For prep. and conj.

Also 2 fer, 3 south. vor, Orm. forr. [OE. for prep. = OFris., OS. for, Goth. faur; probably an apocopated form of OTeut. *fora FORE adv. and prep., arising independently in the various langs. (cf. the origin of MHG. and mod. Ger. vor from OHG. fora); it may however represent a parallel formation on the same stem with some other suffix. Another formation on this stem appears in OS. fur, furi, OHG. furi (MHG. vur, mod.Ger. für) prep., for, ON. fyre(r (Da. for, Sw. för) adv. and prep., before, for.

  The use of for as a conj. has not been found earlier than the 12th c. The older lang. supplied the place of the conj. by locutions in which for prep. governed a neuter demonstrative pronoun followed by a relative particle: for ðon ðe, for ðý ðe, etc. (see FOR-THON, FOR-THY). The conjunctional use of for = for ðon ðe may be explained either as an extension of the functions of the prep. to govern a noun-sentence, or as an ellipsis.

  In OE. for and fore seem to have been used indiscriminately as preps.; in ME. they were gradually differentiated.]

  A.  prep.

  † I.  = BEFORE in various uses. Obs. (see FORE.)

  1.  Of place, a. In front of; = BEFORE 2, 2 b.

Beowulf, 358 (Gr.).

	He for eaxlum ȝestod
	Deniga frean.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2108 (Gr.). For þæs eaȝum, þe þe æsca tir æt guþe forȝeaf!

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10497 (Cott.). Sco sagh þat angel for hir stand.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, IV. iv. 3.

	For whose throne ’tis needfull
	Ere I can prefect mine intents, to kneele.

  b.  In the presence or sight of; = BEFORE 3, 4.

Beowulf, 1649 (Gr.).

	Þa wæs be feaxe    on flet boren
	Grendles heafod,    þær guman druncon,
	eȝeslic for eorlum.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 113. Moni mon nafð ehta and þeh haueð modinesse and is erm for worlde and uniseli for gode.

  c.  In asseveration; = BEFORE 5. (Cf. Gr. πρός.) In later use replaced by FORE.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 25. For gode hit is wlateful þing for te þenke þron.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2563.

	‘My prayer ys now ido.’
	‘For gode,’ saide erld Ogeroun, ‘so ys myn al-so.’

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 838. Ȝeysse, for god, quod þe knyȝt, dede he was.

  d.  into the presence of.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 871 (Gr.). Ne dear nu forð gan for þe andweardne.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23933 (Gött.). Leuedi … lede me wid þe for þi sun.

  2.  Of time; = BEFORE 7, 8, 9. For lang: long ago. (Cf. ON. fyrer.)

a. 1000.  Leg. Fursæus, in Rel. Ant., I. 276. Ic wat þone man on Criste, þe wæs ȝe-gripen nu for feowertyne ȝearum.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 3076.

	Forr þatt itt wass forr maniȝ daȝȝ
	Ær cwiddedd þurrh prophetess.
	Ibid., 6995.
	Þatt illke, off whamm profetess
	Haffdenn forrlannge cwiddedd ær.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 22. Bute ȝif hit beo holiniht vor þe feste.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10715 (Cott.).

	‘Lok yee,’ he said, ‘þe propheci
	Was said for lang of ysai.’

  3.  In preference to, above; = BEFORE 11.

c. 1000.  Rood, 93 (Gr.).

	He his modor … for ealle menn
	ȝeweorðode ofer eall wifa cynn.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13919.

	Ah for alle ure goden deore
	þa we scullen hæren
	Woden hehde þa hæhste laȝe.

c. 1300.  Beket, 721.

	Bote the statutz of Clarendone ech bischop holde scholde;
	And nameliche theo for alle other.

14[?].  Sir Beues, 160 (MS. M.). Sir, blessud be ye for alle men!

1486–1504.  Lett., in Denton, Eng. in 15th Cent. (1888), Note D, 318. It is mor meritory to support and succur a comynte then one mane, yowre tenan(ts) rathere then a stronge man, the pore and the innocent for a gentylman or a gentylmans man.

  II.  Of representation, substitution or exchange.

  4.  Representing, as representative of.

  ‘The member for — shire’ now belongs rather to 13 c.

a. 1000.  Guthlac, 171 (Gr.).

	Se for ealle spræc
	feonda menȝu.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 953.

	An, for ham alle,
	onswerede ant seide.

1414.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 22/2. Youre humble and trewe lieges that ben come for the Co[mmun]e of youre lond.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., v. 14 b. Their Xeque (for so they call him alwaies that is gouernour of the towne) which was there for the king.

1842.  Macaulay, Ess. (1848), II. 187. The members for many counties and large towns had been instructed to vote for an inquiry into the circumstances which had produced the miscarriage of the preceding year.

1843.  Thackeray, Men’s Wives, in Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Sept., 334/2. Walker returned thanks for his lady.

1891.  Law Times, XCII. 124/2. Lord Palmerston and the Earl of Mayo, both Irish Peers, sat for English constituencies.

  b.  In elliptical expressions, once for all, † for all. Cf. Ger. ein für allemal.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., II. iii. 111.

	Learne now, for all,
	That I which know my heart, do heere pronounce
	By th’very truth of it, I care not for you.

1820.  J. S. Knowles, Virginius, II. ii. Now, once for all, farewell!

1881.  Bible (Revised), Hebr. vii. 27. For this he did once for all [1611: once], when he offered up himself.

  5.  In place of, instead of.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. ii. 22. He ȝehyrde þæt archelaus rixode on iudea-þeode for ðæne herodem.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9972 (Cott.).

	Maria … stondes vs for sceild and targe,
	Agains all vre wiþerwyns.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), vi. 19. He died of puysoun, and his broþer regned for him.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 223. Some … will saye … Blacke Vellet, for blacke Veluet.

1611.  Bible, Luke xi. 11. Or if he aske a fish, will he for a fish giue him a serpent?

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 9.

	Bacchus and fott’ring Ceres, Pow’rs Divine,
	Who gave us Corn for Mast, for Water Wine.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., I. 13.

	Though now restor’d ’tis only change of pain,
	(A bitter change!) severer for severe.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 248. She could not read or write. She added, that the count had written all that was wanting for her.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 208. For the old test, which excluded Catholics and Presbyterians alike from office, was substituted a new test, which admitted the Catholics, but excluded most of the Presbyterians.

1895.  Lake, in Law Times, XCIX. 468/2. They will employ somebody to do the business for them.

  6.  Of payment, purchase, sale, etc. = In exchange for: see EXCHANGE sb. 1 g.

  a.  Introducing the thing bought or sold, etc.: As the price of, or the penalty on account of. Also after verbs, e.g., PAY, q.v.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 38. Eaȝe for eaȝe and toð for toð.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 9. Nouþer gold ne seoluer ne moste gan for þe.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Ded., 143.

	& I shall hafenn forr min swinnc
	God læn att Godd onn ende.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), I. 174.

	Men gaf fiueten schillynges for a goos or a heen
	For þe grete lordynges bouht to seke men.

1542.  MS. Acc. St. John’s Hosp., Canterb. To Nycholes for the byllet for the schyr and hys costis xv s.

1789.  Durnford & East, Reports, III. 467. The right of a seller to his goods, where be cannot receive payment for them.

1895.  Bookman, Oct., 17/2. The coming season will also see the publication of H.R.H. Duc d’Aumale’s great work, ‘L’Histoire des Princes de Condé,’ for which some of us would gladly give all the novels ever written.

  b.  In requital of.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. xxxiv. [xxxv]. 14 (Spelman). Aguldon me yfelu for godum.

1583.  Hollyband, Campo di Fior, 107. That she giue vs something for our paines.

1677.  Plot, Oxfordsh., 151. Being found to yield considerably better than most other wheat, viz. somtimes twenty for one.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 220.

	Describe we next the Nature of the Bees,
	Bestow’d by Jove for secret Services.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 109. As to my ungrateful demigod of a sheep-stealer, Hercules, the poor wretch has brought down upon himself a full punishment for all his misdeeds.

1885.  Bowen, in Law Rep., 14 Q. Bench Div. 869. Counsel … who should take nothing for their services.

1895.  A. I. Shand, Life Sir E. B. Hamley, I. ii. 21–2. The senior had committed himself and provoked his fate, and he was very soundly thrashed for his pains, with the cane which had been carefully selected to suit its intended purpose.

  III.  7. In defence or support of; in favor of, on the side of. Opposed to against. Often predicatively: see BE v. 23 c.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Exod. xiv. 14. And Drihteu fiht for eow.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 7. Heo sculen … bidden for heom.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 363. How shulde men fiȝte for a persone, þat þei witen not [etc.]?

1550.  Crowley, Epigr., 201.

	An hell with out order,
	I maye it well call,
	Where euerye man is for him selfe,
	And no manne for all.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 386. Leonata. My Lord, I am for you, though it cost mee ten nights watchings.

1676.  Hobbes, Iliad, Preface (1686), 12. Homer indeed maketh some Gods the Greeks, and some for the Trojans; but always makes Jupiter impartial.

1690.  Locke, Govt., II. vi. § 61. The Freedom of a man, at years of discretion, and the Subjection of a Child to his Parents, whilst yet short of it, are so consistent, and so distinguishable, that the most blinded Contenders for Monarchy, by Right of Fatherhood, cannot miss of it; the most obstinate cannot but allow of it.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 118, 16 July, ¶ 3. For all she looks so innocent as it were, take my Word for it she is no Fool.

