1. (prep.) In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.

2. (prep.) Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.

3. (prep.) Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.

4. (prep.) Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.

5. (prep.) Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; /intending to go to.

6. (prep.) Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.

7. (prep.) Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.

8. (prep.) Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.

9. (prep.) Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.

10. (prep.) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.

11. (conj.) Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything.

12. (conj.) Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced, a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what has gone before.

13. (n.) One who takes, or that which is said on, the affirmative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; -- the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it.

against all for as as long as as proxy for as representing as things go because being being as how cause considering forasmuch as from in aid of in behalf of in consideration of in contemplation of in favor of in furtherance of in lieu of in order to in place of in preference to in preparation for in that inasmuch as insofar as insomuch as now on account of on behalf of parce que pro remedial of replacing seeing as how seeing that since so so as to so that to vice whereas with