Since

adv. [O. Eng. sythenes, sithence, sithens, syns, sin, sith, from A-S. sîdhthan, sidhthan, sidhdhan, siththan, sidhdhen, siodhdhan, seodhdhon, sedhdhan, sydhdhan, sydhthan, afterward, then, since, after, from sídh, late, lately, afterward, and thán, for thám, to the, to this, to that; Icel. sêd, O. Sax. sith, O. H. Ger. sîd, M. H. Ger. sît, Goth. seiths, seithu, N. H. Ger. seit, Icel. sîdan, Dan. siden, Sw. sedan, D. sint, sints, sinds, sidens, equivalent to sedert, L. Ger. sint, sunt, N. H. Ger. seitdem, O. H. Ger. sîtdem, sîtdes, sît diu. Cf. SEN, SIN, and SITH.] In the time past, counting backward from the present; before this or now; from any time forward to the present; ago; as, two years since; I have not seen him since.

1Sense 1. Since the time when; from the (past) time that.

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. Luke i. 70.

2Sense 2. From (inferentially), or in view of, the fact that; seeing that; because; considering.

Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade,— Then let example be obeyed. Glanville.

Synonyms—Because; for; as; inasmuch as; considering. See BECAUSE.