1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, Dedication, vii.–viii. The only Consolation, we have in our present Anxiety, is placed in a Confidence of the unbiass’d Integrity, Justice, and Humanity of the Right Honourable Persons who will one Day determime for or against us.

1795.  Hist., in Ann. Reg., 82 After a doubtful conflict of three days, fortune declared at last for the convention.

1847–9.  Helps, Friends in C., Ser. I. (1851), I. 177. But love is not like property: it has neither duties nor rights. You argue for it in vain; and there is no one who can give it to you.

1885.  Cotton, in Law Rep., 30 Ch. Div. 13. I do not think that the cases which have been referred to by Mr. Levett carry out the proposition for which he has cited them.

  b.  In exclamations, indicating the person, etc., favored.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. ii. 603.

	Did ride, with many a good morrow,
	Crying, hey, for our Town through the Burrough.

1835.  Lytton, Rienzi, III. i. ‘Hurrah for the Knight of St. John!’ cried the mercenaries; ‘And hurrah for fair France and bold Germany!’

  c.  In honor of. Also To name a child for (= after) a person (now only U.S.).

1800.  H. Wells, Const. Neville, I. 7. Both of these young ladies being well assured that either of them were better fitted to shine in an exalted sphere than the meek unambitious Louisa, who had been named for the mother of Mr. Hayman, with no expectation that she would benefit from possessing that appellation.

1820.  J. S. Knowles, Virginius, I. i. Cheer for him, if you are Romans!

1826.  P. Scargill, Truth, I. ii. 7. ‘What is the name to be? I think your mother’s was Matilda.’—‘Yes, she was named for a great worthy, lady Matilda; but I wish my child to have a scripture name—Dorcas, I think.’

1863.  Hawthorne, Our Old Home (1864), 20. He had named his two children, one for Her Majesty and the other for Prince Albert.

  d.  quasi-sb. Fors and againsts: ‘pros and cons.’

c. 1815.  Jane Austen, Persuas., II. ix. 185. I was privy to all the fors and againsts, I was the friend to whom he confided his hopes and plans.

1892.  Miss Broughton, Mrs. Bligh, in Temple Bar Mag., Nov., 424. If the fors and againsts of any course of action were not so inextricably mixed, how much simpler life would be!

  IV.  Of purpose or destination.

  8.  With a view to; with the object or purpose of: as preparatory to. For company: see COMPANY 1 b.

Beowulf, 458 (Gr.). Þa … for arstafum    usic sohtest.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp. John xi. 4. Nys þeos untrumnys na for deaðe ac for godes wuldre.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2889. For warnyng of frendes þat lyefes.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxiv. 505. I byleve that god hathe sente theym to vs for our savynge.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxxx. 159. The Englyshmen neuer departed fro their batayls for chasynge of any man, but kept styll their felde.

a. 1654.  Selden, Table-T. (Arb.), 82. Though we write [Parson] differently, yet ’tis but Person; that is, the individual person set apart for the service of such a Church.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. vi. I left the iron crow in the wreck for next day.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, III. xix. 95. The Corinthians … set sail, with a fleet of 75 ships and 2000 heavy-armed, for the relief of Epidamnus.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 615. A considerable number of prisoners were immediately selected for execution.

1887.  L. Carroll, Game of Logic, ii. § 6. 50.

	I have been out for a walk;
	I feel much better.

1891.  Law Times, XC. 283/1. An order was made … for the payment of the balance to the plaintiff.

  b.  For the purpose of being or becoming.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 210. Berynge in theyr handes flowres and roses for a token, bycause that men shall better knowe theym.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 253.

	Whom to reserve for Husband of the Herd;
	Or who shall be to Sacrifice preferr’d.

1741.  trans. Fortunate Country Maid, I. 13. He shall hear Reason: or, Waunds, I’ll go for a Soldier.

1852.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., vii. She had had two sons, of whom the younger ran wild, and went for a soldier, and never came back.

1885.  G. Allen, Babylon, xiv. I’m going to leave my place at the end of the month, and go for a pupil-teacher at Miss Woolacott’s.

  c.  Conducive to.

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D., I. i. (Arb.), 12.

	But when Roister Doister is put to his proofe,
	To keepe the Queenes peace is more for his behoofe.

1664.  Tillotson, Wisd. being Relig., 31. It is for the general good of humane Society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just.

c. 1710.  C. Fiennes, Diary (1888), 128. The Bishop does not Care to stay long in this place not being for his health.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, Advt. I cannot sufficiently acknowledge my obligations to my friend Mr. Malone, who was so good as to allow me to read to him almost the whole of my manuscript, and make such remarks as were greatly for the advantage of the Work.

1843.  Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Nov., 565/2. It is all for her good. Yes, but it is from her home!—from the home she loves—from the home that loves her.

  d.  For sale: to be sold. For rent (U.S.) = To let.

1884.  Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 6 Sept., Advt. Baltimore Warehouse for Rent.

1889.  G. W. Cable, The ‘Haunted House’ in Royal Street, in Century Mag., XXXVIII. Aug., 590/1. The last time I saw it, it was for rent, and looked as if it had been so for a long time.

  9.  In order to obtain. Also after verbs like ask, search, etc., or verbs implying motion, e.g., To go, send, etc. for: see the verbs.

  So, with mixture of 21 or 6, in (I would not) for anything, for a great deal, for all the world, etc.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 9. Þat sið þat tu eauer dides te into swuch þeowdom for worldliche wunne.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 788.

	Hauelok was war þat grim swank sore
	For his mete, and he lay at hom.

c. 1450.  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), 11.

	Naye, Lorde, that will we not indeede
	For nothinge treasspass unto thee.

1611.  Bible, Prov. xxviii. 21. For a piece of bread that man will transgresse.

1657.  W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life Peiresc, I. 25. He had been informed that shortly the famous marriage of the most Christian King with Maria Medicea, who is now the Queen-mother, was to be celebrated at Florence; and he would not for any thing, but be present at the Solemnity to behold the same.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 620.

	When weary Proteus, from the briny Waves,
	Retir’d for Shelter to his wonted Caves.

1728.  Young, Love Fame, I. 49.

	Though vain the strife, I’ll strive my voice to raise:
	What will not men attempt for sacred praise?

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), V. xix. After having fee’d very high for places at Mrs. Siddons’s benefit.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 84. A menial servant was employed to bring a suit for this sum in the Court of King’s Bench.

1864.  Holme Lee, In the Silver Age, II. 165. Though I would not for the world hurt his feelings by making invidious comparisons, I must say that he has not Tricksy’s winning ways and spirituel airs and graces.

1883.  Manch. Exam., 27 Nov., 5/5. The drawers … struck work for an advance of wages.

1891.  Newcastle Even. Chron., 29 Jan., 3/1. For two pins I’ll throw the lamp at you.

  b.  Of an amount staked or an object risked, e.g., to play for (a certain stake): see PLAY v. Also in a wager, in asseverations, and in a narrow escape for one’s life, to try a man for his life.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 16. For mi lif quoð hire feder þe schal laðin his luue for þu schalt beon ibeaten [etc.].

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D., I. i. (Arb.), 12.

	I haue yond espied hym sadly comming,
	And in loue for twentie pounde, by hys glommyng.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. i. 49. Now for my life the knaue doth court my loue! Ibid. (1602), Ham., III. iv. 24. Ham. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.

1836.  Southey, in Quarterly Review, LVII. Sept., 10. Major Beltran, a Peruvian officer, who had now joined the party, had a narrow escape for his life.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 223. Rosewell had, during that persecution of the Dissenters which followed the detection of the Rye House Plot, been falsely accused of preaching against the government, had been tried for his life by Jeffreys, and had, in defiance of the clearest evidence, been convicted by a packed jury.

  c.  For (one’s) life: in order to save one’s life; also in hyperbolical use, as if one’s life depended on it, with one’s utmost efforts. Also in phrases like I cannot do it for the life of me, for my heart, soul, etc., where the sense is sometimes ‘if it were to save my life,’ etc., and sometimes ‘if I were to give my life,’ etc.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1078.

	He ne mihte for his live
	Iseo þat man wiþ hire speke.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 52. He had neuer had the audacitie and boldnesse for his hart, to set one foote forward into Syria.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 38.

	I bade the rascal knock upon your gate,
	And could not get him for my heart to do it.

    Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. iii. 160. I dare not for my head fill my belly.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 85, 7 June, ¶ 1. I can’t, for my Heart, leave a Room before I have thoroughly studied the Walls of it, and examined the several printed Papers which are usually pasted upon them.

1786.  Mackenzie, Lounger, No. 56, 197. A great many other things, Mr Lounger, which I can’t do for the heart of me.

a. 1806.  H. K. White, in Life & Rem. (1825), 176.

	Come, come, ’twill not do! put that purling brow down;
	You can’t, for the soul of you, learn how to frown.

1813.  Byron, Giaour, 249.

	The spur hath lanced his courser’s sides;
	Away, away, for life he rides.

1831.  L. E. Landon, Romance & Reality (1848), 354. We must row for our lives, as they say on the Thames when they are rowing for ‘the cup and the kiver.’

1843.  Blackw. Mag., LIV. Dec., 742/1. I could not resist a smile for the life of me.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xix. Walter, for his life, would have hardly called her by her name.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 131. Charles fled for his life, and, with extreme difficulty, escaped the fate of his father.

1887.  Times, 15 April, 9/6. Back! for your lives!

  d.  To run, etc., for it: see IT.

  10.  Indicating the object to which the activity of the faculties or feelings is directed: frequent after vds., as care, long, search, etc., sbs., as an eye, genius, talent, taste, desire, love, etc., or adjs., as eager, watchful, etc. (see those words); also in exclamations expressing expectancy or desire, Now for, Oh for.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. ii. 159.

