for

See also: Appendix:Variations of "for"

English

Etymology

From Middle English for, from Old English for (“for, because of”), from Proto-Germanic *furi (“for”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-.

Cognate with West Frisian foar (“for”), Dutch voor (“for”), German für (“for”), Danish for (“for”), Swedish för (“for”), Norwegian for (“for”), Icelandic fyrir (“for”), Latin per (“by, through, for, by means of”) and Romance language successors (e.g. Spanish para (“for”)), Ancient Greek περί (perí, “for, about, toward”), Lithuanian per (“by, through, during”), Sanskrit परि (pári, “over, around”).

Pronunciation

(stressed) enPR: fôr
- (UK) IPA^(key): /fɔː(ɹ)/
- (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /fɔɹ/
- (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /foː(ɹ)/
- Audio (US) (file)
- Audio (AU) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)
(unstressed) enPR: fər
- (UK, General Australian) IPA^(key): /fə(ɹ)/
- (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /fɘ(ɹ)/
- (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /fɚ/, /fə/
- Audio (US), unstressed,
  in the phrase "Wait for me". (file)
Homophones: fore (with horse-hoarse merger), four (with horse-hoarse merger)

Conjunction

for

Because, as, since.
I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.
- c. 1601, Shakespeare, William, Twelfth Night‎, act 3, scene 4:
  […] Dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skillful and deadly.
- 1885, Burton, Richard Francis, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:
  […] nor is there found, in sea or on land, a sweeter or pleasanter of gifts than she; for she is prime in comeliness and seemlihead of face and symmetrical shape of perfect grace; her check is ruddy dight, her brow flower white, her teeth gem-bright, her eyes blackest black and whitest white, her hips of heavy weight, her waist slight and her favour exquisite.
- 1900, Baum, L[yman] Frank, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
  "By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City," said Glinda, "for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler."

Synonyms

given that, seeing that; see also Thesaurus:because

Translations

See for/translations § Conjunction.

