Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WITH-OUT', prep. [Sax. withutan; with and out.]

1. Not with; as, without success.
2. In a state of destitution or absence from. There is no living with thee nor without thee. – Tatler.
3. In a state of not having, or of destitution. How many live all their life without virtue, and without peace of conscience.
4. Beyond; not within. Eternity, before the world and after, is without our reach. – Burnet.
5. Supposing the negation or omission of. Without the separation of the two monarchies, the most advantageous terms from the French must end in our destruction. – Addison.
6. Independent of; not by the use of. Men like to live without labor. Wise men will do it without a law. – Bacon.
7. On the outside of; as, without the gate; without doors.
8. With exemption from. That event can not happen without great damage to our interests.
9. Unless; except. Without, when it precedes a sentence or member of a sentence, has been called a conjunction. This is a mistake. "You will not enjoy health, without you use much exercise." In this sentence, without is a preposition still, but followed by a member of a sentence, instead of a single noun. It has no property of a connective or conjunction, and does not fall within the definition. You will not enjoy health, this fact following being removed, or not taking place; you use exercise. This use of without, is nearly superseded by unless and except, among good writers and speakers; but is common in popular discourse or parlance.