	O for a Falkners voice,
	To lure this Tassell gentle backe againe.

1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., V. ii. Wks. 1856, I. 133. O for a fat leg of ewe mutton in stewde broth, or drunken song to feede on.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 299.

	Such Rage of Honey in their Bosom beats:
	And such a Zeal they have for flow’ry Sweets.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 30, ¶ 5. Now for Colonel Constant’s Epistle; you see it is folded and directed with the utmost Care.

1834.  Medwin, Angler in Wales, I. 37. Now for a cigar and Charters.

1842.  Macaulay, Lays, Virginia, 102.

	Oh for that ancient spirit which curbed the Senate’s will!
	Oh for the tents which in old time whitened the Sacred Hill!

  11.  Before an inf., usually for to, (Sc. till), indicating the object of an action; = ‘in order (to).’ Now arch. or vulgar. Cf. Fr. pour, Ger. um zu.

  For for to in other connections see FORTO prep. and conj.

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 221. Forte don him understonden.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 180. Ne brekeþ ne ure drihte hellegate for lesen hi of bende.

a. 1200.  Ormin, 1006.

	All þeȝȝre lac wass swillc & swillc,
	Forr oþerr þing to tacnenn.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13306.

	Ich æm icumen þe þus næh
	for muchelere neode
	for suggen þe tiðende.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 25. He bi gan to schake ys axe, for to smyte anon.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 53. For to clense þe wounde, vse þe medicyn of mel roset colath with barly mele.

c. 1485.  Digby Myst., IV. 527.

	What can þou saye,
	Thy-self for till excuse?

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. xxviii. 20. He that maketh to moch haist for to be riche, shall not be vngiltie.

1578–1600.  Scot. Poems 16th C., II. 162.

	Send from the prince of all vnright,
	O Christ, for till obscure thy light.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 86/1. A Billet is a piece of Cleft Wood for to Burn.

1748.  G. Washington, Jrnl., 8 April, Writ. 1889, I. 6. You must ride round y^e back of y^e Mountain for to get below them.

1774.  A. Adams, in J. Q. Adams’ Fam. Lett. (1876), 41. I view it [the injured town] with much the same sensations that I should the body of a departed friend—having only put off its present glory for to rise finally to a more happy state.

  b.  Hence for to often occurs merely for to before an inf. Obs. in educated use.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 54. Þe eppel þæt ich loke on is forbode me to etene, & nout forto biholden.

c. 1305.  St. Swithin, 14, in E. E. P. (1862), 43.

	Seint swythin þe ȝunge man, swiþe ȝung bigan
	Forto seruie ihesu crist.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 717 (Fair.). Satanas … þoȝt þat ioy for-til stynt.

1397.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 379/2. As I wyll answere befor Godd, it was my menyng and my wenyng for to have do the best for his persone and for his estate.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxxvi. 152. The kyng of Englande beyng at Araynes, wyst nat where for to passe the ryuer of Some, the which was large and depe, and all briges were broken and the passages well kept.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 328, note. Blustring winds … make the Seas for to rage and roar.

1674.  trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, 84. Birds, Beasts, Fishes, which it was unlawfull for to bring in at the foredoor.

  12.  Indicating destination. Cf. Fr. pour.

  a.  In order to arrive at; with the purpose of going to (a place). Formerly sometimes after go, journey, travel, etc. Now chiefly after verbs denoting the commencement of a journey, as to depart, start, sail, leave, or the act of directing movement, as to steer, make; also after the pple. bound. Also predicatively: see BE 23 b.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, 36. She asked whi they were departed for the kynges courte.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iii. 71. Iohn. For England Cosen, goe.

1595.  Drake, Will, in Wills Doctor’s Com. (Camden), 77. Generall of her Majesties fleete nowe in service for the west Indyes, beinge perfect of minde and memorie.

1646.  Markham, Lett., in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 2. [I am] most certainly informed that hee is at Newcastle and intends for France.

1660–1.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 43. Mr. Mabbot, (who used to write to you formerly [and] I think still) is shortly to goe for Ireland, hauing an office in the customs there.

1704.  Addison, Italy, Wks. 1804, V. 149. We sailed from hence directly for Genoa, and had a fair Wind that carried us into the middle of the Gulph, which is very remarkable for Tempests and Scarcity of Fish.

1706–7.  Farquhar, Beaux’ Stratagem, II. i. Wks. (1742), 17. Are you for church this morning?

1719.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xviii. We steered directly for the Gulf, and through to Bassora, or Balsara. Ibid. (1724), Mem. Cavalier (1840), 285. Upon these, and like considerations, we resolved for Newark.

1763.  Wesley, Jrnl., 20 Aug. (1827), III. 138. So we concluded to try for Larn, though we knew not the way, and it was now quite dark.

1791.  ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., ix. (1809), 106. As ill luck would have it, the curb broke, and he [a horse] ran straight on for the cliffs above the Scar.

1820.  Keats, Eve St. Agnes, i.

	Numb were the Beadsman’s fingers, while he told
	His rosary, and while his frosted breath,
	Like pious incense from a censer old,
	Seem’d taking flight for heaven, without a death,
	Past the sweet Virgin’s picture, while his prayer he saith.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, II. 296. The Persian army was in full march for Athens: after the desolation of Phocis it had passed peaceably through Bœotia, where all the cities, except Thespiæ and Platæa, had testified their submissive spirit, by receiving Madedonian garrisons.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew. (1884), 251. And they rowed away for Crowland, by many a mere and many an ea; through narrow reaches of clear brown glassy water; between the dark-green alders; between the pale-green reeds; where the coot clanked, and the bittern boomed, and the sedge-bird, not content with its own sweet song, mocked the notes of all the birds around; and then out into the broad lagoons, where hung motionless, high over head, hawk beyond hawk, buzzard beyond buzzard, kite beyond kite, as far as eye could see.

1879.  Church, Spenser, i. 9. Spenser was sixteen or seventeen when he left school for the university, and he entered Cambridge at the time when the struggle which was to occupy the reign of Elizabeth was just opening.

1883.  Law Times Rep., XLIX. 17 Nov., 332/2. The Clan Sinclair, however, canted, with her head to port as if under a starboard bow and she cast off her tug, and headed for the Margaret, causing danger of collision.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 12 March, 4/6. Lord Reay left London yesterday for India.

  b.  transf. of time.

1885.  Truth, XIII. 2 July, 3/1. It was getting on for two before supper was served.

  c.  Introducing the intended recipient, or the thing to which something is intended to belong, or in connection with which it is to be used.

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/1. Certein Commune of Pasture, and Turf-gravyng, the whiche the said Lord the Roos claymes for hymself and his tenanz.

1551.  Turner, Herbal, I. F v b. The same [byrche] is good to make hoopis of, and twygges for baskettes, it is so bowing.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy. Turkie, I. xxi. 27. For a magnificency were set vp 2. faire pauillions, the one for him, ioyning vnto a very faire fountaine: & the other for the Ambassador & his company.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 131. Val. Madam, they are for you.

1636.  Massinger, Bashf. Lover, V. i.

	Goth.  Your bottles too, that I carry
	For your own tooth?

1660.  Act 12 Chas. II., c. 4. Sched. s.v. Boxes, French boxes for Marmelade or Gelly.

1759.  Johnson, Idler, No. 42, 3 Feb., ¶ 2. The Idler holds the shield for Virtue, as well as the glass for Folly, that he will employ his leisure hours as much as his own satisfaction in warning his Readers against a danger, as in laughing them out of a fashion.

1835–6.  R. B. Todd, The Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology, I. 518/1, note. For this group of animals M. De Haan has proposed the name of Asiphonoidia.

1839.  Cath. Sinclair, Holiday House, xii. 281. He bought gowns for all the maids, and books for all the men-servants.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 20. He had already secured for himself a place in history by the conspicuous part which he had taken in the deliverance of his country.

1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 45. On one side of the Guildhall rose a tower, with a fireproof chamber for the muniments and jewels of especial value; on the other, a stone-vaulted kitchen, where dinner could be dressed for an army of guests.

  13.  Of appointment, appropriation, or fitness. a. Following a vb., adj., or noun of quality, denoting appointment, appropriation, fitness, etc.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), Prol. 2. Dethe withouten ende; the whiche was ordeyned for us. Ibid., v. 56. It is a manere of Wode, that comethe out of Paradys terrestre, the whiche is goode for manye dyverse Medicynes.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., 318.

	We xal asay
	Yf the cros for the be mete.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., Introd. 9. Henry duke of Lancastre … a prince apt for a kyndom.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, Rubric. The vesture appoyncted for that ministration.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., ii. 5. Money to put himselfe in a readinesse for that voiage.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., III. (1677), 62. This Bird sings somewhat more than three months in the year; his Note, as I said, is harsh, therefore to adde a value to him, let him be taught to whistle; yet put Song and Whistle together, in my judgment it is fitter for a large Inne than a Lady’s Chamber.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1754), 9. Innumerable Numbers of Men on Horseback, some alone, others with Servants, and generally speaking, all loaded with Baggage and fitted out for travelling, as any one might perceive by their Appearance.

1764.  Foote, Patron, II. Wks. 1799, I. 349. Robinson Crusoe is advertis’d for this evening.

1789.  Blake, Songs Innoc., Echoing Green, iii.

	Round the laps of their mothers
	Many sisters and brothers,
	Like birds in their nest,
	Are ready for rest.

