Wiktionary

for

See also: Appendix:Variations of "for"
Languages (29)
Translingual • English
Abinomn • Cameroon Pidgin • Catalan • Chinese • Cornish • Danish • Esperanto • French • Galician • Icelandic • Ido • Ladin • Latin • Middle English • Middle Irish • Nigerian Pidgin • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Old English • Old Irish • Old Norse • Old Saxon • Portuguese • Romanian • Swedish • Walloon • West Makian
Page categories

Translingual

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Symbol

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for

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Fore.

See also

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

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From Middle English for, from Old English for (“for, because of”), from Proto-Germanic *furi (“for”), from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-.

Cognate with West Frisian foar (“for”), Dutch voor (“for”), German für (“for”), Danish for (“for”), Swedish för (“for”), Norwegian for (“for”), Icelandic fyrir (“for”), Latin per (“by, through, for, by means of”) and Romance language descendants (e.g. Spanish para (“for”)), Ancient Greek περί (perí, “for, about, toward”), Lithuanian per (“by, through, during”), Slovak pre (“for”), Sanskrit परि (pári, “over, around”).

Pronunciation

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Conjunction

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for

  1. (formal, literary) Because.
    I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.
    • c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night‎[2], act 3, scene 4:
      […] Dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skillful and deadly.
    • 1885, Richard Francis Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:
      […] nor is there found, in sea or on land, a sweeter or pleasanter of gifts than she; for she is prime in comeliness and seemlihead of face and symmetrical shape of perfect grace; her check is ruddy dight, her brow flower white, her teeth gem-bright, her eyes blackest black and whitest white, her hips of heavy weight, her waist slight and her favour exquisite.
    • 1900, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
      "By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City," said Glinda, "for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler."

Synonyms

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Translations

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See for/translations § Conjunction.