Preposition

for

Towards; in the direction of.
The astronauts headed for the moon.
Run for the hills!
He was headed for the door when he remembered.
- 1631, Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], page 1, OCLC 1044372886:
  Wee ſailed from Peru, (where wee had continued by the ſpace of one whole yeare,) for China and Iapan, by the South Sea; [...]
Directed at; intended to belong to.
I have something for you.
In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).
Everything I do, I do for you.
We're having a birthday party for Janet.
The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.
- 1976, Michael McDonald (lyrics and music), “Takin' It to the Streets”, performed by The Doobie Brothers:
  You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.
To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose.
This is a new bell for my bicycle.
The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.
These apples here are for eating. The rest are for throwing away.
Supporting, in favour of.
Antonym: against
All those for the motion, raise your hands.
Who's for ice-cream?
I'm for going by train
Ten voted for, and three against. (with implied object)
Because of.
He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.
He looks better for having lost weight. (UK usage)
She was the worse for drink.
I like her for lots of reasons.
- c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene v]:
  with fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath
- 1867, Frederick Metcalfe, The Oxonian in Iceland, page 202:
  "A summerly day for you," said my host; "You ought to be here in winter. It is impossible then to get out of the doors for the snow and wind. Ugh! dreadful weather!"
- 1864, George Etell Sargent, The Story of a City Arab (page 313)
  I could not see his hands, for the thick gloves he wore, and his face was partially concealed by a red woollen comforter; but his entire appearance and manners tallied with what I had seen of Yorkshire farmerhood.
Intended to cure, remove or counteract; in order to cure, remove or counteract.
This medicine is for your cough.
I need to spray my house for termites.
Over (a period of time).
I've lived here for three years.
They fought for days over a silly pencil.
- 1717, Joseph Addison, Metamorphoses
  To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
Throughout or across (a distance in space).
I can see for miles.
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iv]:
  For many miles about / There's scarce a bush.
Used to introduce a subject within a to-infinitive clause.
It is unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.
All I want is for you to be happy.
On behalf of.
I will stand in for him.
I speak for the Prime Minister.
In the role or capacity of; instead of; in place of.
I used a hay bale for a bed.
He's got a turnip for a brain.
In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.
I got five hundred pounds for that old car!
He matched me blow for blow.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Exodus 21:23-24:
  And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
In order to obtain or acquire.
I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.
He's going for his doctorate.
Do you want to go for coffee?
People all over Greece looked to Delphi for answers.
Can you go to the store for some eggs?
I'm saving up for a car.
Don't wait for an answer.
What did he ask you for?
- 1642, [John Denham], “The Prologue”, in The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, OCLC 16384548:
  For we would have you know it, / The loſs will fall on us, not on the Poet: / For he writes not for money, nor for praiſe, / Nor to be call'd a Wit, nor to wear Bayes: […]
By the standards of, usually with the implication that those standards are lower than one might otherwise expect; considering.
Fair for its day.
She's spry for an old lady.
He's very mature, for a two-year old.
To be, or as being.
Don't take me for a fool.
- 17th century Abraham Cowley, Of Wit
  We take a falling meteor for a star.
- a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, OCLC 6963663:
  if a man can be persuaded and fully assured of anything for a truth without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for truth ?
- c. 1690, John Dryden, Translations (Preface)
  Most of our ingenious young men take up some cry'd-up English poet for their model.
- 1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother
  But let her go for an ungrateful woman.
- 1976, Louis L’Amour, chapter 2, in The Rider of Lost Creek, Bantam Dell, →ISBN:
  They knew him for a stranger.
(usually in the phrase 'for all') Despite, in spite of.
For all his expensive education, he didn't seem very bright.
- 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 113:
  "You must keep your head. There is still hope." "Hope!" "Yes; plentiful hope -- for all this destruction!"
- 1892 August 6, "The Unbidden Guest", in Charles Dickens, Jr. (editor), All the Year Round, page 133,
  Mr. Joseph Blenkinshaw was perhaps not worth quite so much as was reported; but for all that he was a very wealthy man […]
- 1968, J. J. Scarisbrick, Henry VIII, page 240:
  For all his faults, there had been something lofty and great about him - as a judge, as a patron of education, as a builder, as an international figure.
Indicating something desired or anticipated.
O for the wings of a dove.
Ah! for wings to soar …
And now for a slap-up meal!
- 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act PROLOGUE, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
  O For a Muſe of Fire, that would aſcend / The brighteſt Heauen of Inuention :
- 1858 March 27, "The Lay of the Brief", in Punch, Or, The London Charivari, page 129:
  Oh! but to breathe the air / By their side under summer skies! To watch the blush on their cheeks, / The light in their liquid eyes. / Oh! but for one short hour, / To whisper a word of love; […]
(in expressions such as 'for a start') Introducing the first item(s) in a potential sequence.
Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.
(with names, chiefly US) In honor of; after.
He is named for his grandfather.
Due or facing (a certain outcome or fate).
He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.
(chiefly US) Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio
In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day
(cricket) Used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.
At close of play, England were 305 for 3.
(obsolete) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
- 1609–1612, Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher, “The Captaine”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, OCLC 3083972, Act III, scene v:
  We'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
Used in various more-or-less idiomatic ways to construe individual verbs, indicating various semantic relationships such as target, purpose, result, etc.; see also the entries for individual phrasal verbs, e.g. ask for, look for, stand for, etc.
to account for one's whereabouts to care for a relative to settle for second best to allow for mistakes
(nonstandard) So (that), in order to
He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.

Alternative forms

(eye dialects): fo, fo', fur, fuh, fer

Antonyms

against

Derived terms

for all
for good and all
for good measure
for good
for it
for kicks
for real
for the record
once and for all

Translations

See for/translations § Preposition.

Particle

for

(nonstandard, in representations of dialectal speech, especially that of black speakers) To, the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
- 1896, McClure's magazine, page 270:
  “'Ugh—I'll not be able for get up. Send for M'sieu le Curé—I'll be goin' for die for sure.'
- 1898 December 17, “Mr. Owens' Experience”, in Forest and Stream, volume 51, page 485:
  [It was a] firs rate place for shoot a woodcocks, I tell you. [...] I say [it] wass no use for spen money. [...] An I say in "So wass I. I see lot of sy-pokes fly up an twist off like screw-cork an spit whistle, but I wass'nt able for get aim on him."
- 2007, H. Nigel Thomas, Return to Arcadia: A Novel (Tsar Publications):
  "She say that when nigger people step out o' they place and start for rub shoulders with Bacra, trouble just 'round the corner."

