Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FOR, prep. [Sax. for or fore; D. voor, for and before; G. für and vor; Sw. för; Dan. for, för; Ir. far; Fr. pour; Sp. and Port. por, para; It. per, which unites for and L. per, and if this is the same word, so is the Fr. par. Indeed far seems to be radically the same word; for the Germans and Dutch use ver, far, in composition, in the same manner, and in the same words, as the English, Danes and Swedes use for. Thus Ger. verbieten, D. verbieden, Dan. forbyder, Sw. förbiuda, are all the same word, Eng. to forbid. The French use par, as we use for, in pardonner, to pardon, to forgive, It. perdonare. Arm. par and pour, in composition; Hindoo, para; Pers. بَرْ bar or ber, and بَهرْ behr. For corresponds in sense with the L. pro, as fore does with præ, but pro and præ are probably contracted from prod, præd. The Latin por, in composition, as in porrigo, is probably contracted from porro, Gr. πορῥω, which is the English far. The Gr. παρα, and probably, περα, περαν, are from the same root. The radical sense of for is to go, to pass, to advance, to reach or stretch; and it is probably allied to the Sax. faran, to fare, W. for, a pass, foriaw, to travel, Class Br, No. 23, 37, 41. To go toward, to meet or turn to, is the primary sense of for, in two of its most common uses; one implying opposition, against; the other, a favor or benefit: or for may be from fore, hence opposite. To sell or exchange a hat for a guinea, is to set or pass one against the other; this is the primary sense of all prepositions which are placed before equivalents in sale and barter. Benefit or favor is expressed by moving toward a person, or by advancing him. This present is for my friend; this advice for his instruction. And in the Old Testament, the face or front is taken for favor. For, in some phrases, signifies during, that is, passing, continuing in time. I will lend a book for a day or a month. In composition, for is used to give a negative sense, as in forbid, which is forebid, to command before, that is against, and in forgive, to give back or away, to remit, to send back or to send away.]

1. Against; in the place of; as a substitute or equivalent, noting equal value or satisfactory compensation, either in barter and sale, in contract, or in punishment. “And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for flocks, and for the cattle of the herds;” that is, according to the original, he gave them bread against horses, like the Gr. αντι. and Fr. contre. Gen. xlvii. 17. Buy us and our land for bread. Gen. xlvii, 19. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth far tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Exod. xxi. As the son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matth. xx. See also Mark viii, 37. Matth. xvi, 26.
2. In the place of; instead of; noting substitution of persons, or agency of one in the place of another with equivalent authority. An attorney is empowered to act for his principal. Will you take a letter and deliver it for me at the post-office? that is, in my place, or for my benefit.
3. In exchange of; noting one thing taken or given in place of another; as, to quit the profession of law for that of a clergyman.
4. In the place of; instead of; as, to translate a poem line for line.
5. In the character of; noting resemblance; a sense derived from a substitution or standing in the place of, like αντι-θεος in Greek. 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. I hear for certain, and do speak the truth. Shak. He quivered with his feet, and lay for dead. Dryden.
6. Toward; with the intention of going to. We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. Bacon. We sailed directly for Genoa, and had a fair wind. Addison. So we say, a ship is bound for or to France.
7. In advantage of; for the sake of; on account of; that is, toward, noting use, benefit or purpose. An ant is a wise creature for itself. 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.
8. Conducive to; beneficial to; in favor 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.
9. Leading or inducing to, as a motive. There is a natural, immutable, and eternal reason for that which we call virtue, and against that which we call vice. Tillotson.
10. Noting arrival, meeting, coming or possession. Wait patiently for an expected good. So in the phrases, looking or, staying for.
11. Toward the obtaining of; in order to the arrival at or possession of. After all our exertions, we depend on divine aid for success.
12. Against; in opposition to; with a tendency to resist and destroy; as, a remedy for the head-ache or tooth-ache. Alkalies are good for the heart-burn. So we say, to provide clothes or stores for winter, or against winter.
13. Against or on account of; in prevention of. She wrapped him close for catching cold. Richardson. And, for the time shall not seem tedious. Shak. This use is nearly obsolete. The sense however is derived from meeting, opposing, as in No. 12.
14. Because; on account of; by reason of. He cried out for anguish. I can not go for want of time. For this cause, I can not believe the report. 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. Edward and Richard / With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath / Are at our backs. Shak. How to choose dogs for scent or speed. Waller. For as much as it is a fundamental law. Bacon.
15. With respect or regard to; on the part of. It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters. Bacon. Thus much for the beginning and progress of the deluge. Burnet. So we say, for me, for myself, or as for me, I have no anxiety, but for you I have apprehensions; all implying toward or on the side of.
16. Through a certain space; during a certain time; as, to travel for three days; to sail for seven weeks; he holds his office for life; he traveled on sand for ten miles together. These senses seem to imply passing, the proper sense of for.
17. In quest of; in order to obtain; as, to search for arguments; to recur to antiquity for examples. See No. 11.
18. According to; as far as. Chimists have not been able, for aught is vulgarly known, by fire alone to separate true sulphur from autimony. Boyle.
19. Noting meeting, coming together, or reception. I am ready for you; that is, I am ready to meet or receive you.
20. Toward; of tendency to; as, an inclination for drink.
21. In favor of; on the part or side of; that is, toward or inclined to. One is for a free government; another is for a limited monarchy. Aristotle is for poetical justice. Dennis.
22. With a view to obtain; in order to possess. He writes for money, or for fame; that is, toward meeting, or to have in return, as a reward.
23. Toward; with tendency to, or in favor of. It is for his honor to retire from office. It is for our quiet to have few intimate connections.
24. Notwithstanding; against; in opposition to. The fact may be so, for any thing that has yet appeared. The task is great, but for all that, I shall not be deterred from undertaking it. This is a different application of the sense of No. 1, 2, 3, 4. [Hoc non obstante.] The writer will do what she pleases for all me. Spect. No. 79.
25. For the use of; to be used in; that is, toward, noting advantage. The oak for nothing ill / The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill. Spenser.
26. In recompense of; in return of. Now, for so many glorious actions done / For peace at home, and for the public wealth / I mean to crown a bowl for Cesar's health. Dryden. [See No. 1.]
27. In proportion to; or rather, looking toward, regarding. He is tall for one of his years, or tall for his age.
28. By means of. Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will. Hale.
29. By the want of. The inhabitants suffered severely both for provisions and fuel. Marshall.
30. For my life or heart, through my life were to be given in exchange, or as the price of purchase. I can not, for my life, understand the man. [No. 1.]
31. For to, denoting purpose. For was anciently placed before the infinitives of verbs, and the use is correct, but now obsolete except in vulgar language. I came for to see you; pour vous voir.