Preposition

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for

  1. Towards; in the direction of.
    The astronauts headed for the moon.
    Run for the hills!
    He was headed for the door when he remembered.
    • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 1:
      Wee ſailed from Peru, (where wee had continued by the ſpace of one whole yeare,) for China and Iapan, by the South Sea; [...]
  2. Directed at; intended to belong to.
    I have something for you.
  3. In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).
    Everything I do, I do for you.
    We're having a birthday party for Janet.
    The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.
  4. Befitting of someone’s beliefs, needs, wants, skills, or tastes; best suited to.
    If having to bag the groceries correctly is more than you can handle, then this isn't the job for you.
  5. To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose.
    This is a new bell for my bicycle.
    The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.
    This medicine is for your cough.
    These apples here are for eating. The rest are for throwing away.
    I'll buy something for killing cockroaches.
  6. Supporting, in favour of.
    Antonym: against
    All those for the motion, raise your hands.
    Who's for ice-cream?
    I'm for going by train
    Ten voted for, and three against. (with implied object)
    • 1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter XI, in Great Expectations […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 180:
      "I'll go round presently, and pay our friend off." Rather alarmed by this summary action, I was for a little delay, and even hinted that our friend himself might be difficult to deal with.
  7. Because of.
    He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.
    He looks better for having lost weight. (UK usage)
    She was the worse for drink.
    I like her for lots of reasons.
    • c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]:
      with fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath
    • 1867, Frederick Metcalfe, The Oxonian in Iceland, page 202:
      "A summerly day for you," said my host; "You ought to be here in winter. It is impossible then to get out of the doors for the snow and wind. Ugh! dreadful weather!"
    • 1864, George Etell Sargent, The Story of a City Arab, page 313:
      I could not see his hands, for the thick gloves he wore, and his face was partially concealed by a red woollen comforter; but his entire appearance and manners tallied with what I had seen of Yorkshire farmerhood.
  8. In order to cure, remove or counteract.
    I need to spray my house for termites.
  9. So as to allow (something or someone) to take position.
    Make way for the president!
    Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!
  10. In anticipation of.
    Stand by for your cue.
    Prepare for battle.
  11. So as to identify or locate.
    They swept the area for enemy operatives.
    Police combed his flat for clues.
  12. Over (a period of time).
    I've lived here for three years.
    They fought for days over a silly pencil.
    The store is closed for the day.
    • 1717, Joseph Addison, Metamorphoses:
      To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
  13. Throughout or across (a distance in space).
    I can see for miles.
  14. Used to introduce a subject of a to-infinitive clause.
    It is unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.
    I don't think it's a good idea for you and me to meet ever again.
  15. On behalf of.
    I will stand in for him.
    I speak for the Prime Minister.
  16. In the role or capacity of; instead of; in place of.
    I used a hay bale for a bed.
    He's got a turnip for a brain.
  17. In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.
    I got five hundred pounds for that old car!
    He matched me blow for blow.
  18. In order to obtain or acquire.
    I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.
    He's going for his doctorate.
    Do you want to go for coffee?
    People all over Greece looked to Delphi for answers.
    Can you go to the store for some eggs?
    I'm saving up for a car.
    Don't wait for an answer.
    What did he ask you for?
    • 1641 (first performance), [John Denham], “The Prologue”, in The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC:
      For we would have you know it, / The loſs will fall on us, not on the Poet: / For he writes not for money, nor for praiſe, / Nor to be call'd a Wit, nor to wear Bayes: […]
  19. By the standards of, usually with the implication that those standards are lower than one might otherwise expect; considering.
    Fair for its day.
    She's spry for an old lady.
    He's very mature, for a two-year-old.
  20. To be, or as being.
    Don't take me for a fool.
    • 17th century Abraham Cowley, Of Wit
      We take a falling meteor for a star.
    • a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC:
      if a man can be persuaded and fully assured of anything for a truth without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for truth ?
    • c. 1690, John Dryden, Translations (Preface)
      Most of our ingenious young men take up some cry'd-up English poet for their model.
    • 1712, Ambrose Philips, The Distrest Mother:
      But let her go for an ungrateful woman.
    • 1976, Louis L’Amour, chapter 2, in The Rider of Lost Creek, Bantam Dell, →ISBN:
      They knew him for a stranger.
    • 1982 February 13, Wayne Dynes, “Unnatural”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 29, page 4:
      I would advise anyone who does not share its politics — surely the great majority of gay men and lesbians — to shun NOLAG for the anachronistic zombie it is.
  21. (usually in the phrase 'for all') Despite, in spite of.
    For all his expensive education, he didn't seem very bright.
    • 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 113:
      "You must keep your head. There is still hope." "Hope!" "Yes; plentiful hope -- for all this destruction!"
    • 1892 August 6, "The Unbidden Guest", in Charles Dickens, Jr. (editor), All the Year Round,[3] page 133,
      Mr. Joseph Blenkinshaw was perhaps not worth quite so much as was reported; but for all that he was a very wealthy man […]
    • 1968, J. J. Scarisbrick, Henry VIII, page 240:
      For all his faults, there had been something lofty and great about him - as a judge, as a patron of education, as a builder, as an international figure.
  23. Indicating something desired or anticipated.
    O for the wings of a dove.
    Ah! for wings to soar …
    And now for a slap-up meal!
    • 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act PROLOGUE, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
      O For a Muſe of Fire, that would aſcend / The brighteſt Heauen of Inuention :
    • 1858 March 27, “The Lay of the Brief”, in Punch, Or, The London Charivari, page 129:
      Oh! but to breathe the air / By their side under summer skies! To watch the blush on their cheeks, / The light in their liquid eyes. / Oh! but for one short hour, / To whisper a word of love; […]
  24. (in expressions such as 'for a start') Introducing the first item(s) in a potential sequence .
    Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.
    For another, we don't have any equipment.
  25. (with names, chiefly US) In honor of; after.
    He is named for his grandfather.
  26. (UK) Due for or facing (a certain outcome or fate).
    He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.
  27. (chiefly US) Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio
    In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day
  28. (cricket) Used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.
    At close of play, England were 305 for 3.
  29. (obsolete) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
  30. (nonstandard) So (that), in order to
    He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.
  31. Used in various other more-or-less idiomatic ways to construe individual verbs, indicating various semantic relationships such as target, purpose, result, etc.; see also the entries for individual phrasal verbs, e.g. ask for, look for, stand for, etc.
    to account for one's whereabouts    to care for a relative    to settle for second best    to allow for mistakes

Usage notes

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Some modern grammars classify the sense that introduces a subject of a to-infinitive clause as a subordinator rather than a preposition;[1] most grammar books and dictionaries to date, being based on traditional grammar, classify it as a preposition rather than a subordinating conjunction.[1]

Alternative forms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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See for/translations § Preposition.

