I. _əv; esp before a consonant -_ə; after an unstressed or lightly stressed vowel sometimes v ( as in thə̇sīdēəvābz for “ this idea of Abeʸs ”) or, before a vȯiceless consonant, f ( as in thə̇sīdēəftämz for “ this idea of Tomʸs ”) or, before f, without pronunciation ( as in thə̇sīdēəfredz for “ this idea of Fredʸs ”); when emphatic, as when it is the last or the first word in a sentence, |əv or |äv preposition
Etymology: Middle English, of, off, from Old English (also, adverb, away, off); akin to Old High German aba, preposition, off, away from, & adverb, off, away, down, Old Norse af, preposition, off, from, Gothic af from, away from, since, Latin ab from, Greek apo away from, off, Sanskrit apa away, off
1. obsolete — used as a function word to indicate the place or thing from which anything moves, comes, goes, or is directed or impelled
with the least drawing blood of another — Samuel Purchas
2. archaic — used as a function word to indicate an anterior condition from which a transition has been made
I, of brute, human; ye, of human, gods — John Milton
3. : at an interval or in a direction with respect to — used to indicate something from which position or reckoning is defined
north of the lake
the arrow went wide of the mark
passed within a foot of the rock
waited upwards of an hour
within a few hours of birth
I know you of old, you don't fool me
4. — used as a function word to indicate something from which a person or thing is delivered
cured him of being late
eased of her pain
rid the barn of rats
or with respect to which someone or something is made destitute
robbed of his sleep
stripped of all his titles
relieved of his command
5.
a. : from by birth or descent
born of a royal house
he is of a well-to-do family
b. : from as the place of birth, production, or distribution : having as its base of operation, point of initiation, or source of issuance or derivation
of or relating to Italy, its language, or its people
c. : from as cause or occasion : in regard to
I wish him joy of her — Shakespeare
vote yes … because they are frightened of their skins — John Gunther
d. : from as possessor, seller, loser, giver
buy our eggs of a farmer
held his lands of the duke
e. : from as one that is looked to for something
asked a favor of me
too much to expect of a child
f. : from undergoing or coping with — used with it
had a hard time of it at school
make a good job of it
6. — used as a function word to indicate the cause, motive, or reason by which a person or thing is actuated or impelled
die of shame
this milk tastes of garlic
dead of violence
afraid of his own shadow
went of their own free will
did it of necessity
7. — used as a function word to indicate the agent or doer of an act or action (1) archaically after such participles as loved, ordained, forgotten
despised and rejected of men — Isa 53:3 (Authorized Version)
(2) after an adjective or adjective phrase characterizing the act or conduct
it was kind of him to offer it
and (3) after a noun indicating the maker or doer often with the force of a subjective genitive
plays of Shakespeare
the mercy of the Lord
the ruins of time
8. archaic — used as a function word to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is carried out
it is pouring of rain
pave it of gold
9. — used as a function word to indicate the material, parts, or elements composing something or the contents held by something
throne of gold
company of 20 men
distance of five miles
genus of mammals
cup of water
10.
a. — used as a function word to indicate a particular example belonging to the class denoted by the preceding noun
the city of Rome
month of August
goes under the name of charity
the crime of murder
b. — used as a function word to indicate simple or definitional apposition
great barn of a house
that fool of a husband
jewel of a woman
11. : relating to : with reference to : as regards : about
stories of his travels
the truth of the matter
judge of the case
dreaming of home
think of a way out
complaining of the heat
test of skill
12. — used as a function word indicating the object of an action denoted or implied by the preceding noun
love of nature
care of children
creation of the world
the polishing of a diamond
pursuit of happiness
knowledge of the past
13. — used as a function word (1) idiomatically after some adjectives implying action or process or perception
fruitful of results
sparing of words
greedy of gain
neglectful of his duties
or (2) chiefly dialect after verbs and participles
felt of his head
ever trying of something new — Adrian Bell
stop pestering of your father
14. : in respect to
slow of speech
light of step
forty years of age
problems difficult of solution
15. — used as a function word to indicate a quality or possession characterizing or distinguishing a subject
a fellow of infinite jest — Shakespeare
men of goodwill
persons of refinement
boy of ten years
— used with all to indicate a temporary quality or condition
all of a tremble
all of a sweat
— used with a following noun denoting or implying action usually with a possessive
wine of choice
rulers of their own choosing
girl of his dreams
boat of his own design
16.
a. — used as a function word indicating the aggregate or whole that includes the part or quantity denoted by the preceding word
most of the army
many of those present
ton of coal
three glasses of beer
first years of life
b. — used as a function word to indicate a whole or quantity from which some is removed or expended by the action of the preceding verb
gave generously of his time
partook of the morning meal
17.
a. — used as a function word indicating a possessive relationship
gates of heaven
courage of the pioneers
lateness of the hour
cube of six
member of parliament
or close association in time
in the days of the Roman emperors
knights of yore
— used often with a following possessive
a friend of mine
an acquaintance of the colonel's
through no fault of his
b. — used as a function word to indicate such relationships as ruler and subject, owner and property
king of England
Mary of Scotland
chiefs of state
captain of Company A
head of the household
18. — used as a function word to indicate a point or space in time relating either to a single or to a usual action or occurrence
he died of a Monday
likes to visit a bar of an evening
plays golf of a Sunday
19. — used as a function word indicating position before the clock hour
ten minutes of eight
twenty-five of five
quarter of ten
20.
a. now dialect : on
a plague of all cowards — Shakespeare
fell flat of his back in the grass — F.B.Gipson
b. chiefly Britain : in
continue her full membership of the Commonwealth — British Information Services
c. chiefly dialect : with
what's the matter of her
II. _ə(v) verbal auxiliary
Etymology: by alteration
: have — used especially in written dialogue to represent a supposed dialect or substand. speech
meant to of written you — Christopher La Farge
hadn't ought to of fooled with figures — Delos Avery
told you we should of quit — William English