii. l. 62 I, Fauuel, Feffe Fals to þat Mayden Meede, To be present in pruyde for Pore or for riche.
c1403 in W. G. Henderson Manuale & Processionale Ecclesiæ Eboracensis (1875) p. xvi Here I take ye N. to my wedded wyfe, to hald and to haue at bed and at borde, for fayrer for layther, for better for wers..till ded us depart.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Matrimonie f. xiiii* I..take thee..to my wedded wife..for better, for wurse.
1899 C. Geary Rural Life 119 ‘You took your husband for better, for worse.’ ‘That is true,..but I niver thought as 'ow there'd be such a lot o' the worser.’
1998 R. Price Roxanna Slade (1999) 94 Then we each recited, like far and away the most urgent speech we'd ever make in life, I take thee to have and to hold from this day forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, [etc.].
†c. for to die for it: if I die for it. Obsolete.
Π
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xii. 296 I shold never doo that, for to deye for it.
†d. for and: and moreover. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1529 J. Skelton Poems against Garnesche in Poet Wks. (1843) I. 119 Syr Gawen, Syr Cayus, for and Syr Olyuere.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 92 A picke-axe and a spade, A spade for and a winding sheete.
1617 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Faire Quarrell v. sig. I4v Chau. [sings] A Hipocrene, a Tweke, for and a Fucus.
e. In exclamations (in sense A. 10).
(a) oh for: expressing desire or longing. Now archaic or literary.
Π
1594 S. Daniel Complaint Rosamond in Delia (new ed.) sig. G6 Did Nature (ô for thys) deliberate, To shew in thee the glory of her best; Framing thine eye the star of thy ill fate, And made thy face the foe to spoyle the rest?
1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. Lv He had writ for his sentence or posie, Nox & amor, as much to say, as O for a pretie wench in the darke.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 203 O for a falkners voice, To lure this Tassell gentle backe againe.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge v. ii. sig. I3 O, for a fat leg of Ewe mutton.
1842 T. B. Macaulay Virginia in Lays Anc. Rome 156 Oh for the tents which in old time whitened the Sacred Hill!
1951 L. P. Hartley My Fellow Devils xv. 144 Oh for a raison d'être! She would have one, she knew, in a few months' time.
1996 M. Cheek Sleeping Beauties xix. 137 Oh for a cup of tea and a sit down.
(b) now for: introducing a new topic; (hence also, in later use) expressing pleasant anticipation.
Π
?1521 J. Fisher Serm. agayn Luther sig. A.iiiv Thus moche for the fyrst. Now for the seconde where I sayd that the pope iure diuino is ye heed of the vnyuersall chirche of christ.
1530 R. Whitford Notable Lesson sig. A.iiiv Now for a conclusyon of this werke, put byfore you, as by case or ymaginacyon.
1640 R. Brome Sparagus Garden iv. x So much for single Rapier: now for your secret wipe at Back-sword.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 30. ⁋5 Now for Colonel Constant's Epistle.
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales I. 37 Now for a cigar and Charters.
1992 Whizzer June 54 I've won a coconut! Now for a go on the dodgems!
†f. for me: as for me, for my part. Obsolete.
Π
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiii. 655 But, for me, I'll relate Only my censure what's our best.
1633 G. Herbert Temple: Sacred Poems 49 Riddle who list, for me, and pull for Prime.
†g. for all: once and for all. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 103 Learne now, for all, That I [etc.] . View more context for this quotation
†h. for my mind: to my thinking. Obsolete.
Π
?1730 Christmas Entertainm. iv. 23 All the Witches for my mind are young Women.
i. for one thing: used parenthetically when one out of several reasons, instances, etc., is mentioned.
ΚΠ
1736 R. Loveday tr. G. de Coste Hymen’s Præludia VII. xi. i. 362 This for one Thing I had fully resolv'd, never to appear among Men again, and to go and run upon a Death that should prove much less cruel to me than the Life I was so weary of.
a1866 J. Keble Lett. Spiritual Counsel & Guidance (1870) 176 I could say, for one thing, make your account beforehand with this trouble coming upon you.