Particle

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for

  1. (nonstandard, in representations of dialectal speech, especially that of black speakers) To, the particle for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
    • 1896, McClure's magazine, page 270:
      “'Ugh—I'll not be able for get up. Send for M'sieu le Curé—I'll be goin' for die for sure.'
    • 1898 December 17, “Mr. Owens' Experience”, in Forest and Stream, volume 51, page 485:
      [It was a] firs rate place for shoot a woodcocks, I tell you. [...] I say [it] wass no use for spen money. [...] An I say in "So wass I. I see lot of sy-pokes fly up an twist off like screw-cork an spit whistle, but I wass'nt able for get aim on him."
    • 2007, H. Nigel Thomas, Return to Arcadia: A Novel (Tsar Publications):
      "She say that when nigger people step out o' they place and start for rub shoulders with Bacra, trouble just 'round the corner."
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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pullum, Geoffrey K. (2024) The Truth About English Grammar, Polity Press, →ISBN, page 98

Further reading

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Anagrams

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Abinomn

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Noun

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for

  1. a kind of fish

Cameroon Pidgin

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From English for.

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. for

Catalan

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Etymology

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From Old Catalan for, from Latin forum. Doublet of fur and fòrum.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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for m (plural fors)

  1. tax, rate
    Synonym: taxa
  2. (numismatics) exchange rate, market value (of a coin)
  3. forum
    Synonym: fòrum
  4. (archaic) fuero, tribunal
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Further reading

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Chinese

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Etymology 1

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From English for.

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) for; for the purpose of
    隻叉係for食蛋糕嘅。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    只叉系for食蛋糕嘅。 [Cantonese, simp.]
    zek3 caa1 hai6 fo6 sik6 daan6 gou1 ge3. [Jyutping]
    the fork is for eating the cake.
  2. (Hong Kong Cantonese) for; for the sake of; intended to belong to or used by
    呢個位係for長者坐㗎。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    呢个位系for长者坐㗎。 [Cantonese, simp.]
    ni1 go3 wai6-2 hai6 fo6 zoeng2 ze2 co5 gaa3. [Jyutping]
    this seat is for the elderly.
    個set如果for三個人食會唔會太細份？ [Cantonese, trad.]
    个set如果for三个人食会唔会太细份？ [Cantonese, simp.]
    go3 set1 jyu4 gwo2 fo6 saam1 go3 jan4-2 sik6 wui5 m4 wui5 taai3 sai3 fan6? [Jyutping]
    Would the portion this meal set be too little, if it were for three people to consume?
Synonyms
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Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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Clipping of English forward.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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for

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) to forward (a message, an email, etc.)

References

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  • 歐陽偉豪 (2010 February 25) “中英見面冊﹕OK勤力、等我load一load”, in Ming Pao (in Chinese)

Cornish

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Noun

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for

  1. Mixed mutation of mor.
  2. Aspirate mutation of por.

Danish

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Etymology 1

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From Old Norse fóðr, from Middle Low German vōder (“linen, sheath”), from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą (“sheath”).

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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for n (singular definite foret, plural indefinite for)

  1. lining (covering for the inside of something)
  2. lining (material used for inside covering)
Inflection
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Declension of for
neuter
gender 		singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative for foret for forene
genitive fors forets fors forenes

References

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“for,1” in Den Danske Ordbog

Etymology 2

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From Old Danish for, from Proto-Germanic *furai (in Western Old Norse replaced by the variant Old Norse fyrr, from Proto-Germanic *furiz, *furi, = Danish before).

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. for
  2. of
  3. to
  4. on
  5. at
  6. before, in front of
  7. by

Adverb

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for

  1. too (more than enough; as too much)
  2. in front
  3. forward

Conjunction

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for

  1. for, because

Etymology 3

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See fare (“to rush, run”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈfoˀɐ̯], [ˈfoɐ̯ˀ]

Verb

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for, fór or farede

  1. past of fare.

Esperanto

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Etymology

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From German fort and English forth.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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for

  1. away, far, gone
    • 1998, Henrik Ibsen, translated by Odd Tangerud, Puphejmo : Dramo en tri aktoj‎[4]:
      NORA (komencas elpreni el la skatolo, sed baldaŭ forĵetas ĉion). Ho, se mi kuraĝus eliri. Se nur neniu venus. Se nur ne dume okazus io hejme. Stulta babilaĵo; neniu venos. Nur ne pensi. Brosi la mufon. Delikataj gantoj, delikataj gantoj. For el la pensoj! For, for! Unu, du, tri, kvar, kvin, ses — (krias) Jen, tie ili venas —
      NORA (begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it all away). Oh, if I dared go out. If only no one would come. If only I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stupid nonsense; no one will come. Only I mustn't think about it. I will brush my muff. What lovely, lovely gloves. Out of my thoughts, Away, away! One, two, three, four, five, six— (Screams) There, someone's coming—

Derived terms

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French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Latin forum; doublet of fur and forum. Unrelated to French fort.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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for m (plural not attested)

  1. (obsolete) Only used in for intérieur

Further reading

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Galician

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Etymology 1

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Inflected form of ir (“to go”).

