For

prep. [A-S. for, fore, O. Sax. for, fora, furi, Goth. faur, faura, Icel. fyri, for, Sw. för, Dan. for, adv. för, O. H. Ger. furi, fora, M. H. Ger. vür, vor, N. H. Ger. für, vor, D. voor, allied to Lat. prō, Gr. πρό, Skr. pra-, Lith. & Bohem. pro, Lett. par.] In the place of; instead of; because of; by reason of; with respect to; concerning; in the direction of; toward; during; as being, &c.;—in the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, with reference to, which any thing is done or takes place; as, more specifically, (a.) The antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of any thing; that on account of which a thing is or is done.

With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. Shak.

How to choose dogs for scent or speed. Walker.

Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for Cæsar’s health. Dryden.

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.

(b.) The remoter and indirect object of an act; the person or thing to be affected or effected by a given act or condition; the end or final cause; that unto which any thing is intended, or in order to, in behalf of, which any thing is, serves, or is done.

The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill. Spenser.

It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters. Bacon.

Shall I think the world was made for one, And men are born for kings, as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured? Dryden.

For he writes not for money, nor for praise. Denham.

(c.) That in favor of which, or promoting which, any thing is, or is done; hence, in a significant sense, it stands instead of in favor of, on the side of.

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.

Aristotle is for poetical justice. Dennis.

(d.) That toward which the action of any thing is directed; the point toward which motion is made.

We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. Bacon.

(e.) That in place or instead of which any thing acts or serves; that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made.

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.

To give his life a ransom for many. Matt. xx. 28.

Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model. Dryden.

(f.) That, in the character of or as being which, any thing is regarded or treated.

We take a falling meteor for a star. Cowley.

If a man can be fully assured of any thing for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for truth? Locke.

But let her go for an ungrateful woman. Philips.

(g.) That which is considered, but not regarded, in the performing of an action; that in spite of which any thing is done, occurs, or is; equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of;—generally followed by all, aught, any thing, &c.

The writer will do what she pleases for all me. Spectator.

God’s desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene. Decay of Piety.

For any thing that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us. Swift.

(h.) The space or time through which an action or state extends; duration; continuance.

Since, hired for life, thy servile muse must sing. Prior.

To guide the sun’s bright chariot for a day. Garth.

For as much as, or forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since.—For ever, eternally; at all times. See FOREVER.—For thy, or forthy [A-S. forthy], 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. or vulgar.]—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.” Hale.—For, or as for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to;—used parenthetically or independently.

For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend. Dryden.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Josh. xxiv. 15.