1815.  Jane Austen, Emma, I. v. 74. You are better placed here; very fit for a wife, but not at all for a governess.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, III. xxii. 246–7. The forces indeed which Demosthenes had already at his disposal seem to have been quite sufficient for his purpose; but he had hitherto been deterred from using them. Ibid. (1840), VII. 283. Seleucus, reflecting on Pithon’s fate, augured that which was designed for himself.

1840.  Peter Parley’s Annual, 54. What is a clock good for?

  b.  After adjs. or advs. qualified by too, enough, etc., the prep. is often equivalent to the infinitive combinations, ‘to admit of,’ ‘to require, call for,’ or the like.

1803–6.  Wordsworth, Ode Int. Immortality.

	Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
	Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
	To me the meanest flower that blows can give
	Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

1832.  Westm. Rev., XVII. July, 82. The passages in reference to their carousing, to be found in Ferishta, are far too frequent for quotation.

Mod.  The subject is quire important enough for separate treatment.

  c.  Following a sb., or predicatively: = Appointed or adapted for, proper or suitable for. (There is) nothing for it but: (there is) no way of meeting the case, no course open, but.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 294. Clothed in comly cloþing · for any kinges sone.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, D iii b. There is a bastarde, and that hauke is for a Baron.

1583.  Hollyband, Campo di Fior, 55. I will rather have him. He is for me.

1663.  Pepys, Diary, 27 April. My boy too will be going in a few days, for he is not for my family, he is grown so out of order and not to be ruled.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. 64. Sea-Carriages are made less, as the Block-maker that makes them hath Rules for.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 297, 9 Feb., ¶ 6. That the Hero in the Paradise Lost is unsuccessful, and by no means a Match for his Enemies.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), III. 198. If I have nothing for it, as you say, but matrimony, it yields a little comfort, that his relations do not despise the fugitive, as persons of their rank and quality-pride might be supposed to do, for having been a fugitive.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 250. The sheets, a term for various ropes.

1840.  Peter Parley’s Annual, 55. Peter, Peter, where are you? Do you know it is time for school?

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 3–4. Curiosity is withdrawn from the momentous questions which have interest only for noble souls; and an attenuated pedantry coldly wonders at the ‘little importance of the points theologians have been ready to die for.’

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 223. Lauderdale, however, still continued to be minister for Scotch affairs, with which the English Parliament could not interfere.

1850.  Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., i. 37. England, as I read the omens, is now called a second time to ‘show the Nations how to live’; for by her Parliament, as chief governing entity, I fear she is not long for this world!

1874.  Dasent, Half a Life, I. 196. There was nothing for it but to grin and bear it.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 22 Sept., 5/3. The old law making hanging the inevitable penalty for murder. Ibid. (1886), 3 Nov., 3/1. The Quarterly for October.

  d.  (It is) for (a person) to do something: becoming or permissible to, the duty or concern of.

1611.  Bible, Prov. xxxi. 4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke.

1819.  Cobbett, Eng. Gram., xvii. § 193. This it with its verb to be is sometimes employed with the preposition for, with singular force and effect. ‘It is for the guilty to live in fear, to skulk and hang their heads; but for the innocent it is to enjoy ease and tranquillity of mind, to scorn all disguise, and to carry themselves erect.’

1885.  Bowen, in Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 872. It will be for the Rule Committee to alter the rule if they think that it does not carry out what they consider expedient.

  14.  Of result or effect; used after words like cause, ground, motive, reason, etc. (See the sbs.)

  15.  Designating an amount to be received or paid; cf. 6. Also in Cricket scoring: With the result of (so many runs), at the cost of (so many wickets).

1776.  Trial of Nundocomar, 23/2. You said Bollakey Doss drew a draught on Benares in favour of lord Clive for a lack of rupees.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, II. viii. The Lord’s men were out by half-past twelve o’clock for ninety-eight runs.

1885.  L’pool Daily Post, 1 June, 5/4. The University men were all out for 44.

1886.  Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll, i. (ed. 2), 8. The figure was stiff; but the signature was good for more than that, if it was only genuine.

1887.  A. Birrell, Obiter Dicta, Ser. II. 159. Burke’s father promptly sent the author a bank-bill for £100—conduct on his part which, considering he had sent his son to London and maintained him there for six years to study law, was, in my judgment, both sublime and beautiful.

Mod.  Put my name down for two guineas. (Comm.) We have this day drawn on you for £100. (Cricket) The score stood at 150 for 6 wickets.

  V.  Of advantage or disadvantage.

  16.  With the purpose or result of benefiting or gratifying; as a service to.

c. 1000.  Cynew., Crist (Gollancz), 1423. Ic þæt for worulde ȝeþolade.

c. 1205.  Lay., 62.

	Þæt he þeos soðfeste word segge to-sumne,
	For his fader saule.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 22. Þe uormeste viue [Psalmes] uor ou sulf & for alle þet ou god doð.

1340.  Ayenb., 1. Þin holy blod þet þou sseddest ane þe rod uor me and uor mankende.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. i. 65.

	For Banquo’s Issue haue I fil’d my Minde,
	For them, the gracious Duncan haue I murther’d.

c. 1630.  Milton, Passion, 11.

	Dangers, and snares, and wrongs, and worse then so,
	Which he for us did freely undergo.

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, v. Ded. 406. Now that you have brought me forth into the open field, and set me up to be gazed on, and baited at by the differing censures of diverse censors, leave me not to shift for my selfe.

1674.  trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, 118. When the Wedding is over, the Husband may not take along with him his Wife with her goods and fortune, but must remain for an whole year in service with his Father; when that time is past, if he sees convenient he may set up for himself, and turn housekeeper.

1816.  Byron, Parisina, iii.

	As if all else had pass’d away,
	They only for each other breathe.

  b.  ironically.

1740.  Xmas Entertainm., ii. (1883–4), 12. Let the Ragged Colt be as big as a Steeple, I will swinge his Jacket for him.

1855.  Smedley, H. Coverdale, liii. 388. It would have been a mercy if I hadn’t broken some of his bones for him.

  17.  As affecting the interests or condition of (a person or thing), whether for good or evil. Chiefly after adjs., sbs. of quality, or advbs.

  In early Eng. the dative was used in this sense without prep. Cf. Gr. and Lat. uses.

1537.  Bible (Matthew), Ps. cxviii. [cxix]. 71. It is good for me that I haue bene in trouble.

1632.  J. Lee, Short Surv., 7. By meanes of the lake Melenus it hath brought from the inland al maner of grain, butter, cheese, and such other commodities usefull for the life of man, as also copper, yron, and other mettals.

1883.  Daily News, 22 Sept., 4/6. This … bodes ill for the peace of Europe.

1891.  Sir A. Wills, in Law Times, XCI. 233/2. Things had by that time begun to look badly for all concerned, and calls had been made.

  18.  Governing a sb. or pers. pron. followed by an infinitive, forming a construction equivalent to ‘that he, etc., may, might, should,’ etc.

  Originally, the prep. had the sense 13 or 16, the inf. being either the subject of the sentence or expressive of purpose; but the use was early extended to include cases to which this analysis is inapplicable. In the 15–16th c. the L. use of the accus. and inf. was often imitated in Eng.: e.g., ‘Behold how good … it is, brethren to dwell together in unity’ (Ps. cxxxiii. 1, Prayer-bk. version).

1508.  Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. xxxii. Wks. (1876), 41. It is better for a synner to suffre trybulacyon & punysshement in this lyfe wherby he may gete profyte & be rewarded than to be eternally tourmented in hell, for all the punysshement there be it neuer so sharpe and greuous shall not profyte.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V. (an. 7), 65 b. A tent of purple velvet for the counsailers to mete in.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., vi. 16. It was verye needefull and necessarye for him to take a Pilot of this Countrey, to conduct him and his Companye, by reason they shoulde finde manye shoells in theyr Course thether.

1621.  Brathwait, Nat. Embass., Ded. (1641), A ij. When the natures of men are cleere peruerted, then it is high time for the Satyrist to pen somthing which may diuert them from their impietie, and direct them in the course and progress of Vertue.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 218.

	But straiten’d in my Space, I must forsake
	This Task; for others afterwards to take.

1777.  Watson, Philip II. (1839), 85. The latter of these islands, he observed, lay at so great a distance from Europe, as had made it almost impossible for the Christians to send assistance to the besieged.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 220. For a man who had such good blood to part with it so wantonly was a shame and a folly.

1843.  Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Dec., 713/2. Just imagine our situation! what a condition for me to come to, that up to that epoch had been rather luxuriously accommodated, and who had certain fixed notions of living totally in contrast with the scene around me.

1883.  Law Times, 20 Oct., 408/1. The new rules … render it more difficult for a defence to be kept up.

1896.  M. Field, Attila, I. 19.

	When a girl becomes
	A woman, it is usual for her mother
	To speak to her of life.

  b.  in exclamatory use.

1757.  Foote, Author, II. Wks. 1799, I. 156. For this low, lousy son of a shoemaker, to talk of families.

  VI.  Of attributed or assumed character; = as.

  19.  In the character of, in the light of, as equivalent to; esp. to introduce the complement after verbs of incomplete predication, e.g., to have, hold, etc. (see those verbs), where as or as being may generally be substituted. To beg (a person) for a fool: see BEG v. 5 a.

Beowulf, 1175 (Gr.).

	Þæt þu ðe for sunu wolde
	hererinc habban.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Deut. xxxi. 20. And tellaþ min wedd for naht.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 387. Þatt mann hemm hallt forr gode menn.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 142. Þis word was for dom yholde.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 577.

	And ȝit knewe þei cryst · þat crystendome tauȝte,
	For a parfit prophete.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 110. Þer ben but .vj. boonys, whanne þat þou rekenest os coronale for oon boon.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiv. 265. Know for trouth that aboue all thynges god loueth fayth & trouth whan it is in men, as it is here in Huon.