Verb

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for

  1. first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir

Etymology 2

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Inflected form of ser (“to be”).

Verb

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for

  1. first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ser

Icelandic

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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for f (genitive singular forar, nominative plural forir)

  1. mud
    Synonym: drulla
  2. bog

Declension

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Declension of for (feminine)
singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative for forin forir forirnar
accusative for forina forir forirnar
dative for forinni forum forunum
genitive forar forarinnar fora foranna

Derived terms

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Ido

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Etymology

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Borrowing from English far (from). Compare Esperanto for.

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. far from, away from

Derived terms

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Ladin

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Etymology

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Borrowed from German fort or Middle High German vort (“going on, continuing”).[1]

Adverb

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for

  1. (Gherdëina) always
    Ël stà for a cësa ― He always stays at home
    La dumënies jons for sa mont ― On Sundays we always go hiking
    L ie for stat y l sarà for nsci ― It has always been and it always will be like this
  2. (Gherdëina, with comparative) to a greater degree over time, more and more
    L vën for plu frëit ― It's getting colder and colder.
    Ie capësce for de manco ― I understand less and less

Alternative forms

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References

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  1. ^ Wörterbuch der Grödner Mundart.- (Schlern-Schriften ; 23) - Arcangjul Lardschneider [1]. Teßmann

Latin

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Etymology

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From Proto-Italic *fāōr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂ti (“to speak”). It is unclear why the verb is deponent.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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for (present infinitive fārī or fārier, perfect active fātus sum); first conjugation, deponent, defective

  1. to speak, talk, say
    Synonyms: effor, inquam, oro, aio, dico, alloquor, loquor

Conjugation

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Certain forms were not used in Classical Latin.

   Conjugation of for (first conjugation, deponent)
indicative singular plural
first second third first second third
active present for fāris,
fāre 		fātur fāmur fāminī fantur
imperfect fābar fābāris,
fābāre 		fābātur fābāmur fābāminī fābantur
future fābor fāberis,
fābere 		fābitur fābimur fābiminī fābuntur
perfect fātus + present active indicative of sum
pluperfect fātus + imperfect active indicative of sum
future perfect fātus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive singular plural
first second third first second third
active present fer fēris,
fēre 		fētur fēmur fēminī fentur
imperfect fārer fārēris,
fārēre 		fārētur fārēmur fārēminī fārentur
perfect fātus + present active subjunctive of sum
pluperfect fātus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative singular plural
first second third first second third
active present — fāre — — fāminī —
future — fātor fātor — — fantor
non-finite forms infinitive participle
active passive active passive
present fārī,
fārier1 		— fāns —
future fātūrum esse — fātūrus fandus
perfect fātum esse — fātus —
future perfect fātum fore — — —
perfect potential fātūrum fuisse — — —
verbal nouns gerund supine
genitive dative accusative ablative accusative ablative
fandī fandō fandum fandō fātum fātū

1The present passive infinitive in -ier is a rare poetic form which is attested.

Derived terms

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References

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  • for in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • for in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • "for", in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
  • Karl Gottlob Zumpt, 1846, A school-grammar of the Latin language, p146

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old English for, from Proto-Germanic *fura, *furi.

Preposition

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for

  1. for

Conjunction

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for

  1. for

Descendants

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  • English: for
  • Scots: for
  • Yola: vor, var

References

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Middle Irish

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Etymology

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From Old Irish for,[1] from Proto-Celtic *uɸer, from Proto-Indo-European *upér.

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for (with accusative or dative)

  1. on, over
    • c. 1000, “The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig”, in Ernst Windisch, editor, Irische Texte, volume 1, published 1800, section 1:
      Boí rí amra for Laignib, .i. Mac Dathó a ainm.
      There was a wonderful king over the Leinstermen; Mac Dathó was his name.

Descendants

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  • Irish: ar (partially)
  • Manx: er (partially)
  • Scottish Gaelic: air (partially)

References

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  1. ^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 for”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Nigerian Pidgin

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Etymology

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From English for.

Preposition

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for

  1. for
  2. in
    • 2022 February 3, “US comot Islamic State leader from battlefield for Syria raid”, in BBC News Pidgin‎[5]:
      "Thanks to di skill and bravery of our armed forces, we don comot Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, from di battlefield" Biden tok for one statement.
      "Thanks to the skill and bravery of our armed forces, we have left Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, from the battlefield" Biden said in a statement.

