prep.
- in favour of.
- affecting or with regard to.
- on behalf of or to the benefit of.
- having as a purpose or function.
- having as a reason or cause.
- having as a destination.
- representing.
- in exchange for.
▸charged as (a price).
- in relation to the expected norm of.
- indicating the extent of (a distance) or the length of (a period of time).
- indicating an occasion in a series.
conj.
literary because; since.
Phrase
- be for it
Brit. informal be about to be punished or get into trouble. - oh for
I long for.
Etymology
OE, prob. a reduction of a Gmc prep. meaning ‘before’ (in place or time); rel. to Ger. für, also to fore.