# for
## English
### Etymology

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

* (stressed form) enPR: fôr
** (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /fɔː(ɹ)/
** (General American) IPA: /foɹ/
*** Audio (General American):(file)
** (Canada) IPA: [foːɹ]
*** (dialectal) IPA: [fɔ(ː)ɹ], [fəɹ]
** (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA: /foː(ɹ)/
*** Audio (General Australian):(file)
** (Indic) IPA: /fɒ(ɾ)/
** Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)
* (unstressed form) enPR: fər
** (Received Pronunciation, General Australian) IPA: /fə(ɹ)/
** (General American, Canada) IPA: /fɚ/
*** Audio (California, unstressed form); “wait for me”:(file)
** (New Zealand) IPA: /fɘ(ɹ)/
* Homophones: fore, four (horse–hoarse merger)

### Conjunction

for
* (formal, literary) Because.
    I had to stay with my wicked stepmother, for I had nowhere else to go.
** c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night‎, 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

* given that, seeing that; see also Thesaurus:because

#### Translations
### Preposition

for
* 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; [...]
* Directed at; intended to belong to.
    I have something for you.
* 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.
** 1976, Michael McDonald (lyrics and music), “Takin' It to the Streets”, performed by The Doobie Brothers:You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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)
* 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.
* In order to cure, remove or counteract.
    I need to spray my house for termites.
* So as to allow (something or someone) to take position.
    Make way for the president!
    Clear the shelves for our new Christmas stock!
* In anticipation of.
    Stand by for your cue.
    Prepare for battle.
* So as to identify or locate.
    They swept the area for enemy operatives.
    Police combed his flat for clues.
* 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.
* Throughout or across (a distance in space).
    I can see for miles.
** c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:For many miles about / There's scarce a bush.
* Used to introduce a subject of a to-infinitive clause.
    It is unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.
    All I want is for you to be happy.
* On behalf of.
    I will stand in for him.
    I speak for the Prime Minister.
* 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.
* In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.
    I got five hundred pounds for that old car!
    He matched me blow for blow.
** 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 21:23-24:And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
* 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: […]
* 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.
* 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.
* (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, 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.
* 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; […]
* (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.
* (with names, chiefly US) In honor of; after.
    He is named for his grandfather.
* (UK) Due for or facing (a certain outcome or fate).
    He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.
* (chiefly US) Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio
    In term of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day
* (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.
* (obsolete) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
** 1609–1612, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Captaine”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene v:We'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
* (nonstandard) So (that), in order to
    He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.
* 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

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

#### Alternative forms

* (eye dialects): fa, fo, fo', fur, fuh, fer

#### Antonyms

* against

#### Derived terms

* bond for deed
* for all
* forasmuch
* forcause
* forever
* for fear that
* for good
* for good and all
* for good measure
* for it
* for kicks
* formenism
* for real
* for reasons
* forsooth
* for the chop
* for the record
* forwhy
* gape for
* herefor
* herefore
* not for
* once and for all
* run for cover
* sorry for 1999
* toco for yam
* wherefor
* wherefore
* why for

#### Translations
### Particle

for
* (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."

#### Related terms

* for to

### References

* 1 2 Pullum, Geoffrey K. (2024) The Truth About English Grammar, Polity Press, →ISBN, page 98

### Further reading

* Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8
* “for”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
* William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “for”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

### Anagrams

* 'fro, ORF, fro, orf

## Abinomn
### Noun

for
* a kind of fish

## Cameroon Pidgin
### Alternative forms

* foe, fo

### Etymology

From English for.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔ/

### Preposition

for
* for

## Catalan
### Pronunciation

* IPA: (Central, Balearic) [ˈfɔr]
* IPA: (Valencia) [ˈfor]

### Noun

for m (plural fors)
* tax, rate
* (numismatics) exchange rate, market value (of a coin)
* forum
* (archaic) fuero, tribunal

## Chinese
### Etymology 1

From English for.