1937 K. A. Porter Noon Wine 38 He never got married, for one thing, and he works like a horse.
2011 A. W. Gomes in C. W. Morgan & R. A. Peterson Deity of Christ ix. 240 The church rejected the Arian christology as fatally flawed. For one thing, it could not..account for those texts that speak of Christ's antemundane creative activity.
j. for all the world: see world n. Phrases 6c(a). for because: see because adv. 3, because conj. 1. for a change: see change n. Phrases 4a. for example: see example n. Phrases 3. for good (and all): see good adj., n., adv., and int. Phrases 3a. in for it: see in adv. Phrases 2b(a). for the love of: see love n.1 Phrases 1a(a). for luck: see luck n. Phrases 3c. for the nonce, see nonce n.1 1. nothing (else) for it: see nothing pron., n., adv., and int. Phrases 1d. for nothing: see nothing pron., n., adv., and int. Phrases 2. once for all: see once adv., conj., adj., and n. Phrases 3a. for once, see once adv. 9. (I, etc.) for one: see one pron. 5. for the sake of: see sake n.1 II.
P2. In phrases with a finite verb.
a. to be for.
(a) To be ready to act for, to be on the side of; to be in favour of, to advocate; also (Law, now colloquial) acting as counsel on behalf of. See also all for.
ΚΠ
OE Rules of Confraternity (Paris) in R. Brotanek Texte u. Untersuchungen zur altenglischen Lit. u. Kirchengeschichte (1913) 28 Þære gebedrædene we wilniað georne þæt hi for us beon ge on life ge on legere & we eaþmodlice for hi beon wyllaþ.
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 253 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 114 Euere he was for holi churche and for pouere Men al-so, A-ȝen þe proute courteoures.
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Aviii Where euerye man is for him selfe and no manne for all.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall 23 So hauing skinkde mine Vltimum Vale in a parting pot, I put you both in a draught: And drinke to the funerals of your Enimitie. Stay good neighbors, now I am for your company.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 348 My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights watchings. View more context for this quotation
1650 Mercurius Politicus No. 25 409 He finds the Lawyers to slight his Case more then before; and that many who have been of his Counsel formerly, are for his Adversaries.
1692 J. Locke Toleration ii, in Wks. (1727) II. 289 You cannot be..for a free and impartial Examination.
1799 T. Jefferson Let. 26 Jan. in Writings (1984) 1057 I am for free commerce with all nations.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xx. 511 He was for going straight into the harbour of Brest.
1870 C. Dickens Let. 2 June (2002) XII. 542 Were you not for Household Words in the case of the ‘Household Narrative of Current Events’.
1935 H. L. Ickes Secret Diary (1953) I. 435 I am for substantial, worth-while, and socially desirable public works.
1956 T. C. H. Jacobs Aspects of Murder 156 Mr. Edmund Davies, Q.C., was for the prosecution and Mr. Vincent Lloyd-Jones, Q.C., for the defence.
1966 L. Durrell in Sat. Evening Post 4 June 68/3 Coco was for selling her to a local clinic, but once more we were stymied by this public holiday. The clinic was shut.
1996 Advocate 15 Oct. 56/1 I am for what is natural to almost all mammals and avians, and evidently most primates: serial monogamy with clandestine philandering.
(b) To be suitable or appropriate for; (now often) to be to one's liking or taste (chiefly in the negative).With quot. 1461 cf. fore prep. 11.
Π
1461 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 391 I scend yow home Pekok a-geyn; he is not fore me.]
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. diiiv That hauke is for a Baron.
1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 55 I will rather have him. He is for me.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 27 Apr. (1971) IV. 113 He is not for my family, he is grown so out of order and not to be ruled.
1879 T. Hardy Distracted Preacher in Wessex Tales (1896) 237 At any rate, you will let me make him keep his distance as your lover, and tell him flatly that you are not for him?
1998 Guardian 30 Jan. (Friday Review section) 15/2 If you have to steal it, can't pronounce it, and look like a ho when you're in it, it's not for you, sweetie.
2011 S. Sahota Ours are Streets 252 If Aaqil and the others want to do it, then fine. It is their business. It is their fight and I wish them well. But it is not for me.
(c) it is for (a person): (followed by infinitive) it is suitable or permissible for (a person) to do something; it is the duty or concern of (a person) to do something.
ΚΠ
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. i. sig. B4 It is not for me to attend so high a blissefulnesse.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xlii. 144 It is for Gods to mount winged horses, and to feed on Ambrosia.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. ix. §7 652 It is not for a Layman to act the Theologue.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 14 872 It will be for the Rule Committee to alter the rule if [etc.].
1974 C. Hampton Savages (1976) xiv. 70 But he said that was the Company's final decision And it wasn't for him to query it.
2004 Independent 2 Oct. 4/3 It is for doctors to judge the urgency of each case.
(d) To be bound for; to be making for (a place). Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1606 G. Chapman Monsieur D'Oliue iii. sig. E 2 I leaue your Highnes to deale with Atropos..I am for France.