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D., III. iii. (Arb.), 44.

	He vaunteth him selfe for a man of prowesse greate,
	Where as a good gander I dare say may him beate.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., Hen. V. (an. 2), II. 446. The Englishe Ambassadours receyving this for aunswere, tooke their leave.

1644.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 78. We have now store of those admirable melons, so much celebrated in France for the best in the kingdom.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 169, 13 Sept., ¶ 11. Ill-nature among ordinary Observers passes for Wit.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. xi. Perhaps, if you are taken, you will be hanged for a pirate, and the particulars be examined into afterwards.

1725.  Watts, Logic, II. iii. § 1. When a Poet, an Orator, or a Painter, has performed admirably in several illustrious Pieces, we sometimes also admire his very Errors, we mistake his Blunders for Beauties, and so ignorantly fond as to copy after them.

1760.  Foote, Minor, I. Wks. 1799, I. 239. I wou’d engage to elude your penetration, when I am beau’d out for the baron.

1813.  Byron, Giaour, 36.

	And many a grotto, meant for rest,
	That holds the pirate for a guest.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 40. That distance went for nothing, as ashes fell upon vessels that were out at sea at least five hundred miles.

1843.  Thackeray, Grant in Paris, in Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Dec., 702/1. On the day of publication I know for a fact that a courier was in waiting at the French embassy to carry off the volumes to His M–t–y L–is Ph-l-ppe and Monsieur Gu-z-t.

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 5. Now, as we well know that mere chronology, or the retention in the memory of facts, is often mistaken for history, and yet that all that is true is, that such dry knowledge is only the alphabet of history; so, though this pictorial history is far from being the proper end of historical science, yet is it a most valuable assistance in the study.

1883.  Stevenson, Silverado Sq. (1886), 34. The oak is no baby; even the madrona, upon these spurs of Mount Saint Helena, comes to a fine bulk and ranks with forest trees; but the pines look down upon the rest for underwood. As Mount Saint Helena among her foothills, so these dark giants out-top their fellow-vegetables.

  b.  So with an adjective, as in to take for granted, to leave for dead, etc. For certain, sure, † wiss, see those adjs.

  Also, with mixture of sense 8, as in the formula of the Marriage Service (quot. 1549) where the sense is ‘whether she prove better or worse,’ etc.

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xi. (1885), 136. I holde it for vndouted, þat the people off his lande woll be well wyllunge to graunte hym a subsidie.

1549.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Matrimony. I … take thee … to my wedded wife … for better for worse.

1651.  Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 49. If I thought any would deny that the visible Church was more properly called [the Jews own] then the invisible, I would waste some time to prove it; in the mean time I take it for granted.

1681.  Cotton, The Wonders of the Peake 69.

	But at the Bottom, he was left for dead,
	With a good Memorandum on his Head.

1700.  Dryden, Palamon & Arcite, III. 704.

	Forward he flew, and pitching on his Head,
	He quiver’d with his Feet, and lay for Dead.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 30. If they shou’d not be admitted for morally certain, as I believe they will by fair and unprejudiced Inquirers, yet the allowing them to be only probable is sufficient to stop the mouth of an Infidel.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 208. Laniska’s friends, who perceived that the imprudent words he had uttered in Berlin had reached the king’s ear, gave the young man up for lost.

1854.  Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. ix.

	She had forgot to bring a book:
	I lent one; blamed the print for old;
	And did not tell her that she took
	A Tasso worth its weight in gold.

  c.  What is he, etc., for (a man, etc.): what is (he) considered as (a man), i.e., what sort of a (man, etc.) is he? (Cf. Ger. Was für ein?) Obs. or dial.

1580.  Spenser, Shep. Cal., Aprill, iv. 17.

	What is he for a Ladde, you so lament?
	Ys loue such pinching payne to them, that proue?
	And hath he skill to make so excellent,
	Yet hath so little skill to brydle loue?

1623.  Bingham, Xenophon, 136. When the Lacedemonians enquired, what Xenophon was for a man, he answered, that in other things he was not ill, but he loued the Souldiers too much, and for that cause fared the worse.

1657.  W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life of Peiresc, II. 265. That you may know I speak no more than the truth in this point, consider I pray you with me how many, and what for Epistles he sent to this very City, for examples sake.

1673.  Dryden, Marriage à la Mode, I. i. Pala. What is she for a Woman? Rho. One of the Stars of Syracuse, I assure you.

1708.  Brit. Apollo, No. 63. 3/2.

	Now, pray, Sir, discover,
	What are you for a Lover,
	And what’s in your person to match her?

a. 1757.  Cibber, Comical Lovers, I. Pal. What is she for a Woman? Rho. One of the Stars of Syracuse, I assure you.

1827.  Scott, Surg. Dau., x. ‘For Heaven’s sake, what is that for a Zenobia?’ said Hartley, to the gentleman whose whisper had first attracted his attention to this lofty dame.

  d.  (I, etc.) for one: as one, as a unit in an aggregate. For one thing: used parenthetically when one out of several reasons, instances, etc., is mentioned.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. ix. ‘Come, Jack,’ says one of the men, ‘will you go with me? I will go for one.’

18[?].  Keble, Lett. Spirit. Counsel (1870), 177. I could say, for one thing, make your account beforehand with this trouble coming upon you, as you would with a fit of bodily pain, to which you might know yourself liable; and offer it to God as you would the bodily pain, in deep resignation, giving yourself up to Him, to deal with you, in this respect also, as He knows best.

1880.  W. H. Bishop, To Coney Island, in Scribner’s Mag., XX. July, 356/1. ‘Go to Gullmore’s for Your Clothing.’ I for one shall never do so if there be another establishment in the town where clothing may be had.

  e.  For the first, second, etc., time: as a first, second, etc., instance. Cf. Fr. pour la première fois.

1730.  A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 68. The Romans were for the first time forbid such Games.

1788.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., lxvi. VI. 431, note. He [Aldus] printed above sixty considerable works of Greek literature, almost all for the first time.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 177. To-day there was a shower of rain for the first time since my arrival.

1863.  Mrs. Riddell, World in Ch., III. 253. Is he a man likely to fall in love for a second time?

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 399, Phaedo, Introduction. The disciples meet earlier than usual in order that they may converse with Socrates for the last time.

  f.  For good (and all): see GOOD.

  VII.  Of the cause or reason.

  20.  By reason of, under the influence of (a feeling or subjective condition).

Beowulf, 338 (Gr.).

	Wen ic, þæt ȝe for wlenco,    nalles for wræcsiðum
	ac for hiȝe-þrymmum    Hroðȝar sohton.

a. 1123.  O. E. Chron., an. 1101. For heoran agenan mycelan un ȝetrywþan.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 17. [He] ȝef us seodðan ane muchele ȝef for his muchele eadmodnesse.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 58.

	Þo þe emperour herde þis, he by gan hym by þenche,
	And hys wraþþe toward þe kyng, for drede of þe erl, quenche.

c. 1380.  Antecrist, in Todd, 3 Treat. Wyclif, 152. Hou may þei seie for shame þat þei folowen Crist truly?

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 72. Boldere to synne for trust of þe mercy of god.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xvi. 172. Like the poore childe, whose father while he beates him, will make him beleeue it is for loue.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 305. Our men raided a shout for joy, that they were in their own king’s dominions, or as they said, in their own country.

1802.  Noble Wanderers, II. 32. Arsaces, panting for rage, had already grasped his poniard.

1827.  Southey, Hist. Penins. War, II. 776. The French had ransacked every house, and church, and public building; they had for pure wantonness set fire to some of the houses, and they had heaped up promiscuously in the streets all the provisions which the army could not carry with it.

  b.  For fear of that, etc.: see FEAR sb. 3 b.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, v. Take your guns too, for fear of accident.

  21.  Because of, on account of:

  a.  a person or persons.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xx. 3. Þu scealt sweltan nu Abimeleh for þam wife þe þu name.

c. 1205.  Lay., 14458.

	Þin hired þe hateð for me
	& ich æm iuæid for þe.

13[?].  K. Alis., 2317.

	Wol he null he, ded he is:
	Al Peirce for him sorwith, y-wis.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. xxvi. 11. Lawe set to me, Lord, in thi weie; and dresse me in a riȝt path for myn enemys.

1549.  Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 62. The cause was for them that rose in Essex.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 55. Thou shalt have as many dolours for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.

1819.  Cobbett, Eng. Gram., xvii. § 196. Never put an it upon paper without thinking well of what you are about. When I see many its in a page, I always tremble for the writer.

  b.  a thing. Also in for cause (see CAUSE sb. 6) and after such sbs. as charge, reputation, etc., and adjs. as sorry (see those words). Some adjs. formerly construed with this prep. now take others; e.g., glad of.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Exod. xviii. 9. Þa wæs Iethro bliþe for eallum þam godum þe Drihten dyde Israhela folce.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 17. Þine frond þu luuest for þam goddede þe he þe deð and he þe alswa.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 113. Ac for ȝoure coming ich am glad.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 25. And herefore techiþ Crist hise apostlis þat þei shulden not be aferd for perelis þat shal come for to venge synne þat is done.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, D iij. The one is prowde for his scyence, the other for his Rychesse, somme for their gentylnesse.

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, iv. xii. 390. Faith herein will make us thankfull for all manner of prosperity, as proportioned out unto us in wisdome and love by this our Father.