#### Pronunciation

* Cantonese (Jyutping): fo$^6$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: fo$^6$
*** Yale: foh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: fo$^6$
*** Guangdong Romanization: fo$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /fɔː²²/

#### Preposition

for
* (Hong Kong Cantonese) for; for the purpose of
       zek$^3$ caa$^1$ hai$^6$ fo$^6$ sik$^6$ daan$^6$ gou$^1$ ge$^3$. [Jyutping]
       the fork is for eating the cake.
* (Hong Kong Cantonese) for; for the sake of; intended to belong to or used by
       ni$^1$ go$^3$ wai$^{6-2}$ hai$^6$ fo$^6$ zoeng$^2$ ze$^2$ co$^5$ gaa$^3$. [Jyutping]
       this seat is for the elderly.
       go$^3$ set$^1$ jyu$^4$ gwo$^2$ fo$^6$ saam$^1$ go$^3$ jan$^{4-2}$ sik$^6$ wui$^5$ m$^4$ wui$^5$ taai$^3$ sai$^3$ fan$^6$? [Jyutping]
       Would the portion this meal set be too little, if it were for three people to consume?

##### Synonyms

* (for the purpose of): 愛嚟 / 爱嚟

##### Derived terms

* for……嚟講 / for……嚟讲
* for我嚟講 / for我嚟讲

### Etymology 2

Clipping of English forward.

#### Pronunciation

* Cantonese (Jyutping): fo$^1$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: fo$^1$
*** Yale: fō
*** Cantonese Pinyin: fo$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: fo$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /fɔː⁵⁵/

#### Verb

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

### References

* 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
### Noun

for
* Mixed mutation of mor.

## Danish
### Etymology 1

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

#### Alternative forms

* fór

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈfoˀɐ̯], [ˈfoɐ̯ˀ]
* Rhymes: -oːɐ̯

#### Noun

for n (singular definite foret, plural indefinite for)
* lining (covering for the inside of something)
* lining (material used for inside covering)

##### Inflection
#### References

“for,1” in Den Danske Ordbog

### Etymology 2

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

* IPA: [fʌ]

#### Preposition

for
* for
* of
* to
* on
* at
* before, in front of
* by

#### Adverb

for
* too (more than enough; as too much)
* in front
* forward

#### Conjunction

for
* for, because

### Etymology 3

See fare (“to rush, run”).

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈfoˀɐ̯], [ˈfoɐ̯ˀ]

#### Verb

for, fór or farede
* past of fare.

## Esperanto
### Etymology

From German fort and English forth.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [for]
* Audio:(file)
* Hyphenation: for

### Adverb

for
* away, far, gone
** 1998, Henrik Ibsen, translated by Odd Tangerud, Puphejmo : Dramo en tri aktoj‎: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

* fore
* foresti
* foriri
* forĵeti
* forlasi
* formeti
* forpuŝi

## French
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔʁ/
* Audio:(file)

### Noun

for m (plural not attested)
* (obsolete) Only used in for intérieur

### Further reading

* “for”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Galician
### Etymology 1

Inflected form of ir (“to go”).

#### Verb

for
* first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir

### Etymology 2

Inflected form of ser (“to be”).

#### Verb

for
* first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ser

## Icelandic
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔːr/
* Rhymes: -ɔːr

### Noun

for f (genitive singular forar, nominative plural forir)
* mud
    Synonym: drulla
* bog

#### Derived terms

* forarpittur

## Ido
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔr/

### Preposition

for
* far from, away from

#### Derived terms

* de fore (“from afar, at afar, distance”)
* for de hike (“a great way off (from here)”)
* for-
* fora (“distant, remote, far distant”)
* fora komerco (“foreign trade”)
* fora navigado (“foreign navigation”)
* forajo (“a distant object; distance (prospect)”)
* fore (“(far) away”)
* foresar (“to be away”)
* foreso (“remoteness”)
* forigar (“to remove, send away”)