1630 J. Wadsworth Eng. Spanish Pilgrime (new ed.) ii. 6 I was for St. Sebastians, accompanied with one Mr. Pickford.
1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem ii. 11 Are you for Church this Morning?
1755 S. Derrick Coll. Orig. Poems 29 Sir, I've a handsome chaise and pair: Are you for London, or for Chester?
1823 J. G. Lockhart Reginald Dalton I. ii. i. 190 ‘Ay, ay, 'tis Oxford College, ye're for, is it?..are ye no rather auld for beginning to be a collegianer?’
1987 B. MacLaverty Great Profundo 105 ‘Can I give you a lift?’‘Aye.’..‘Where are you for?’ ‘The far side.’
1991 M. S. Power Come the Executioner (1992) iv. 30 Fermin stood up and stretched. ‘Well, I'm for bed...’
2005 T. Elborough Bus we Loved App. 2 188 ‘Is this bus for the British Museum?’ ‘Not yet, guv.’
†(e) To be ready, prepared, or a match for a person. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) iii. 38 My yong boyes I shall be for you.
a1640 P. Massinger Beleeue as you List (1976) iii. iii. 62 His angrie forhead..noe matter I am for hym.
(f) To be anxious for, to desire, to want. Now chiefly Scottish, Welsh English, or Irish English (northern).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > strong or eager desire > desire strongly or eagerly [verb (transitive)]
to gape uponc1340
galp1546
gape1552
to gape ata1586
to die for1591
ambition1601
raven1607
ambigate1633
ambitionate?c1642
ambiate1659
sparkle1665
to be for1673
efflagitate1676
greed1848
to be spoiling for1865
1673 J. Dryden Assignation iii. iii. 37 I hate to snatch a morsel of Love, and so away; I am for a set-meal, where I may enjoy my full gust.
1697 T. D'Urfey Intrigues at Versailles iii. ii. 36 Come, Madam, how shall we divert this Afternoon, are you for the Opera or Gardens.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World II. 131 I am for a Chinese dish of bear's claws and bird's nests.
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 29 Now, o' the snish he's for a dose; Wi' pen just rising to his nose.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. vii. 47 I could not tell whether you would be for some meat, or only a dish of tea after your journey. View more context for this quotation
a1930 N. Munro Erchie in Art Tea-room in B. D. Osborne & R. Armstrong Erchie & Jimmy Swan (1993) i. xxii. 102 ‘It'll likely be the Room de Good Looks,’ says he, lookin' at the waitress that cam' for oor order. ‘I'm for a pie and a bottle o' Broon Robin.’
1998 N. Harper Spik o the Place 57 Are ye for a skoof fae ma ale-bottle?
(g) Originally British Military slang. to be for it: (originally) to be due for punishment; (subsequently) to be in for trouble.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [verb (intransitive)] > be in for punishment
to be for it1909
1909 Captain Apr. 14/2 He'll give the whole show away?.. Then, I suppose, we'll all be for it.
1915 War Illustr. 21 Aug. 22/1 Then it is that he realises so acutely that if anything happens to his pilot he is ‘for it’, as the current flying phrase has it.
1919 Athenæum 1 Aug. 695/1 ‘On the peg’, to be charged with a ‘crime’. ‘You'll be for it’, the sergeant's threat of ‘the peg’.
1926 Punch 28 Apr. 466/1 Major Atlee..declared that if the discipline of a unit broke down it was the officer in charge who should be ‘for it’.
1940 War Illustr. 5 Jan. 567/1 If a bomb comes, one is ‘for it’.
2017 K. Steven 2020 10 But if you crossed him you were for it. He had a flash of temper that took you by surprise.
b. In phrases expressing emphatic desire or (especially) reluctance (in sense A. 9 with admixture of sense A. 20 or sense A. 6), such as (I would not) for anything, etc.Recorded earliest in I would not for (all) the world: see world n. Phrases 8a. See also not for all the tea in China, for two pins.
Π
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1877 For al þe world i nold our werk were vndone.
1592 (?a1425) Chester Plays (BL Add.) (1843) I. 11 Naye, Lorde, that will we not indeede, For nothinge treasspass unto thee.
1657 W. Rand tr. P. Gassendi Mirrour of Nobility i. 25 He would not for any thing but be present at the Solemnity to behold the same.
1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer iv. ii. 39 I must not be seen here, lest my Lady shou'd be known to be within in a Masque; and that she would not for any thing.
