~ 1 [ az , əz ]
■ adverb used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something.
↘used to emph~ize an amount.
■ conjunction
1》 used to indicate simultaneous occurrence.
2》 used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens.
3》 because.
4》 even though.
■ preposition
1》 used to refer to the function or character of someone or something.
2》 during the time of being.
Phr~es
~ for (or to ) with regard to.
~ from (or of ) chiefly Brit. from a particular time or date.
~ if (or though ) ~ would be the c~e if.
~ ( it ) is in the existing circumstances.
~ yet until now or that time.
Origin
ME: reduced form of OE alswā 'similarly' (see also ).
Usage
Traditionalists hold that it is correct to say he's not ~ shy ~ I rather than he's not ~ shy ~ me , but the former construction can sound stilted and is now rarely used in normal speech. For more information on this issue, see usage at than .
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~ 2 [ ~ ]
■ noun ( plural ~ses ) an ancient Roman copper coin.
Origin
L., 'a unit'.