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1. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
For \For\, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D.
   voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f["u]r, Icel. fyrir,
   Sw. f["o]r, Dan. for, adv. f["o]r, Goth. fa['u]r, fa['u]ra,
   L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra-. [root] 202. Cf. Fore, First,
   Foremost, Forth, Pro-.]
   In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration
   of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done
   or takes place.
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   1. 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.
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            With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. --Shak.
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            How to choose dogs for scent or speed. --Waller.
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            Now, for so many glorious actions done,
            For peace at home, and for the public wealth,
            I mean to crown a bowl for C[ae]sar's health.
                                                  --Dryden.
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            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.
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   2. 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.
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            The oak for nothing ill,
            The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            It was young counsel for the persons, and violent
            counsel for the matters.              --Bacon.
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            Shall I think the worls was made for one,
            And men are born for kings, as beasts for men,
            Not for protection, but to be devoured? --Dryden.
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            For he writes not for money, nor for praise.
                                                  --Denham.
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   3. 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.
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            We can do nothing against the truth, but for the
            truth.                                --2 Cor. xiii.
                                                  8.
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            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.
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            Aristotle is for poetical justice.    --Dennis.
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   4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is
      directed, or the point toward which motion is made;
      ?ntending to go to.
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            We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. --Bacon.
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   5. 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.
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            And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give
            life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand
            for hand, foot for foot.              --Ex. xxi. 23,
                                                  24.
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   6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which
      anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
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            We take a falling meteor for a star.  --Cowley.
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            If a man can be fully assured of anything for a
            truth, without having examined, what is there that
            he may not embrace for tru??          --Locke.
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            Most of our ingenious young men take up some
            cried-up English poet for their model. --Dryden.
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            But let her go for an ungrateful woman. --Philips.
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   7. 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.
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            The writer will do what she please for all me.
                                                  --Spectator.
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            God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next
            minute supervene.                     --Dr. H. More.
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            For anything that legally appears to the contrary,
            it may be a contrivance to fright us. --Swift.
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   8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or
      state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or
      time of.
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            For many miles about
            There 's scarce a bush.               --Shak.
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            Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.
                                                  --prior.
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            To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
                                                  --Garth.
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   9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of
      which, anything is done. [Obs.]
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            We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
                                                  --Beau. & Fl.
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   For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with
      reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently.
      See under As.
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            As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
                                                  --Josh. xxiv.
                                                  15.
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            For me, my stormy voyage at an end,
            I to the port of death securely tend. --Dryden.

   For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of.

   For all the world, wholly; exactly. "Whose posy was, for
      all the world, like cutlers' poetry." --Shak.

   For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that;
      seeing that; since.

   For by. See Forby, adv.

   For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever.

   For me, or For all me, as far as regards me.

   For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended
      on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook.

   For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.]
      "For that I love your daughter." --Shak.

   For thy, or Forthy [AS. for[eth][=y].], for this; on this
      account. [Obs.] "Thomalin, have no care for thy."
      --Spenser.

   For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of.
      [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] --
      "What went ye out for to see?" --Luke vii. 25. See To,
      prep., 4.

   O for, would that I had; may there be granted; --
      elliptically expressing desire or prayer. "O for a muse of
      fire." --Shak.

   Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of
      account; but for the presence or action of. "Moral
      consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were
      it not for the will." --Sir M. Hale.
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2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Forthy \For*thy"\, adv. [AS. for[eth][=y]; for, prep. +
   [eth][=y], instrumental neut. of se, se['o], [eth][ae]t,
   pron. demonstrative and article. See The.]
   Therefore. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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