1704.  Addison, Italy, Wks. 1804, V. 149. We sailed from hence directly for Genoa, and had a fair Wind that carried us into the middle of the Gulph, which is very remarkable for Tempests and Scarcity of Fish.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 225. A mother respected even in a higher degree than her son is beloved: respected for her feminine virtues: for her more than feminine endowments.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 308. George Monk … who had been notorious both for covetousness and for parsimony, left fiften thousand a year of real estate, and sixty thousand pounds in money which probably yielded seven per cent.

  ¶ In OE. for with the instrumental case of the neuter demonst. pron. formed advb. phrases = ‘therefore,’ which, with the addition or ellipsis of the relative ðe became conjunctional phrases = ‘because.’ (For these phrases and their later representatives see FOR-THON, FOR-THY; cf. also FOR-WHY). Similarly, FOR THAT appears from 13th c. as a conjunction; and in the 16th c. there are a few examples of for this in the senses ‘therefore’ and ‘because.’

a. 1553.  Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (1842), 352. If that he demand the reason why we do so, I will gladly satisfy his mind…. For this [orig. quia] we know surely those things, as they have written, to have come unto us sound and uncorrupt. Ibid., 396. For this [orig. igitur], Florebell, thou hast a high bishop and ruler of the church, such a one peradventure as thou soughtest not after.

  c.  On account of one’s regard for. So in For the sake of (see SAKE), used synonymously with for in this sense and in senses 7 and 8.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2472 (Gr.). Þa ic for god wille ȝemundbyrdan.

c. 1000.  Rood, 113 (Gr.).

	Se þe for dryhtnes naman deaȜes wolde
	biteres onbyriȝan.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 23. Þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13223.

	& ich bad hine for gode
	don þat child of hade.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 170. To be maried for monye · mede hath a-sented.

c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 981.

	I leeue þe proloug for shortnes,
	Þe chapiters sall’ I tell’ expres.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Pastorals, X. 35.

	Thy false Lycoris flies thy Love and thee;
	And for thy Rival tempts the raging Sea.

1697.  Ken, Evn. Hymn, ii.

	Forgive me Lord, for Thy dear Son,
	The ill that I this day have done.

  d.  In adjurations = for the sake of. Also in exclamations, chiefly of pain or sorrow.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., i. 128.

	He … hi for Drihtne bæd
	Ealdum treowum,
	Þæt hi [etc.].

c. 1205.  Lay., 57.

	Nu bidded Laȝamon
	alcne æðele mon
	for þene almiten godd …
	þet he [etc.].

c. 1325.  Coer de L., 1782.

	He fell on knees and thus he said:
	‘Mercy, Richard, for Mary maid!’

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 54. Ich fraynede hure faire þo · for hym þat hure made.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 210.

	Alas! for my master moste of myght,
	That yester euen with lanterne bright
	before Caiphas was broght.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., V. ii. 75. Heauen for his mercy: what treachery is heere?

1609.  Bible (Douay), Joel i. 15. Crie ye to our Lord: A a a, for the day.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela, I. xxvi. 81. But I have not found it so, Alas for me!

1820.  Byron, Blues, II. 64.

	Lady Blueb.    Oh fie!
	Miss Lil.            And for shame!

1820.  Keats, Lamia, 271.

	‘For pity do not melt!’—‘If I should stay,’
	Said Lamia, ‘here, upon this floor of clay.’

1844.  Dickens, Christmas Carol, iii. 90. Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame!

  † e.  For because: see BECAUSE A. 1, B. 1. Obs.

  22.  Of an efficient or operative cause: In consequence of, by reason of, as the effect of. (Now chiefly after comparatives; otherwise usu. replaced by from, of, through.) Also in for want of: see WANT.

c. 1205.  Lay., 27818.

	Þa eorðe gon beouien
	for þan vnimete blase.

c. 1370[?].  Robt. K. Cicyle, 55.

	Bettur he were, to yow sey y,
	So to do then for hunger dye.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 349. Scarioth was þe worse for beyng in þis holi cumpanye.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 101. & þou fyndest a man hauynge þe crampe for a wounde.

1491.  Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xi. A a. For the grete hete of the sonne She hadde the febres or axes.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 11. For defaute of such issue to remaigne to oure Soveraigne Lorde.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV. (an. 1). To die for thirst standyng in the river.

1578.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Vetustas, He lacketh teeth for age.

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 121. For the abundance of milk she [the cow] did give, the owner might eate butter.

1718.  Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, Ded. (1720), 11. One of these, saith he, is shap’p us the true idea of a Witch, an old weather-beaten Crone, having her Chin and her Knees meeting for Age, walking like a Bow leaning on a Staff, Hollow-Ey’d, Untooth’d, Furrow’d on her Face, having her Lips trembling with the Palsy, going mumbling in the Streets.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xxviii. I am told that even in this very room a debtor of his, no later than last year, died for want.

1850.  Lynch, Theo. Trin., v. 84. Shall we be the brighter spirits for being the duller men?

1887.  A. Birrell, Obiter Dicta, Ser. II. 103. Many men must have been glad when they read in their scanty journals that Mr. Pope lay dead at his villa in Twickenham. They breathed the easier for the news. Personal satire may be a legitimate, but it is an ugly weapon.

Mod.  He is worse for liquor. This coat is worse for wear.

  23.  Of a preventive cause or obstacle. a. In spite of, notwithstanding. Rare exc. in for all, any, with a sb.; also absol. for all that, etc.

O. E. Chron., an. 1006. Ac for eallum þissum se here ferde swa he sylf wolde.

c. 1320.  The Seuyn Sages (W.), 1135.

	For al that heuer he mighte do,
	His menesoun might nowt staunche tho.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 129. This mayde shal be myn, for any man!

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 8057.

	If he wer come of goode kynrede,
	Loue him she wold for ony drede.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V. (an. 4), 53. But for all that he could do, he lost almoste .ccc. of his fotemen.

1681.  H. More, Exp. Dan. iii. 68. This Alexander the Great, for all his greatness died, and that an immature and violent death, in the very Flower of his Age.

1794.  Burns, For a’ that, i.

	The rank is but the guinea stamp;
	The man’s the gowd for a’ that.

1820.  Keats, Eve St. Agnes, i.

	St. Agnes’ Eve—Ah, bitter chill it was!
	The owl, for all his feathers, was a-cold;
	The hare limp’d trembling through the frozen grass,
	And silent was the flock in woolly fold.

1871.  Rossetti, Poems, Last Confess.

	I was a moody comrade to her then,
	For all the love I bore her.

1873.  F. Hall, Mod. English, p. xv. For all that, I have contrived, at odd times, to run through something of divers literatures, and to give some thought to my mother-tongue.

  b.  in conjunctional phrases: For all that, for all = notwithstanding (that), although. Now rare in literary use.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clvi. 189. For all that the frenche kynge sende to hym to delyuer the same castels, yet he refused so to do.

1588.  Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 21. I tell you D. Stannop (for all you are so proude) a premunire will take you by the backe one day for oppressing and tyrannizing ouer her Maiesties subiects as they doe.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 24. [Conscience] … (for all he was now so debauched), did terrifie and afflict them sore.

1786.  Mackenzie, in Lounger, No. 90, 21 Oct., ¶ 7. She lets it skip all about her without ever starting or wincing, for all her feelings are so fine.

1841.  L. Hunt, Seer (1864), 40. I am not a very bad play-fellow, you know, for all I am so much bigger and older.

a. 1866.  Keble, Lett. Spirit. Counsel (1870), 186. For all she seemed so calm, she had often to bear up against the same kind of feelings, in her time of comparative health.

  c.  Indicating the presence or operation of an obstacle or hindrance. (Cf. ON. fyrer, Ger. für, vor.) In negative sentences; also after if it were not, were it not; occas. = for fear of. † For to die for it = if I die for it. But for: see BUT C. 29.

Beowulf, 2549 (Gr.).

	Ne meahte horde neah
	unbyrnende    æniȝe hwile
	deop ȝedyȝan    for dracan leȝe.

c. 1000.  Ælfric., Gen. xvi. 10. Þæt man hit ȝeriman ne mæȝ for þære meniu.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 177.

	Hii ne mowe noȝt wel fle
	Vor feblesse of her brode.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 282. Þat no man miȝte hym se · for mosse and for leues.

a. 1430.  Octouian, 681.

	That wyf therst not say nay,
	For wordes ylle,
	But grauntede well that ylke day
	Her lordes wylle.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xii. 296. I shold never doo that, for to deye for it.

a. 1592.  Greene, Alphonsus (1861), 231.

	Or are you wax’d so dainty, that you dare
	Not use your sword for staining of your hands?

1691.  Ray, Creation, 213. The Torrid Zone must indeed have been such a Place as the Antients fansied it, unhabitable for Heat.

1744.  Berkeley, Lett. to T. Prior, 19 June, Wks. 1871, IV. 298. Last night being unable to sleep for the heat, I fell into a reverie on my pillow, which produced the foregoing lines.

1751.  Affect. Narr. Wager, 92. This was like, not seeing the Wood for Trees.

1810.  Scott, Lady of L., V. 858.

	Spare not for spoiling of thy steed,
	The best of mine shall be thy meed.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., VI. xliii. At times she could not stand for the beating of her heart, and the images in her brain became as chambers of terror, where she beheld my sister reared in evil.

  † d.  As a precaution against, or simply, against: (to beware) of; (to hinder, keep, prevent) from.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 122.

	Sone after mydnyght, þat crowe suld þe cok,
	In þe snowe for syght scho ȝede out in hir smok.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 229.

	Freres with faire speche · fetten hym þennes,
	And for knowyng of comeres · coped hym as a frere.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 285. Þat wald for hurte or for harme any hathill kepe.

