Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for WITH
WITH, prep. [Sax. with, near or against; Goth. ga-withan, to join. The primary sense is to press, or to meet, to unite; hence in composition, it denotes opposition, as in withstand and withdraw; hence against, Sax. wither, G. wider.]
- By, noting cause, instrument or means. We are distressed with pain; we are elevated with joy. With study men became learned and respectable. Fire is extinguished with water.
- On the side of, noting friendship or favor. Fear not, for I am with thee. – Gen. xxvi.
- In opposition to; in competition or contest; as, to struggle with adversity. The champions fought with each other an hour. He will lie with any man living.
- Noting comparison. The fact you mention compares well with another I have witnessed.
- In company. The gentlemen traveled with me from Boston to Philadelphia.
- In the society of. There is no living with such neighbors.
- In connection, or in appendage. He gave me the Bible, and with it the warmest expressions of affection.
- In mutual dealing or intercourse. I will buy with you, sell with you. – Shak.
- Noting confidence. I will trust you with the secret.
- In partnership. He shares the profits with the other partners. I will share with you the pleasures and the pains.
- Noting connection. Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate. – Dryden.
- Immediately after. With this he pointed to his face. – Dryden.
- Among. I left the assembly with the last. Tragedy was originally with the ancients a piece of religious worship. – Rymer.
- Upon. Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan philosophers. – Addison.
- In consent, noting parity of state. See! where on earth the flow'ry glories lie / With her they flourish'd, and with her they die. – Pope. With and by are closely allied in many of their ones, and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which their uses may be distinguished. It is observed by Johnson that with seems rather to denote an instrument, and by a cause; as, he killed an enemy with a sword, but he died by an arrow. But this rule is not always observed. With, in composition, signifies sometimes opposition, privation; or separation, departure.
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