Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FOR, con.

1. The word by which a reason is introduced of something before advanced. "That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good." In such sentences, for has the sense of because, by reason that, as in No. 4; with this difference, that in No. 14, the word precedes a single noun, and here it precedes a sentence or clause; but the phrase seems to be elliptical, for this cause or reason, which follows, he maketh his sun to rise, &c. In Romans, xiii. 6, we find the word in both its applications, " For, for this cause ye pay tribute also;" the first for referring to the sentence following; the latter to the noun cause.
2. Because; on this account that; properly, for that. For as much, compounded, forasmuch, is equivalent to, in regard to that, in consideration of. Forasmuch as the thirst is intolerable, the patient may be indulged in a little drink. For why, Fr. pour quoi, [per quod, pro quo,] because; for this reason.