1523.  Fitzherbert, The Boke of Husbandry, § 51. Se that they that hold the shepe by the heed in the water, holde his heed hye ynoughe for drownynge.

1561.  Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 40 b. He must also beware for taking cold.

1590.  Greene, Poems, Wks. (1861), 294.

	A hat of straw, like a swain,
	Shelter for the sun and rain.

1611.  Barrey, Ram. Alley, I. ii.

	Taffata.  Ah, how light he treads,
	For dirting his silk stockings!

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 205. That may hinder the Corner of the edge of the Chissel for coming at the Work.

1728.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 87–8. To prevent the ruin, and the constitution of it for being entirely subverted.

  VIII.  Of correspondence or correlation.

  24.  Prefixed to the designation of a number or quantity to which another is stated to correspond in some different relation. (Cf. similar use of to.)

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 42.

	For on þat ȝe merkyd · ȝe missed ten schore
	Of homeliche hertis.

1583.  T. Watson, Centurie of Loue, xcvii. (Arb.), 133.

	For eu’ry pleasure that in Loue is found,
	A thousand woes and more therein abound.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., v. (1686), 6. I will undertake to shew any man Twenty other Horses lame (which never belonged to Hunting) for one Hunter.

1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 255. This was no great token of the victory they boasted of; for they were now twice our number in the whole; and their foot three for one.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), VI. xxxvii. After you have rashly ventured upon an unexamined sandwich at an inn, discovering, as your get on, that it contains more butter (and that bad) than bread; and, for one inch of lean, four or five of stringy fat.

1887.  L. Carroll, Game of Logic, i. § 3. 32. For one workable Pair of Premisses (I mean a Pair that lead to a logical Conclusion) that you meet with in reading your newspaper or magazine, you will probably find five that lead to no Conclusion at all.

  25.  Preceded and followed by the same sb. (without article or defining word), in idiomatic expressions indicating equality in number or quantity between objects compared or contrasted. Bulk for bulk: taking an equal bulk of each. Word for word: with exact identity of expression, verbatim; similarly point for point. † Day for day: on one day as on every other, hence = ‘day by day.’ † To fight hand for hand: = ‘hand to hand.’ To turn (something) end for end: to reverse.

13[?].  K. Alis., 2922. Word for word thus they spake.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 521.

	And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere
	He tolde him point for point.

c. 1450.  Chester Pl. (E.E.T.S.), 256.

	Ells such marvayels, as thinks me,
	he ne dyd day for day.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 118.

	This nobill Dongard as I wnderstand,
	Sic curage had for to fecht hand for hand
	With Constantyne, of quhome he had na dout,
	Into him self so stalwart wes and stout.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. viii. 22.

	A Braine that nourishes our Nerues, and can
	Get gole for gole of youth.

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., iv. 116. If any Body be bulk for bulk heavier than a Fluid, it will sink to the bottom of that Fluid.

1759.  Johnson, Idler, No. 69, 11 Aug., ¶ 6. May, Sandys, and Holiday confined themselves to the toil of rendering line for line, not indeed with equal felicity, for May and Sandys were Poets, and Holiday only a scholar and a critick.

a. 1769.  Regul. Sea-Serv., in Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Kk iv b. If a foreign admiral meets with any of his Majesty’s ships, and salutes them, he shall receive gun for gun.

1877.  Daily News, 10 Oct., 6/2. We turned the rope end for end.

1881.  Jowett, Thucyd., I. 168. The Athenians under Phormio sailed back from Acarnania to Naupactus, and later at the beginning of spring returned to Athens, bringing with them the ships which they had captured, besides the prisoners of free birth whom they had taken in the naval engagements. They were exchanged man for man.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 15 May, 5/3. They will not be slow to return him like for like.

  IX.  Of reference.

  26.  As regards, with regard or respect to, concerning. Also in idiomatic expressions: † for the general, in general; † for so far, in so far; † for my mind, to my thinking; for my, his, etc., part (see PART); for the rest (= F. du reste: see REST sb.). † What for —; = ‘what with —’ (see WHAT). As for: see AS 33.

  The parenthetic use, as in for me = as for me, for my part (= Fr. pour moi), is now obsolete.

1479.  J. Paston, in Paston Lett., No. 849, III. 267. I have myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costes, dettes, and legattes that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease.

1551.  T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 75. He is delivered from the lawe, for so muche as pertaineth to his condemnation, but he is not free, for so muche as belongeth to the due obedience, whiche he oweth unto God.

1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., IV. i. For person like to prove a second Mars.

1628.  Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 99. This year, by confession of all men, was of all other for other diseases most free and healthful.

1634.  W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp., I. iv. The Soyle is for the generall a warme kinde of earth, there being little cold-spewing land, no Morish Fennes, no Quagmires.

1658.  W. Burton, Comment. Itin. Antoninus, 176. For old Marinus, I know not how to excuse him.

1664–5.  Pepys, Diary, 7 April. Sir Philip Warwick did shew me nakedly the King’s condition for money for the Navy.

1710.  Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., § 111. For the rest, this celebrated Author holds there is an absolute Space, which, being unperceivable to Sense, remains in it self similar and immoveable.

1740.  Xmas Entertainm., iii. (1883–4), 21. All the Witches for my Mind are young Women.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. 466. Thus much at present, for the privileges and disabilities of infants.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 250. During his painful voyage, he had subsisted entirely upon sugar, of which he had consumed nearly an hogshead; how he managed for water I could not learn, nor can imagine.

1843.  Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Nov., 570/1. So much for our housemaid.

1852.  R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 361. Get married and trust to Providence for the rest, Providence being supposed especially to befriend the newly married, most likely because the world is then generally done with them.

  b.  So far as concerns (a person or thing). Used with a limiting or restrictive force (cf. 23). For all or aught I know, I know nothing to the contrary. (He may do it) for me, i.e., with no opposition from me.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3206 (Cott.).

	‘Fader,’ he said, ‘be þou ful bald,
	For me sal it neuer be tald.’

1578.  Timme, Caluine on Gen. x. 1. 238. Let them … for all me, inioy the fruite … of their labours.

1655.  Hartlib, Legacy (ed. 3), 160. This Art, for what I can perceive, is no way demonstrable à priori.

1731.  Pope, Ep. to Burlington, 137.

	Lo, some are Vellum, and the rest as good
	For all his Lordship knows,—but they are wood.

1767.  S. Paterson, Another Traveller! I. 321. The symptomatic art, with all its qualities and appertenances, the learned faculty of medicine have an undoubted right to; and they shall have it untouched for me.

1809.  J. Moser, Don Quixote in Barcelona, II. v. Whether black or white, Circumbumbo shall carry all the limbs he has got to heaven for me.

1837.  Landor, Pentam., Wks. 1846, II. 314/2. The banks of the Hebrus may be level or rocky, for what I know about them: but the river is represented by the poets as rapid and abounding in whirlpools; hence, I presume, it runs among rocks and inequalities.

1890.  Besant, Demoniac, vi. After the first month you ought to have come home again, for all the good it has done.

1893.  Law Times, XCIV. 15 April, 559/2. In the deed the consideration was left blank, and for all I know it is blank still.

  c.  with words signifying privation or want.

1653.  trans. Carmeni’s Nissena, 75. He wanted for no care nor possible assistance.

1791.  Cowper, Retired Cat, 73.

	With hunger pinched, and pinched for room,
	She now presaged approaching doom,
	Nor slept a single wink, or purred,
	Conscious of jeopardy incurred.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. ix. 71. I gave you the day before yesterday, five ten-guinea notes for your last quarterly allowance; I suppose you have taken these with you; therefore you cannot be in any immediate distress for money.

1804.  J. Marshall, Washington, II. i. 38. The people either abandoned the country, or attempted to secure themselves in small stockade forts, where they were in great distress for provisions, arms, and ammunition; were often surrounded and sometimes cut off.

1855.  Thackeray, Rose & Ring, i. He need want for nothing; give him a couple of guineas for pocket-money, my dear.

  d.  For all the world: used to emphasize assertions of likeness.

  (The lit. sense and proper place of this phrase are uncertain.)

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 218.

	For al the world ryght as a daysye
	Ycorouned ys with white leues lyte.

1602.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 13.

	He is made like a tilting staffe; and lookes
	For all the world like an ore-roasted pigge.

1753.  Foote, Eng. in Paris, I. Wks. 1799, I. 38. Their Water-gruel Jaws sunk in a Thicket of Curls, appear, for all the World, like a Lark in a Soup-dish!

  27.  In proportion to, considering; considering the nature or capacity of; considering what he, she, or it is, or that he, etc., is so and so.

[1594.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, IV. iv.

	Ach.  Æneas, for his parentage, deserves
	As large a kingdom as is Lybia.]

1631.  J. Weever, Ancient Funerall Monuments, 536. This Lawier was a very honest man for those times, wherein Iudges, Sergeants, and many other eminent officers to the law, were found guilty (and fined) of bribery and extortion.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 782.

	His Bulk too weighty for his Thighs is grown;
	And his unwieldy Neck hangs drooping down.

1754.  Richardson, Grandison, I. ii. 6. There is a Mr. Deane, a man of an excellent character for a Lawyer; but indeed he left off practice on coming into possession of an handsome estate.

1787.  Gambado’s, Acad. Horsemen (1809), 29. Should your horse prove what is properly termed too many for you, and make off, nothing but the singularity of your appearance can restore you to your disconsolate family.

