I. fə(r), (|)fȯ(ə)r, (|)fȯ(ə), in R speech in the southern US also (|)fär preposition
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fora before, furi before, for, Old Norse fyr, Gothic faur before, for, Latin per through, pro before, for, prae before, Greek pro before, ahead, Sanskrit pra- before, forward, Old English faran to travel, go — more at fare
1. obsolete : before
2.
a. : as a preparation toward
dressing for dinner
or against
storing nuts for the winter
or in view of
making plans for retirement
studying for examinations
: having as goal or object
volunteered for the air force
b. : in order to be, become, or serve as
originally built for a church
ordered eggs for breakfast
c. : in order to bring about or further
working for the good of humanity
d. : to supply the need of
food for hungry mouths
e. : with the purpose or object of
an instrument for measuring speed
f. : adapted to
suits for tall men
a calendar for 1960
or prerequisite to
a shelf for books
mathematics for engineers
g. : in order to obtain
write for a free catalog
or gain
work for a living
h. : in order to save (something in danger)
on trial for his life
could not tell for the life of me whether he was serious
running for dear life
or to remedy
take something for his cough
don't like to sell the house, but there is nothing else for it
mud is good for bee stings
3.
a. — used as a function word to indicate the object of a feeling
hungry for praise
longing for home
or faculty
a taste for spicy food
an eye for color
b. : so as to secure as a result : conducive to
telling you for your own good
acting for the best in forbidding the trip
c.
(1) : intending to go to or toward
has just left for the office
starting out for a trip across the country
(2) : on the point of : having the intention of
was just for going to bed
wise men will have it that he meant these islands, and I am not for arguing the point — Norman Douglas
d. — used as a function word to indicate the person or thing that something is to be delivered to
any letters for me
or assigned to
a slot for out-of-town mail
or used by or in connection with
are these the tires for this car
4. : to the amount of
a check for $100
or extent of
can see for miles from the hilltop
or duration of
waited for several hours
won't be here for long
or value of
now pull for all you are worth
5.
a. : in place of
go to the store for me
Doe now batting for Roe
: in exchange as the equivalent of
all that trouble for nothing
my kingdom for a horse — Shakespeare
or in requital of
he gave blow for blow
an eye for an eye
b. : in behalf of
his lawyer will act for him in this affair
: in support of
let me carry that for you
or in defense of
fighting for their country
: in favor of
a prayer for those at sea
which candidate are you for
— opposed to against
c. : in honor of : after
named for his grandfather
6.
a. — used with a noun or pronoun followed by an infinitive to form an equivalent to such noun clauses as that he should, that he might
for him to confess would be painful
shouted the news for all to hear
for you to have to pay for this is not fair
here are some books for you to read
b. — used chiefly South & Midland redundantly after such verbs as like, want, choose
I'd like for you to go
c. — used as a function word to introduce exclamations
for her to talk to her father like that
or mild oaths
for God's sake hold your tongue and let me love — John Donne
7.
a. : as being
know for a fact
do you take me for a fool
take for granted
mere noisy shouting often passes for comedy
left for dead on the field
b. — used as a function word to indicate parenthetically an actual or implied enumeration or selection from an aggregate or series
for one thing, we have no money; for another, we have no time
people don't buy it because, for one thing, the price is too high
I for one will vote for him
for the last time, will you stop that noise
be sensible for once
8.
a. : because of
shouted for joy
: on account of
decorated for bravery
do it for my sake
b. obsolete : in order to prevent : for fear of
here they shall not lie, for catching cold — Shakespeare
9. — used as a function word to indicate equality or proportion between numbers or quantities that are related, compared, or contrasted
for every good writer there are a dozen scribblers
answered his argument point for point
repeated the speech word for word
the best fighter, weight for weight, in the country
10.
a. : as regards : in respect to : concerning
a stickler for detail
so much for that topic
true for all I know
safe for the present
good country for deer
b. : in proportion to
tall for his age
: taking into account : considering
very cool for May
that was a good score for him
c. : in spite of : notwithstanding — usually used with all
you don't convince me for all your clever arguments
the elephants for all their great size moved absolutely noiselessly — Jule Mannix
a man's a man for a' that — Robert Burns
•
- for all me
- for all the world
- for itself
II. conjunction
Etymology: Middle English, from for, preposition
1. archaic : by reason that : for the reason that : because
my foolish rival, that her father likes only for his possessions are so huge — Shakespeare
2. : for this reason or on this ground : as indicated or shown by the following circumstance : in substantiation of which : witness the fact that — used to introduce a reason for something before advanced (as a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or proof, of an action related or a statement made)
we believe that he will succeed, for he has talent
the army should be reduced in numbers, for possession of large armies has led nations to war
3. obsolete : in order that
and, for the time shall not seem tedious, I'll tell thee what befell me — Shakespeare
III. ˈfȯ(ə)r, ˈfȯ(ə), in R speech in the southern US also ˈfär noun
( -s )
Etymology: for (I)
1. : one who takes the affirmative side
2. : what is said or felt in favor of someone or something : pro
IV. abbreviation
1. foreign
2. forel
3. forest; forestry