1. Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything. And for of long that way had walkéd none, The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar. Fairfax. And Heaven defend your good souls, that you think I will your serious and great business scant, For she with me. Shak.
2. 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. Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. Ps. cxxxvi. 1. Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike As if we had them not. Shak. For because, because. [Obs.] "Nor for because they set less store by their own citizens." Robynson (More's Utopia). — For why. (a) Why; for that reason; wherefore. [Obs.] (b) Because. [Obs.] See Forwhy.
Syn.
— See Because.
FOR
For, n.
Defn: One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; — the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it. The fors and against. those in favor and those opposed; the pros and the cons; the advantages and the disadvantages. Jane Austen.
FORAGE For"age (; 48), n. Etym: [OF. fourage, F. fourrage, fr. forre, fuerre, fodder, straw, F. feurre, fr. LL. foderum, fodrum, of German or Scand, origin; cf. OHG. fuotar, G. futter. See Fodder food, and cf. Foray.]
1. The act of foraging; search for provisions, etc.
He [the lion] from forage will incline to play. Shak.
One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen
and fair kine. Milton.
Mawhood completed his forage unmolested. Marshall.
2. Food of any kind for animals, especially for horses and cattle, as grass, pasture, hay, corn, oats. Dryden. Forage cap. See under Cap. — Forage master (Mil.), a person charged with providing forage and the means of transporting it. Farrow.
FORAGE
For"age, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Foraged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Foraging.]
Defn: To wander or rove in search of food; to collect food, esp. forage, for horses and cattle by feeding on or stripping the country; to ravage; to feed on spoil. His most mighty father on a hill Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp Forage in blood of French nobility. Shak. Foraging ant (Zoöl.), one of several species of ants of the genus Eciton, very abundant in tropical America, remarkable for marching in vast armies in search of food. — Foraging cap, a forage cap. — Foraging party, a party sent out after forage.