Related terms

for to

References

Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8
for at OneLook Dictionary Search
for in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911

Anagrams

'fro, ORF, fro, orf

Abinomn

Noun

for

a kind of fish

Cameroon Pidgin

Alternative forms

foe, fo

Etymology

From English for.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔ/

Preposition

for

for

Catalan

Noun

for m (plural fors)

prize, worth
forum

Chinese

Etymology

From English for.

Pronunciation

Cantonese (Jyutping): fo⁶

Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: fo⁶
  - Yale: foh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: fo⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: fo⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔː²²/

Verb

for

(Hong Kong Cantonese) to be used for; to serve the purpose of
隻叉係for食蛋糕嘅 [Cantonese, trad.]
只叉系for食蛋糕嘅 [Cantonese, simp.]
zek³ caa¹ hai⁶ fo⁶ sik⁶ daan⁶ gou¹ ge³ [Jyutping]
the fork is used for eating the cake
(Hong Kong Cantonese) to be for the sake (of someone); to be used by someone
呢個位係for長者坐㗎 [Cantonese, trad.]
呢个位系for长者坐㗎 [Cantonese, simp.]
ni¹ go³ wai^6-2 hai⁶ fo⁶ zoeng² ze² co⁵ gaa³ [Jyutping]
this seat is meant to be used by the elderly
個set如果for三個人食會唔會太細份？ [Cantonese, trad.]
个set如果for三个人食会唔会太细份？ [Cantonese, simp.]
go³ set¹ jyu⁴ gwo² fo⁶ saam¹ go³ jan^4-2 sik⁶ wui⁵ m⁴ wui⁵ taai³ sai³ fan⁶? [Jyutping]
Wouldn't this meal set be too little if it was for three people to consume?

Cornish

Noun

for

Mixed mutation of mor.

Danish

Etymology 1

From Old Norse fóðr, from Middle Low German vōder (“linen, sheath”), from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą (“sheath”).

Alternative forms

fór

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈfoˀɐ̯], [ˈfoɐ̯ˀ]
Rhymes: -oːɐ̯

Noun

for n (singular definite foret, plural indefinite for)

lining (covering for the inside of something)
lining (material used for inside covering)

Inflection

Declension of for

neuter gender	Singular		Plural
neuter gender	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	for	foret	for	forene
genitive	fors	forets	fors	forenes

References

“for,1” in Den Danske Ordbog

Etymology 2

From Old Danish for, from Proto-Germanic *furai (in Western Old Norse replaced by the variant Old Norse fyrr, from Proto-Germanic *furiz, *furi, = Danish before).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [fʌ]

Preposition

for

for
of
to
on
at
before, in front of
by

Adverb

for

too (more than enough; as too much)
in front
forward

Conjunction

for

for, because

Etymology 3

See fare (“to rush, run”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈfoˀɐ̯], [ˈfoɐ̯ˀ]

Verb

for, fór or farede

past tense of fare.

Esperanto

Etymology

Compare Latin forās, forīs (“outside”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [for]
Audio:
(file)
Hyphenation: for

Adverb

for

away, far, gone
- 1998, Henrik Ibsen, trans. Odd Tangerud Puphejmo : Dramo en tri aktoj,
  NORA (komencas elpreni el la skatolo, sed baldaŭ forĵetas ĉion). Ho, se mi kuraĝus eliri. Se nur neniu venus. Se nur ne dume okazus io hejme. Stulta babilaĵo; neniu venos. Nur ne pensi. Brosi la mufon. Delikataj gantoj, delikataj gantoj. For el la pensoj! For, for! Unu, du, tri, kvar, kvin, ses — (krias) Jen, tie ili venas —
  NORA (begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it all away). Oh, if I dared go out. If only no one would come. If only I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stupid nonsense; no one will come. Only I mustn't think about it. I will brush my muff. What lovely, lovely gloves. Out of my thoughts, Away, away! One, two, three, four, five, six— (Screams) There, someone's coming—

Derived terms

foresti
foriri
forĵeti
forlasi
formeti
forpuŝi
fore

French

Etymology

From Latin forum; doublet of fur and forum. Unrelated to French fort.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔʁ/
Audio (file)

Noun

for m (plural not attested)

(obsolete) Only used in for intérieur

Galician

Etymology 1

Inflected form of ir (“to go”).