Norwegian Bokmål

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Adverb

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for

  1. too
    for ung ― too young
    for langt ― too far
Synonyms
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Etymology 2

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Conjunction

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for

  1. for
Synonyms
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Etymology 3

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From Old Norse fóðr.

Noun

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for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora or forene)

  1. alternative form of fôr
Derived terms
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Etymology 4

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Preposition

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for

  1. for
Derived terms
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Etymology 5

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Verb

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for

  1. past of fare.

References

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Norwegian Nynorsk

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Conjunction

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for

  1. for, because
    Eg joggar kvar dag, for eg vil ikkje bli feit.
    I jog every day, because I don't want to get fat.

Etymology 2

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From Old Norse fǫr, from Proto-Germanic *farō. Related to fara.

Alternative forms

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  • fòr

Pronunciation

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Noun

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for f (definite singular fora, indefinite plural forer, definite plural forene)

  2. travel
  3. footprints

Etymology 3

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From Old Norse for, probably derived from earlier Proto-Germanic *furhs.

Alternative forms

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Noun

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for f (definite singular fora, indefinite plural forer, definite plural forene)

  2. (agriculture) furrow
Derived terms
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See also
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  • får (Norwegian Bokmål)

Etymology 4

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Alternative forms

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  • fór

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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for (neuter fort, definite singular and plural fore, comparative forare, indefinite superlative forast, definite superlative foraste)

  1. fast
    gå fórare!
    Go faster!

Etymology 5

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From Old Norse fóðr, from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą (“fodder”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)

  1. alternative form of fôr (“fodder”)
Derived terms
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Etymology 6

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From Old Norse fóðr, borrowed from Middle Low German vōder (“sheath, linen”), from Proto-Germanic *fōdrą.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)

  1. alternative form of fôr (“lining”)

Etymology 7

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From Old Norse fyrir.

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. for
    Pass deg for snøskred!
    Look out for avalanches!
  2. of
    Eg bur sør for byen.
    I live south of the city.

Adverb

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for

  1. too
    Det er for langt å gå.
    It is too far to walk.
  2. in favour of
    Eg var for å bli med i FN.
    I was in favour of joining the UN.
Derived terms
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Etymology 8

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Verb

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for

  1. misspelling of fór, past of fara

Etymology 9

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Verb

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for

  1. imperative of fòra
  2. imperative of fôra

References

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology 1

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From Proto-West Germanic *furi.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for

  1. because of (+ dative)
  2. for (duration of time)
    • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Sebastian, Martyr"
      Þa wurdon hi ealle þurh þæt wundor ablicgede and þæs þægnes gebedda ðe þa gebroþra heold wæs for six gearum for swiðlicre untrumnysse...
      Then they were all astonished at that miracle; and the wife of the officer, who had charge of the brothers, for six years, through a severe sickness...
  3. for (for the sake of) (+ dative)
    • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Luke 9:24
      Sē þe his sāwle for mē forspilþ, hē hīe ġehǣlþ.
      Whoever destroys their soul for me will save it.
  4. for (on behalf of, instead of) (+ accusative)
  5. ago (+ dative)
    Hē swealt for swelċe... twām þūsendum ġēara.
    He died like... two thousand years ago.
    • c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English
      Is nū for þȳ Godes þēowum and mynstermannum ġeorne tō wearnienne þæt sēo hālġe lār on ūrum dagum ne ācōliġe oþþe ātēoriġe swā swā hit wæs ġedōn on Angelcynne nū for ānum fēawum gēarum, swā þæt nān Englisċ prēost ne cūðe dihtan oþþe āsmēaġan ānne pistol on Lǣden, oþ þæt Dūnstān ærċebisċop and Æðelwold bisċop eft þā lāre on munuclīfum ārǣrdon.
      That's why God's servants and monks should be very careful not to let this sacred learning cool or fade in our time, the way it did in England a few years ago, when none of our priests could compose or interpret a letter in Latin, until archbishop Dunstan and bishop Æthelwold revived learning in monastic life.
  6. (Usually in the phrase for eall) for all, despite, in spite of (+ dative)
    Hēo swealt on fefre for eallum hire dǣdum.
    She died of a fever, despite all her deeds.
Descendants
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Etymology 2

