For (?), conj. 1.
Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English,
the reason of anything.
And for of long that way had walkéd
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.
For (?), 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-.
√ 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 Cæsar's health.
Dryden.
That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid
to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his
Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant.
Hooker.
2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object
of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything
is, acts, serves, or is done.
The oak for nothing ill,
The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the
mill.
Spenser.
It was young counsel for the persons, and
violent counsel for the matters.
Bacon.
Shall I think the worls was made for one,
And men are born for kings, as beasts for men,
Not for protection, but to be devoured?
Dryden.
For he writes not for money, nor for
praise.
Denham.
3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in
promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in
favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.
We can do nothing against the truth, but for
the truth.
2 Cor. xiii. 8.
It is for the general good of human society,
and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it
is for men's health to be temperate.
Tillotson.
Aristotle is for poetical justice.
Dennis.
4. Indicating that toward which the action of
anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made;
?ntending to go to.
We sailed from Peru for China and
Japan.
Bacon.
5. Indicating that on place of or instead of
which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an
equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead
of, or place of.
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life
for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand
for hand, foot for foot.
Ex. xxi. 23,
24.
6. Indicating that in the character of or as
being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as
being.
We take a falling meteor for a
star.
Cowley.
If a man can be fully assured of anything for a
truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace
for tru??
Locke.
Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-
up English poet for their model.
Dryden.
But let her go for an ungrateful
woman.
Philips.
7. Indicating that instead of which something
else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of
which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to
notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by
all, aught, anything, etc.
The writer will do what she please for all
me.
Spectator.
God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the
next minute supervene.
Dr. H. More.
For anything that legally appears to the
contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us.
Swift.
8. Indicating the space or time through which
an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or
time of.
For many miles about
There 's scarce a bush.
Shak.
Since, hired for life, thy servile muse
sing.
prior.
To guide the sun's bright chariot for a
day.
Garth.
9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or
through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.]
We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy
doublet.
Beau. & Fl.
For, or As for, so far as
concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or
independently. See under As.
As for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord.
Josh. xxiv. 15.
For me, my stormy voyage at an end,
I to the port of death securely tend.
Dryden.
-- For all that, notwithstanding; in spite
of. -- For all the world, wholly;
exactly. "Whose posy was, for all the world, like
cutlers' poetry." Shak. -- For as much as,
or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing
that; since. -- For by. See Forby,
adv. -- For ever,
eternally; at all times. See Forever. -- For
me, or For all me, as far as regards
me. -- For my life, or For the life of
me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] T.
Hook. -- For that, For the reason
that, because; since. [Obs.] "For that I
love your daughter." Shak. -- For thy, or
Forthy [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.