Verb

for

first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir

Etymology 2

Inflected form of ser (“to be”).

Verb

for

first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ser

Icelandic

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔːr/
Rhymes: -ɔːr

Noun

for f (genitive singular forar, nominative plural forir)

mud
Synonym: drulla
bog

Declension

declension of for

	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
f-s2	singular		plural
nominative	for	forin	forir	forirnar
accusative	for	forina	forir	forirnar
dative	for	forinni	forum	forunum
genitive	forar	forarinnar	fora	foranna

Derived terms

forarpittur

Ido

Etymology

Borrowing from English far (from). Compare Esperanto for.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔr/

Preposition

for

far from, away from

Derived terms

de fore (“from afar, at afar, distance”)
for-
fora (“distant, remote, far distant”)
forajo (“a distant object; distance (prospect)”)
fora komerco (“foreign trade”)
fora navigado (“foreign navigation”)
for de hike (“a great way off (from here)”)
fore (“(far) away”)
foresar (“to be away”)
foreso (“remoteness”)
forigar (“to remove, send away”)

Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *fāōr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti (“to speak”). It's unclear why the verb is deponent.

Pronunciation

(Classical) IPA^(key): /for/, [fɔr]

(Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /for/, [fɔr]

Verb

for (present infinitive fārī or fārier, perfect active fātus sum); first conjugation, deponent, defective

I speak, talk, say.
Synonyms: effor, inquam, oro, aio, dico, alloquor, loquor

Conjugation

Certain forms were not used in Classical Latin.

Conjugation of for (first conjugation, deponent)
indicative		singular			plural
indicative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	for	fāris, fāre	fātur	fāmur	fāminī	fantur
	imperfect	fābar	fābāris, fābāre	fābātur	fābāmur	fābāminī	fābantur
	future	fābor	fāberis, fābere	fābitur	fābimur	fābiminī	fābuntur
	perfect	fātus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	fātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	fātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular			plural
subjunctive		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	fer	fēris, fēre	fētur	fēmur	fēminī	fentur
	imperfect	fārer	fārēris, fārēre	fārētur	fārēmur	fārēminī	fārentur
	perfect	fātus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	fātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
imperative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	fāre	—	—	fāminī	—
active	future	—	fātor	fātor	—	—	fantor
non-finite forms		active			passive
non-finite forms		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		fārī, fārier¹	fātum esse	fātūrum esse	—	—	—
participles		fāns	fātus	fātūrus	—	—	fandus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		fandī	fandō	fandum	fandō	fātum	fātū

¹The present passive infinitive in -ier is a rare poetic form which is attested.

Derived terms

affor
effor
fācundus
fandus
fāns
fātum
interfor
praefor
profor

Related terms

fābula
fāma
fās

References

for in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
for in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
for in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
Karl Gottlob Zumpt, 1846, A school-grammar of the Latin language, p146

Middle English

Alternative forms

vor, ver, fer, fur

Etymology

From Old English for, from Proto-Germanic *fura, *furi.

Preposition

for

for

Conjunction

for

for

Descendants

English: for
Scots: for
Yola: vor, var, for

References

“for, prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
“for, conj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Middle Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish for, from Proto-Celtic *uɸor, from Proto-Indo-European *uper.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /for/

Preposition

for (with accusative or dative)

on, over
- c. 1000, The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig, section 1, published in Irische Teste, vol. 1 (1880), edited by Ernst Windisch:
  Boí rí amra for Laignib, .i. Mac Dathó a ainm.
  There was a wonderful king over the Leinstermen; Mac Dathó was his name.

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈfɔrː/ (unstressed)
IPA^(key): /fɔ/ (unstressed)
Audio (file)

Adverb

for

too
for ung ― too young
for langt ― too far

Synonyms

altfor

Conjunction

for

for

Synonyms

fordi

Etymology 3

From Old Norse fóðr.

Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora or forene)

alternative form of fôr

Derived terms

dyrefor
fiskefor

Preposition

for

for

Derived terms

vestenfor

Verb

for

past tense of fare.