## Ladin
### Etymology

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

### Adverb

for
* (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
* (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

* daniëura (Gherdëina)
* tres, dagnora (Badiot)
* semper (Fascian)

#### Related terms

* per for
* for mo
* for inò

#### References

* ↑ Wörterbuch der Grödner Mundart.- (Schlern-Schriften ; 23) - Arcangjul Lardschneider . Teßmann

## Latin
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* (Classical Latin) IPA: /ˈfor/, [ˈfɔr]
* (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: /ˈfor/, [ˈfɔr]

### Verb

for (present infinitive fārī or fārier, perfect active fātus sum); first conjugation, deponent, defective
* to speak, talk, say
    Synonyms: effor, inquam, oro, aio, dico, alloquor, loquor

#### Conjugation

Certain forms were not used in Classical Latin.
$^1$The present passive infinitive in -ier is a rare poetic form which is attested.

#### Derived terms

* affor
* effor
* fābula
* fācundus
* fandus
* fāns
* fātum
* interfor
* praefor
* profor

#### Related terms

* fāma
* fās

### References

* 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
### Alternative forms

* vor, ver, fer, fur

### Etymology

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

### Preposition

for
* for

### Conjunction

for
* for

### Descendants

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

### References

* “for, prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
* “for, conj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

## Middle Irish
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɸor/

### Preposition

for (with accusative or dative)
* 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

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

### References

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

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈfɔrː/ (unstressed)
* IPA: /fɔ/ (unstressed)
* Audio:(file)

### Etymology 1
#### Adverb

for
* too
    for ung ― too young
    for langt ― too far

##### Synonyms

* altfor

### Etymology 2
#### Conjunction

for
* for

##### Synonyms

* fordi

### Etymology 3

From Old Norse fóðr.

#### Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora or forene)
* alternative form of fôr

##### Derived terms

* dyrefor
* fiskefor

### Etymology 4
#### Preposition

for
* for

##### Derived terms

* vestenfor

### Etymology 5
#### Verb

for
* past of fare.

### References

* “for” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Etymology 1
#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔrː/
* Audio:(file)

#### Conjunction

for
* 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

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

#### Alternative forms

* fòr

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /foːr/

#### Noun

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

### Etymology 3

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

#### Alternative forms

* fore, fòr, fòre

#### Noun

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

##### Derived terms

* plogfòr

##### See also

* får (Norwegian Bokmål)

### Etymology 4
#### Alternative forms

* fór

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fuːr/

#### Adjective

for (neuter fort, definite singular and plural fore, comparative forare, indefinite superlative forast, definite superlative foraste)
* fast
    gå fórare!Go faster!

### Etymology 5

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

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fuːr/

#### Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)
* alternative form of fôr (“fodder”)

##### Derived terms

* dyrefor
* fiskefor

### Etymology 6

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

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fuːr/

#### Noun

for n (definite singular foret, indefinite plural for, definite plural fora)
* alternative form of fôr (“lining”)

### Etymology 7

From Old Norse fyrir.

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔrː/
* Audio:(file)

#### Preposition

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

#### Adverb

for
* too
    Det er for langt å gå.It is too far to walk.
* in favour of
    Eg var for å bli med i FN.I was in favour of joining the UN.

##### Derived terms

* innanfor
* utanfor
* utfor

### Etymology 8
#### Verb

for
* misspelling of fór, past of fara

### Etymology 9
#### Verb

for
* imperative of fòra
* imperative of fôra

### References

* “for” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

## Old English
### Alternative forms

* ᚠᚩᚱᚨ

### Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *furi.