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see faran

Pronunciation

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Verb

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fōr

  1. first/third-person singular preterite of faran

Etymology 3

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From Proto-Germanic *fōrō (“trip; wagon”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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fōr f (nominative plural fōra)

  1. journey, going, course, expedition, approach; passage, lifestyle, way of life
Declension
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Strong ō-stem:

singular plural
nominative fōr fōra, fōre
accusative fōre fōra, fōre
genitive fōre fōra
dative fōre fōrum

Etymology 4

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Variant of fearh. From Proto-West Germanic *farh (“pig”). Cognate with Middle Low German vōr (“lean young pig”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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fōr m

  1. hog, pig
Declension
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Strong a-stem:

singular plural
nominative fōr fōras
accusative fōr fōras
genitive fōres fōra
dative fōre fōrum
Descendants
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Old Irish

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Etymology 1

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From Proto-Celtic *sweseros, from *swīs (“you (pl.)”); compare Latin vester.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Determiner

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for (triggers eclipsis)

  1. your (plural)
  2. you (plural; as the object of a preposition that takes the genitive)

For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

Synonyms
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Descendants
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  • Irish: bhur
  • Scottish Gaelic: ur

Further reading

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Etymology 2

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From Proto-Celtic *uɸer, from Proto-Indo-European *upér.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Preposition

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for (with accusative or dative)

  1. on, over

For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

Inflection
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Inflection of for
Person: normal emphatic
singular first form for(u)msa
second fort fortsu
third
m or n 		dative for
accusative foir, fair foirsom, foirsem
third
f 		dative fu(i)ri
accusative forrae
plural first fornn, furnn for(u)nni
second fu(i)rib, fo(i)rib fu(i)ribsi
third dative for(a)ib for(a)ibsom
accusative forru forrusom
Derived terms
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Combinations with definite articles:

  • forsin(d) (masculine and feminine accusative singular, all genders dative singular)
  • forsa (neuter accusative singular)
  • for(s)na (accusative plural)
  • for(s)naib (dative plural)

Combinations with possessive determiners:

  • form (“on my”)
  • fort (“on your sg”)
  • fora (“on his/her/its/their”)

Combinations with relative pronouns:

  • for(s)a (“on whom, on which”)
  • forna (“on whom/which … not”)
Descendants
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  • Middle Irish: for
    • Irish: ar (partially)
    • Manx: er (partially)
    • Scottish Gaelic: air (partially)

Further reading

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Old Norse

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Etymology

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Probably derived from Proto-Germanic *furhs.

Noun

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for f

  1. furrow

Descendants

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Further reading

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  • Zoëga, Geir T. (1910) “for”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press; also available at the Internet Archive

Old Saxon

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Noun

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for

  1. Alternative form of fora

Portuguese

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Etymology 1

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    Inherited from Latin forem (imperfect active subjunctive).

    Alternative forms

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    • fôr (pre-reform spelling)

    Pronunciation

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    • Rhymes: (Portugal, São Paulo) -oɾ, (Brazil) -oʁ
    • Hyphenation: for

    Verb

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    for

    1. first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir
      Quando ele for, avisa-me.
      When he goes, let me know.
    2. first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ser
      Enquanto ela for viva, merece todo o nosso respeito.
      As long as she is alive, she deserves all our respect.

    Etymology 2

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      Probably borrowed from French for. Alternatively, an apocopic form of foro.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      for m (plural fores)

      1. Only used in à for de

      Etymology 3

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        Unadapted borrowing from English for.

        Pronunciation

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        Noun

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        for m (plural fors)

        1. (programming) for loop (a loop that uses a counter)

        Further reading

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        Romanian

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        Etymology

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        Borrowed from Latin forum.

        Noun

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        for n (plural foruri)

        1. forum

        Declension

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        Declension of for
        singular plural
        indefinite definite indefinite definite
        nominative-accusative for forul foruri forurile
        genitive-dative for forului foruri forurilor
        vocative forule forurilor

        Swedish

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        Verb

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        for

        1. past indicative of fara

        Walloon

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        Etymology

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        From Old French forn, from Latin furnus.

        Pronunciation

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        Noun

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        for m (plural fors)

        1. oven

        West Makian

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        Pronunciation

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        Verb

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        for

        1. (transitive) to hit repeatedly with a stick or other object

        Conjugation

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        Conjugation of for (action verb)
        singular plural
        inclusive exclusive
        1st person tofor mofor afor
        2nd person nofor fofor
        3rd person inanimate ifor dofor
        animate
        imperative nofor, for fofor, for

        References

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        • Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎[6], Pacific linguistics
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