References

“for” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔrː/
Audio (file)

Conjunction

for

for, because
Eg joggar kvar dag, for eg vil ikkje bli feit.
I jog every day, because I don't want to get fat.

Etymology 2

From Old Norse fǫr, from Proto-Germanic *farō. Related to fara.

Alternative forms

fòr

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /foːr/

Noun

for f (definite singular fora, indefinite plural forer, definite plural forene)

travel
footprints

Etymology 3

From Old Norse for, probably derived from earlier Proto-Germanic *furhs.

Alternative forms

fore, fòr, fòre

Noun

for f (definite singular fora, indefinite plural forer, definite plural forene)

(agriculture) furrow

Derived terms

plogfòr

Alternative forms

fór

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fuːr/

Adjective

for (neuter fort, definite singular and plural fore, comparative forare, indefinite superlative forast, definite superlative foraste)

fast
gå fórare!
Go faster!

Etymology 5

From Old Norse fóðr, from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą (“fodder”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fuːr/

Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)

alternative form of fôr (“fodder”)

Derived terms

dyrefor
fiskefor

Etymology 6

From Old Norse fóðr, borrowed from Middle Low German vōder (“sheath, linen”), from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fuːr/

Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)

alternative form of fôr (“lining”)

Etymology 7

From Old Norse fyrir.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /fɔrː/
Audio (file)

Preposition

for

for
Pass deg for snøskred!
Look out for avalanches!
of
Eg bur sør for byen.
I live south of the city.

Adverb

for

too
Det er for langt å gå.
It is too far to walk.
in favour of
Eg var for å bli med i FN.
I was in favour of joining the UN.

Derived terms

innanfor
utanfor
utfor

Verb

for

misspelling of fór, present tense of fara

for

imperative of fòra
imperative of fôra

References

“for” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *furi.

Alternative forms

fore

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /for/

Preposition

for

because of (+ dative)
for (for the sake of) (+ dative)
- c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Luke 9:24
  Sē þe his sāwle for mē forspilþ, hē hīe ġehǣlþ.
  Whoever destroys their soul for me will save it.
for (on behalf of, instead of) (+ accusative)
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Paul the Apostle"
  Petrus āna spræc for ealne þone hēap.
  Paul by himself spoke for the whole group.
ago (+ dative)
- c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English
  Is nū for þȳ Godes þēowum and mynstermannum ġeorne tō wearnienne þæt sēo hālġe lār on ūrum dagum ne ācōliġe oþþe ātēoriġe swā swā hit wæs ġedōn on Angelcynne nū for ānum fēawum gēarum, swā þæt nān Englisċ prēost ne cūðe dihtan oþþe āsmēaġan ānne pistol on Lǣden, oþ þæt Dūnstān ærċebiscop and Æðelwold bisċop eft þā lāre on munuclīfum ārǣrdon.
  That's why God's servants and monks should be very careful not to let this sacred learning cool or fade in our time, the way it did in England a few years ago, when none of our priests could compose or interpret a letter in Latin, until archbishop Dunstan and bishop Æthelwold revived learning in monastic life.

Descendants

Middle English: for
- English: for
- Scots: for
- Yola: vor, var, for

Etymology 2

see faran

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /foːr/

Verb

fōr

first/third-person singular preterite of faran

Etymology 3

From Proto-Germanic *fōrō (“trip; wagon”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /foːr/

Noun

fōr f (nominative plural fōra)

journey, going, course, expedition, approach; passage, lifestyle, way of life

Declension

Declension of for (strong ō-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	fōr	fōra, fōre
accusative	fōre	fōra, fōre
genitive	fōre	fōra
dative	fōre	fōrum

Etymology 4

Variant of fearh. From Proto-West Germanic *farh (“pig”). Cognate with Middle Low German vōr (“lean young pig”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /foːr/

Noun

fōr m

hog, pig

Declension

Declension of for (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	fōr	fōras
accusative	fōr	fōras
genitive	fōres	fōra
dative	fōre	fōrum

Descendants

Middle English: *farow, *fargh (attested only in plural form faren)
- English: farrow
- Scots: ferrae, ferry, farry

Old Irish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /for/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *sweseros, from *swīs (“you (pl.)”); compare Latin vester.

