■ preposition
1》 in favour of.
2》 affecting or with regard to.
3》 on behalf of or to the benefit of.
4》 having as a purpose or function.
5》 having as a reason or cause.
6》 having as a destination.
7》 representing.
8》 in exchange ~.
↘charged as (a price).
9》 in relation to the expected norm of.
10》 indicating the extent of (a distance) or the length of (a period of time).
11》 indicating an occasion in a series.
■ conjunction literary because; since.
Phrases
be ~ it Brit. in~mal be about to be punished or get into trouble.
oh ~ I long ~.
Origin
OE, prob. a reduction of a Gmc preposition meaning 'be~e' (in place or time); related to Ger. für , also to ~e .