for

Multiple Entries:
  for    f.o.r.    find    for-  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
for/fə(r)/

▶preposition

• 1 in favour of.

• 2 affecting or with regard to.

• 3 on behalf of or to the benefit of.

• 4 having as a purpose or function.

• 5 having as a reason or cause.

• 6 having as a destination.

• 7 representing.

• 8 in exchange for.

  ■ charged as (a price).

• 9 in relation to the expected norm of.

• 10 indicating the extent of (a distance) or the length of (a period of time).

• 11 indicating an occasion in a series.

▶conjunction literary because; since.

– phrases
be for it Brit. informal be about to be punished or get into trouble.
oh for I long for.

– origin OE, prob. a reduction of a Gmc prep. meaning ‘before’ (in place or time); rel. to Ger. für, also to fore.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
f.o.r.

▶abbreviation free on rail. See free on board at free.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
find/fʌɪnd/

▶verb (past and past part. found)

• 1 discover by chance or deliberately.

  ■ (find something out or find out about something) discover information or a fact.

  ■ succeed in obtaining: he's struggling to find the money for the trip.

  ■ (find someone out) detect someone in a crime or lie.

• 2 identify as being present: vitamin B12 is found in dairy products.

  ■ discover or perceive to be the case.

  ■ ascertain by research or calculation.

  ■ Law (of a court) officially declare to be the case.

  ■ (find against or for) Law (of a court) make a decision against (or in favour of); judge to be guilty (or innocent).

• 3 reach or arrive at by a natural or normal process: water finds its own level.

  ■ (find one's way) reach one's destination, typically without first knowing how to get there.

▶noun a discovery of something valuable or interesting, typically an archaeological one.

■ a person who is found to be useful or interesting.

– phrases
all found Brit. dated (of an employee's wages) with board and lodging provided free.
find one's feet stand up and become able to walk.

■ establish oneself in a particular field.

find it in one's heart to do [usu. with neg.] allow or force oneself to do.

– derivatives
findable adjective.

– origin OE findan, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
for-/fɔː/

▶prefix

• 1 denoting prohibition: forbid.

• 2 denoting abstention, neglect, or renunciation: forgive.

• 3 used as an intensifier: forlorn.

– origin OE.