1861.  Miss Yonge, Stokesley Secret, ii. (1862), 42. As poor a man for an esquire as her father was for a surgeon.

1886.  Manch. Exam., 15 March, 5/4. The weather … phenomenally severe for the season.

  X.  Of duration and extension.

  28.  a. Marking actual duration. During, throughout. Phr. for long, for a or the time.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., 129. Who seyth oure ladyes sawtere dayly for a ȝer thus.

1506.  Guylforde, Pilgr. (Camden), 39. There refresshed vs and restyd vs for that nyght.

1564–78.  Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Pest. (1888), 10. His stewarde this daie, because his maister is verie sicke, applied the poore menne with the purse with muche deuotion for the tyme, beyng without hope of his maisters recouery.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. i. 91. How does your Honor for this many a day?

1626.  T. Ailesbury, Passion-sermon, 15. The Jewes for long were … the favourites of heaven.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 86, 8 June, ¶ 2. I have seen an Eye curse for half an Hour together, and an Eye-brow call a Man Scoundrel.

a. 1792.  Bp. Horne, Serm. (1799), III. 68. Reflect, for a moment, on these two pictures of virtue and vice; and then doubt, if you can, to which of the originals your choice ought to be directed.

1843.  Thackeray, Men’s Wives, in Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. Sept., 334/2. The Brigand’s Bride ran for many nights.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 166. The two great parties which, after a long contest, had for a moment concurred in restoring the royal house, were, both in politics and in religion, again opposed to each other.

1872.  Liddon, Elem. Relig., i. 34. Would he be even interested for long in a philosophy which he believed to be only relatively true?

1885.  Law Rep., 15 Q. Bench Div. 316. The catch on the pin above-mentioned was worn away, and probably had been so for some months.

  b.  Marking intended duration, e.g., for life; also in the phrases, for the or † this present, † for a while. For ay, ever: see AY 3 a, EVER 5 b.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V. (an. 4), 55. A peace was concluded betwene the kyng of England & the duke of Burgoyn for a certain space.

1559.  W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 8. This perfitly lernyd, haue you then for this present, your whole desire?

1632.  J. Lee, Short Surv., 53. For the present I let passe, and proceed to other matters.

1636.  N. Riding Rec., IV. 52. Be contynued in prison until he shall enter bond etc. for his good abeareing for a year.

1642.  Protests Lords, I. 11. Let us put the question, whether we shall adjourn for six months.

1692.  E. Walker, Epictetus’ Mor., xv.

	To say you’ve lost is mean; say you’ve restor’d
	What bounteous God did for a while afford.

1706.  Acc. Soc. Propag. Gosp., 33. The Society … ordered fifty Pounds per annum to be ascertained to him for Three Years.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. viii. I came weary enough to the place where I resolved to sit down for all night.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 59, 9 Oct., ¶ 6. For a genius in the church, he is always provided with a curacy for life.

1764.  Sterne, in Traill, Life, 87. I am not returned to my Philosophical Hut to finish Tristram, which I calculate will be ready for the world about Christmas; at which time I decamp from hence, and fix my head-quarters at London for the winter.

1847–9.  Helps, Friends in C., Ser. I. (1851), I. 101. If there were Peers for life, and official members of the House of Commons, it would, I think, meet most of your objections, Dunsford.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 156. He obtained a pension of four thousand pounds a year for two lives on the post office.

1870.  Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. v. 117. I sha’n’t get up for another hour.

1885.  Law Rep., 14 Q. Bench Div. 892. The driver of the water-cart was the general servant of Mrs. Dean, but he was practically placed at the disposal of the defendants for the day.

  29.  For once, for the nonce: see ONCE, NONCE.

  30.  Marking an amount of extension, esp. in space, lineal or superficial: Over, over the space of, to the extent of, through.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 36. The Riuer of Trent in the moneth of Iune flowed not for the space of a mile so as sayth Guydo, that men might there haue gone drieshod ouer it.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 304.

	For many Miles about there’s scarce a Bush
	To shelter in.

1818.  M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 159. We began to ascend the May-day Mountains, and it was not till after travelling for five and twenty miles, that we found ourselves at the foot of them on the other side.

1863.  Kingsley, Water Bab., 9. Not only did he own all the land about for miles.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 28 Sept., 5/3. When a … man has walked briskly even for a mile.

  † XI.  31. Misused for fro, FROM.

a. 1340.  Cursor Mundi, 13553 (Trin.).

	And anoon he had his siȝt
	For þenne was he no more led.

c. 1440.  Partonope, 2260.

	Sornogoure Swerde for the Arson reft,
	Ther as he hanging had hyt lefte.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxx. 222. He bese hurled for þe highnes he haunted.

1542.  Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 42 § 1. All personnes of the said company … shalbe exempt for bearing of armure.

  B.  conj.

  † 1.  Introducing the cause of a fact, the statement of which precedes or follows: Because. Cf. A. 21 b. Obs. exc. arch.

a. 1200.  trans. Alcuin’s Virt. & V., 115, in Anglia, XI. 376. We sculen fleon þa unðeawes, na þa mænn sylfe … for heo synd godes gesceafte.

c. 1205.  Lay., 148.

	Eneam he heo biheyte …
	al his drihliche lond
	for he nefde nenne sune.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6907.

	Þus for þai did ay ogayns Goddes lawe,
	Vermyn and wode bestes sal þam ay gnawe.

c. 1435.  Torrent of Portugal, 1333.

	Ffor Ser Torent the fend did falle,
	Gret lordys honoured hym alle.

1450–1530.  Myrr. our Ladye, 11. And for god made all thinges in syx dayes & fulfylled them in the seuenth day & rested; therfore doynge thankeynges to god for all his werkes, & for all he made; eche daye we prayse hym seuen tymes.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, II. xix. Nor for he sweld with ire was she affraid.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 161.

	They are not euer iealious for the cause,
	But iealious, for they’re iealious.

1691.  Dryden, K. Arthur, I. ii. Wks. 1884, VIII. 148. Osm.… Why comes not he? Grim. For, he’s a puling Sprite.

1799.  Anna Seward, Sonn. xlix.

	In balance true
	Weigh it; but smile at the objections vain
	Of sickly Spirits, hating for they do!

1872.  Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 386.

	And, for himself was of the greater state,
	Being a king, he trusted his liege-lord
	Would yield him this large honour all the more.

  2.  Introducing the ground or reason for something previously said: Seeing that, since. Cf. Gr. γάρ, L. nam or enim, Fr. car, Ger. denn.

c. 1150.  Serm., in Kluge, Ags. Lesebuch, 71. Hwu sceal þiss ȝewurðen? for ic necann naht of weres ȝemane.

1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1135. On þis kinges time wes al unfrið … for agenes him risen sone þa rice men.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 117.

	& teȝȝ wærenn biforenn Godd
	Rihhtwise menn & gode,
	Forr eȝȝþerr here ȝede swa
	Rihht affterr Godess lare.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 219. Ffore he was demyde þe doughtyeste þat duellyde in erthe.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxliv. (1482), 298. Nowe is good tyme For al Englond praith for vs and therfor be of good chere and lete vs goo to our journeye.

1559.  W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 25. For xij. tymes 30. maketh 360.

a. 1613.  Overbury, A Wife (1638), 202. A Churchman shee dare not venture vpon; for shee hath heard widdowes complain of dilapidations.

1664.  Tillotson, Wisd. being Relig., 59. Just such is he who for fear of any thing in this world ventures to grieve God; for in so doing he runs away from men and falls into the hands of the living God; he flies from a temporal danger, and leaps into Hell.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., iii. Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their affliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow.

1838.  T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 806. This oil or resinous-like body contains phosphorus; for when we burn either of them with nitre, we find phosphoric acid in the residue after the combustion.

1883.  Manch. Guard., 22 Oct., 5/3. This is no party question, for it touches us not as Liberals or Conservatives, but as citizens.

  b.  Introducing a detailed proof.

1570.  Billingsley, Euclid, I. xi. For forasmuch as DC is equal to CE, & the line CF is common to them both: therfore these two DC and CF, are equal to these two EC & CF, the one to the other.

1812–6.  J. Smith, The Panorama of Science and Art, I. 588. For, let there be three bodies at H, O, and D; if they are all equally attracted by the body at M, they will all move equally fast towards it, their mutual distances from each other continuing the same.

1840.  Lardner, Geom., 106. For from the point B draw B D perpendicular to one of the sides A B and equal to the other B C, and join A D.

  3.  = WHETHER in an obj. sentence. Obs. rare.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2651.

	We sulen nu witen for it dede
	ðis witterlike, or in child-hede.

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 349.

	Woldest þou me tellen
	For þei ben certayne men · & syker on to trosten,
	Y wolde quyten þe þi mede · as my miȝte were.

  † 4.  In order that. Cf. A. 8. Obs.

c. 1305.  St. Katherine, 171, in E. E. P. (1862), 94. Þat noman ne ȝaf hire mete ne drinke: for heo scholde for hunger deye.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 907. Þay … byndeþ þer-wiþ is eȝene about; for he ne schold noȝt sene.

c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4753. For þair trauail sulde noȝt be waste.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. i. 9.

	And for the time shall not seeme tedious,
	Ile tell thee what befell me on a day,
	In this selfe-place, where now we meane to stand.

  † 5.  For and: = ‘and moreover.’ Obs.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, 22. Syr gy, Syr Gawen, Syr Cayus, for and Syr Olyuere.

1605.  Shaks., Ham., V. i. 103.

	A Pickhaxe and a Spade, a Spade
	for and a shrowding-Sheete:
	O a Pit of Clay for to be made,
	for such a Guest is meete.

1617.  Middleton, Fair Quarrel, V. i. Wks. (Dyce), III. 544. Chough [sings]. A hippocrene, a tweak, for and a fucus.