#### Alternative forms

* fore

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /for/

#### Preposition

for
* because of (+ dative)
* 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...
* 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.
* for (on behalf of, instead of) (+ accusative)
** c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Paul the Apostle"
    Petrus āna spræc for ealne þone hēap.Paul by himself spoke for the whole group.
* 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.
* (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

* Middle English: for
** English: for
** Scots: for
** Yola: vor, var

### Etymology 2

see faran

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /foːr/

#### Verb

fōr
* first/third-person singular preterite of faran

### Etymology 3

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

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /foːr/

#### Noun

fōr f (nominative plural fōra)
* journey, going, course, expedition, approach; passage, lifestyle, way of life

##### Declension

Strong ō-stem:

### Etymology 4

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

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /foːr/

#### Noun

fōr m
* hog, pig

##### Declension

Strong a-stem:

##### Descendants

* Middle English: *farow, *fargh (attested only in plural form faren)
** English: farrow
** Scots: ferrae, ferry, farry

## Old Irish
### Etymology 1

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

#### Alternative forms

* far, bar

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [βor]

#### Determiner

for (triggers eclipsis)
* your (plural)
* you (plural; as the object of a preposition that takes the genitive)
For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

##### Synonyms

* sethar

##### Descendants

* Irish: bhur
* Scottish Gaelic: ur

#### Further reading

* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 for, far, bar, uar (‘your’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

### Etymology 2

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

#### Alternative forms

* far

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ɸor]

#### Preposition

for (with accusative or dative)
* on, over
For quotations using this term, see Citations:for.

##### Derived terms

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

* Middle Irish: for
** Irish: ar (partially)
** Manx: er (partially)
** Scottish Gaelic: air (partially)

#### Further reading

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

## Old Norse
### Etymology

Probably derived from Proto-Germanic *furhs.

### Noun

for f
* furrow

#### Descendants

* Icelandic: for
* Norwegian Nynorsk: for, fór
* Norwegian Bokmål: får
* Old Swedish: for
** Swedish: fåra

### Further reading

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

## Old Saxon
### Noun

for
* Alternative form of fora

## Portuguese
### Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin forem (imperfect active subjunctive).

#### Alternative forms

* fôr (pre-reform spelling)

#### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfoʁ/ [ˈfoh]
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfoʁ/ [ˈfoh]
** (São Paulo) IPA: /ˈfoɾ/
** (Rio de Janeiro) IPA: /ˈfoʁ/ [ˈfoχ]
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈfoɻ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfoɾ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfoɾ/
** (Southern Portugal) IPA: /ˈfo.ɾi/
* Rhymes: (Portugal, São Paulo) -oɾ, (Brazil) -oʁ
* Hyphenation: for

#### Verb

for
* first/third-person singular future subjunctive of ir
    Quando ele for, avisa-me.When he goes, let me know.
* 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

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

#### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔh]
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔh]
** (São Paulo) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
** (Rio de Janeiro) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔχ]
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔɻ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
** (Southern Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔ.ɾi/
* Rhymes: -ɔɾ, -ɔʁ
* Hyphenation: for

#### Noun

for m (plural fores)
* Only used in à for de

### Etymology 3

Unadapted borrowing from English for.

#### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔh]
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔh]
** (São Paulo) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
** (Rio de Janeiro) IPA: /ˈfɔʁ/ [ˈfɔχ]
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈfɔɻ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔɾ/
** (Southern Portugal) IPA: /ˈfɔ.ɾi/
* Rhymes: -ɔɾ, -ɔʁ
* Hyphenation: for

#### Noun

for m (plural fors)
* (programming) for loop (a loop that uses a counter)

### Further reading

* “for”, in Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), São Paulo: Editora Melhoramentos, 2015–2025
* “for”, in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2025
* “for”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025
* “for”, in iDicionário Aulete (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025

## Romanian
### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin forum.

### Noun

for n (plural foruri)
* forum

#### Declension
## Swedish
### Verb

for
* past indicative of fara

## Walloon
### Etymology

From Old French forn, from Latin furnus.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /fɔʀ/

### Noun

for m (plural fors)
* oven

## West Makian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɸor/

### Verb

for
* (transitive) to hit repeatedly with a stick or other object

#### Conjugation
### References

* Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎, Pacific linguistics