1858 Harper's New Monthly Mag. Mar. 566/1 ‘I never boned a man in my life,’ said the boy, ‘and wouldn't for a dollar.’
1873 H. E. McBride Comic Dialogues 142 I hain't your sister, and wouldn't be for a thousand dollars.
1904 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 24 July ii. 5/6 For two cents I'd beat the living life out of you.
1920 Collier's 30 Oct. 27/3 (advt.) Your ‘Subtle Principle of Success’ is working wonders for me. I would not part with it for a million dollars.
1932 R. Riskin Amer. Madness in Six Screenplays (1997) 168 For two nickels I'd knock his block off.
2011 D. Manderson in A. Bissett & C. MacDougall New Writing Scotl. 29 128 They'd stop the line. And you didn't want to be the one that did that. Not for anything.
c. what is he, she, etc. for a ——: what is he, she, etc., considered as a ——, what sort of a —— is he, she, etc.? Also what for —— (as a modifier) what kind of ——. Now Scottish.
ΚΠ
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Apr. f. 12 What is he for a Ladde you so lament?
1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 136 When the Lacedemonians enquired, what Xenophon was for a man, he answered, that [etc.].
1657 tr. J. Buccardus Prayse of Peireskius in W. Rand tr. P. Gassendi Mirrour of Nobility 265 Consider..how many, and what for Epistles he sent to this very City.
1707 C. Cibber Comical Lovers i. 10 What is she for a Woman?
1708 Brit. Apollo 15–17 Sept. What are you for a Lover.
1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. xi. 273 ‘What is that for a Zenobia?’ said Hartley.
1988 G. Lamb Orkney Wordbk. at For Whitna for a man's that?
d.
(a) there's (also that's) —— for youthe person, thing, or case referred to is an outstanding example of ——; also in ironic use, esp. in there's gratitude for you.
Π
1675 J. Crowne Countrey Wit iv. 53 I remember two of the bravest lines. If saucy Jove, my Enemy appears, I'll pull him out o' Heaven by the Ears. There's ramping for you.
1846 Countess of Blessington Mem. Femme de Chambre III. v. 90 When I endeavoured to persuade him, the fellow said that he was sure I cared not a rush about his health, and only thought of my own dinner. There's gratitude for you!
1908 Boston Post 8 Feb. 7/2 Now, there's a woman for you; no stuck-up airs about her.
1925 J. Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer iii. v. 401 Talk about the Unknown Soldier…That's a real hero for you; the golden legend of the man who would wear a straw hat out of season.
1953 H. Teichmann & G. S. Kaufman Solid Gold Cadillac (1984) i. v. 31 There's gratitude for you. After that half million dollar bonus we gave him.
1971 G. Avery Likely Lad (1992) ii. 19 There's a young thruster for you! He's a likely lad, he'll go far, our Willy.
1995 S. Barry Only True Hist. Lizzie Finn i in Plays: One (1997) 204 Ho, there's style for you.
(b) that's —— for you: (usually with reference to a person or group) the behaviour referred to illustrates a typical quality of ——.
Π
1961 A. Simpson & R. Galton Four Hancock Scripts 63/2 Doctor: I don't know and I don't care. Tony: Charming. That's the medical profession for you.
1993 C. MacDougall Lights Below 177 That's the bloody Tories for you, put up the price of everything and blame the working man.
2014 Times (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Business section) 37 That's traders for you: say one thing, do another.
e. to —— for England: see England n. Phrases 3.

Compounds

a. In sense A. 20a(b) with demonstrative pronouns, etc., as second element: see for-thon conj., for-thy conj., for that conj.; cf. also for why conj., for whon at whon pron. 1.See discussion in etymology section.
†b. for this: therefore; because. Obsolete.Apparently only in the 16th cent.
Π
a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 396 For this [L. igitur], Florebell, thou hast a high bishop and ruler of the church such a one peradventure as thou soughtest not after.
a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 352 If that he demand the reason why we do so, I will gladly satisfy his mind..For this [L. quia] we know surely those things, as they have written, to have come unto us uncorrupt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2022).

> see also

also refers to : for-prefix1
also refers to : for-prefix2
also refers to : for-prefix3

> as lemmas

F.O.R.
F.O.R. n. (also f.o.r.) free on rail.
Π
1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. F.O.R., free on rail. Signifies the placing of goods on the railway without extra charge.
1890 [see F.O.B. n.].
1894 Field 9 June 846/2 The average price realized for Irish creamery butter was 88s f.o.r. at this creamery.
extracted from Fn.
<
prep.conj.n.adv.eOE
see also
as lemmas
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