prep. | 1. | In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place. |
| 1. | Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done. |
| 2. | Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done. |
| 3. | Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; - opposed to against. |
| 4. | Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ntending to go to. |
| 5. | Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of. |
| 6. | Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being. |
| 7. | Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; - generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc. |
| 8. | Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of. |
| 9. | Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. |
conj. | 1. | Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything. |
| 2. | Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced, a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what has gone before. |
n. | 1. | One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; - the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it. |