From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
For \For\, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D.
voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f["u]r, Icel. fyrir,
Sw. f["o]r, Dan. for, adv. f["o]r, Goth. fa['u]r, fa['u]ra,
L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra-. [root] 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.
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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.
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With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. --Shak.
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How to choose dogs for scent or speed. --Waller.
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Now, for so many glorious actions done,
For peace at home, and for the public wealth,
I mean to crown a bowl for C[ae]sar's health.
--Dryden.
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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.
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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.
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The oak for nothing ill,
The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.
--Spenser.
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It was young counsel for the persons, and violent
counsel for the matters. --Bacon.
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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.
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For he writes not for money, nor for praise.
--Denham.
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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.
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We can do nothing against the truth, but for the
truth. --2 Cor. xiii.
8.
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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.
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Aristotle is for poetical justice. --Dennis.
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4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is
directed, or the point toward which motion is made;
?ntending to go to.
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We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. --Bacon.
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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.
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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.
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6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which
anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
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We take a falling meteor for a star. --Cowley.
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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.
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Most of our ingenious young men take up some
cried-up English poet for their model. --Dryden.
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But let her go for an ungrateful woman. --Philips.
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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.
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The writer will do what she please for all me.
--Spectator.
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God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next
minute supervene. --Dr. H. More.
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For anything that legally appears to the contrary,
it may be a contrivance to fright us. --Swift.
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8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or
state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or
time of.
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For many miles about
There 's scarce a bush. --Shak.
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Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.
--prior.
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To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
--Garth.
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9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of
which, anything is done. [Obs.]
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We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
--Beau. & Fl.
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{For}, or {As for}, so far as concerns; as regards; with
reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently.
See under {As}.
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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
--Josh. xxiv.
15.
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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[eth][=y].], 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.
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