At, prep.
prep. [A. S. æt, Goth., O. S., Icel., & Dan. at, Sw. åt, Dan. & Lat. ad, O. H. Ger. az.] Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at, which denotes,—
Sense 1. The relation of an external or outward situation, or of attendant circumstances or appendages; as, at hand; at sea; at arms.
Sense 2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at play; at your service.
Sense 3. The relation of some employment or action; as, at engraving; at husbandry.
Sense 4. A relation of degree; as, at least; at best; at most; at all.
Sense 5. The relations of occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; at this declaration; at our hands; at his command.
Sense 6. Relation of direction to an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark.
Synonyms—AT LAST, AT LENGTH. These phrases both denote that some end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at length arrived safe. At last implies, that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, &c.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived. But these interruptions, disappointments, &c., need not have occupied any great length of time. If a man had called repeatedly at the post-office while the mail was delayed for a single hour, he might say, “At last it has arrived,” not referring to the delay as a long one, but as having finally come to an end. At last, therefore, is not necessarily the same as at length.—AT LEAST. See HOWEVER.