Alternative forms

far, bar

Determiner

for (triggers eclipsis)

your (plural)
you (plural; as the object of a preposition that takes the genitive)

For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

Synonyms

sethar

Descendants

Irish: bhur
Scottish Gaelic: ur

Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *uɸor-, from Proto-Indo-European *upér.

Alternative forms

far

Preposition

for (with accusative or dative)

on, over

For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

Inflection

Inflection of for

Person	Normal	Emphatic
1st person sing.	form	for(u)msa
2d person sing.	fort	fortsu
3d sing. masc./neut., dative	for
3d sing. masc./neut., accusative	foir, fair	foirsom, foirsem
3d sing. fem., dative	fu(i)ri
3d sing. fem., accusative	forrae
1st person pl.	fornn, furnn	for(u)nni
2d person pl.	fu(i)rib, fo(i)rib	fu(i)ribsi
3d person pl., dative	for(a)ib	for(a)ibsom
3d person pl., accusative	forru	forrusom

Derived terms

Combinations with definite articles:

forsin(d) (masculine and feminine accusative singular, all genders dative singular)
forsa (neuter accusative singular)
for(s)na (accusative plural)
for(s)naib (dative plural)

Combinations with possessive determiners:

form (“on my”)
fort (“on your sg”)
fora (“on his/her/its/their”)

Combinations with relative pronouns:

for(s)a (“on whom, on which”)

Old Norse

Etymology

Probably derived from Proto-Germanic *furhs.

Noun

for f

furrow

Descendants

Norwegian Nynorsk: for
Norwegian Bokmål: får
Old Swedish: for
- Swedish: fåra

References

"for", in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press

Old Saxon

Noun

for

Alternative form of fora

Portuguese

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ/ [ˈfoh]
- (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾ/
- (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈfoʁ/ [ˈfoχ]
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɻ/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfoɾ/

Rhymes: (Portugal, São Paulo) -oɾ, (Brazil) -oʁ
Hyphenation: for

Verb

for

first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir
Quando ele for, avisa-me.
When he goes, let me know.
first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ser
Enquanto ela for viva, merece todo o nosso respeito.
As long as she is alive, she deserves all our respect.

Etymology 2

Unadapted borrowing from English for.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔh]
- (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ/
- (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔχ]
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɻ/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɾ/

Noun

for m (plural fors)

(programming) for loop (a loop that uses a counter)

Romanian

Etymology

From Latin forum.

Noun

for n (plural foruri)

forum

Declension

Declension of for

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) for	forul	(niște) foruri	forurile
genitive/dative	(unui) for	forului	(unor) foruri	forurilor
vocative	forule		forurilor

Swedish

Verb

for

past tense of fara.

Walloon

Etymology

From Old French forn, from Latin furnus.

Noun

for m (plural fors)

oven

West Makian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɸor/

Verb

for

(transitive) to hit repeatedly with a stick or other object

Conjugation

Conjugation of for (action verb)
		singular	plural
		singular	inclusive	exclusive
1st person		tofor	mofor	afor
2nd person		nofor	fofor
3rd person	inanimate	ifor	dofor
3rd person	animate	ifor	dofor
imperative		nofor, for	fofor, for

References

Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎, Pacific linguistics

Yola

Preposition

for

Alternative form of vor
- 1867, “CASTEALE CUDDE'S LAMENTATION”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
  FOR LOSS O' HIS CUCK AT WAS EE-TOOK BE A VOX.
  FOR LOSS OF HIS COCK THAT WAS TAKEN BY A FOX.

References

Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 102

for

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

Conjunction

Synonyms

Translations

Preposition

Alternative forms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Particle

Related terms

References

Anagrams

Abinomn

Noun

Cameroon Pidgin

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Preposition

Catalan

Noun

Chinese

Etymology

Pronunciation

Verb

Cornish

Noun

Danish

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Noun

Inflection

References

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Preposition

Adverb

Conjunction

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Verb

Esperanto

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adverb

Derived terms

French

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Further reading

Galician

Etymology 1

Verb

Etymology 2

Verb

Icelandic

Pronunciation

Noun

Declension

Derived terms

Ido

Etymology

Pronunciation

Preposition

Derived terms

Latin

Etymology

Pronunciation

Verb

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

References

Middle English