“for” – English explanatory dictionary

prep 1. showing the purpose or use of something ○ This plastic bag is for the apples. ○ What’s that key for? □ what did she say that for? why did she say that? □ for example, for instance to mention one thing among many ○ Some animals, for example polar bears, are not used to hot weather. 2. showing why something is given ○ What did you get for your birthday? ○ What shall we buy her for Christmas? 3. showing the person who receives something ○ There was no mail for you this morning. ○ I’m making a cup of tea for my mother. 4. showing how long something happens ○ He has gone to France for two days. ○ We’ve been waiting here for hours. 5. showing distance ○ You can see for miles from the top of the hill. ○ The motorway goes for kilometres without any service stations. 6. showing where someone or something is going ○ Is this the plane for Edinburgh? ○ When is the next bus for Oxford Circus? 7. in exchange for something ○ She gave me £10 for the silver spoon. ○ That old computer is no use – I wouldn’t give you anything for it. 8. in support of; in order to get ○ We’re striking for higher pay. 9. in the place of someone ○ Can you write this letter for me? 10. with the purpose of ○ to go for a walk ○ He was running for the bus. ○ All these items are for sale.

prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. für, Icel. fyrir, Sw. för, Dan. for, adv. för, Goth. faúr, faúra, L. pro, Gr. , Skr. pra-. rad. 202. Cf. Fore, First, Foremost, Forth, Pro-.] In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.
1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done. “With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath.” Shak. “How to choose dogs for scent or speed.” Waller. “Now, for so many glorious actions done,
For peace at home, and for the public wealth,
I mean to crown a bowl for Caesar’s health.” Dryden. “That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant.” Hooker.
2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done. “The oak for nothing ill,
The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.” Spenser. “It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters.” Bacon. “Shall I think the worls was made for one,
And men are born for kings, as beasts for men,
Not for protection, but to be devoured?” Dryden. “For he writes not for money, nor for praise.” Denham.
3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; — opposed to against. “We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” 2 Cor. xiii. 8. “It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men’s health to be temperate.” Tillotson. “Aristotle is for poetical justice.” Dennis.
4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ntending to go to. “We sailed from Peru for China and Japan.” Bacon.
5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of. “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” Ex. xxi. 23, 24.
6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being. “We take a falling meteor for a star.” Cowley. “If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru?” Locke. “Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried- up English poet for their model.” Dryden. “But let her go for an ungrateful woman.” Philips.
7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; — generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc. “The writer will do what she please for all me.” Spectator. “God’s desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene.” Dr. H. More. “For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us.” Swift.
8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of. “For many miles about
There ’s scarce a bush.” Shak. “Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.” prior. “To guide the sun’s bright chariot for a day.” Garth.
9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.] “We ’ll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.” Beau. & Fl. For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; — used parenthetically or independently. See under As. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Josh. xxiv. 15. “For me, my stormy voyage at an end,
I to the port of death securely tend.” Dryden. — For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of. — For all the world, wholly; exactly. ´Whose posy was for all the world, like cutlers’ poetry.´ Shak. — For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since. — For by. See Forby, adv. — For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever. — For me, or For all me, as far as regards me. — For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] T. Hook. — For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] ´For that I love your daughter.´ Shak. — For thy, or Forthy [AS. for.], for this; on this account. [Obs.] ´Thomalin, have no care for thy.´ Spenser. — For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] — ´What went ye out for to see?´ Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4. — O for, would that I had; may there be granted; — elliptically expressing desire or prayer. ´O for a muse of fire.´ Shak. — Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. ´Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will.´ Sir M. Hale.

conj.
1. Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything. “And for of long that way had walked none,
The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar.” Fairfax. “And Heaven defend your good souls, that you think
I will your serious and great business scant,
For she with me.” Shak.
2. Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced, a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what has gone before. “Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” Ps. cxxxvi. 1. “Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, ’t were all alike
As if we had them not.” Shak. For because, because. [Obs.] ´Nor for because they set less store by their own citizens.´ Robynson (More’s Utopia). — For why. (a) Why; for that reason; wherefore. [Obs.] (b) Because. [Obs.] See Forwhy. Syn. — See Because.

n. One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; — the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it. The fors and against. those in favor and those opposed; the pros and the cons; the advantages and the disadvantages. Jane Austen.