of

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See also:OF,Of,of-,Of-,OF.,óf,òf,andôf

English

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Etymology 1

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    Etymology tree
    Proto-West Germanic*ab
    Old Englishæf
    Old Englishof
    Middle Englishof
    Englishof

    FromMiddle Englishof,fromOld Englishof(“from, out of, off”),an unstressed form ofæf,fromProto-West Germanic*ab,fromProto-Germanic*ab(“away; away from”).Doubletofoff,which is the stressed descendant of the same Old English word. More atoff.

    Alternative forms

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    Pronunciation

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    Preposition

    [edit]
    EnglishWikipediahas an article on:
    Wikipedia

    of

    1. Expressing distance or motion.
      1. (nowobsoleteordialectal)From(of distance, direction), "off".[from 9th c.]
        • 1485,Sir Thomas Malory,chapterX,inLe Morte Darthur,book XIII:
          Sir said Galahad by this shelde ben many merueils fallen / Sir sayd the knyght hit befelle after the passion of our lord Ihesu Crist xxxij yere that Ioseph of Armathye the gentyl knyghte / the whiche took doune oure lordofthe hooly Crosse att that tyme he departed from Iherusalem with a grete party of his kynred with hym
          Sir, said Galahad, by this shield many marvels have fallen / Sir, said the knight, it befell after the passion of our lord Jesus Christ, year 32, when Joseph of Arimathea, the gentile knight, / took down our lordofthe holy Cross. At that time, he departed from Jerusalem with a great party of his kindred with him
        • 1621,Democritus Junior [pseudonym;Robert Burton],The Anatomy of Melancholy,[…],Oxford, Oxfordshire:[…]John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps,→OCLC,partition 2, section 3, member 5, subsection 2:
          Against headache, vertigo, vapours which ascend forthofthe stomach to molest the head, read Hercules de Saxonia and others.
        • 1851November 14,Herman Melville,chapter XXXII, inMoby-Dick; or, The Whale,1st American edition, New York, N.Y.:Harper & Brothers;London:Richard Bentley,→OCLC,page153:
          He is never chased; he would run away with rope-walksofline.
      2. (obsoleteexcept in phrases)Since,from(a given time, earlier state etc.).[from 9th c.]
      3. From,away from (a position, number, distance etc.).[from 10th c.]
        There are no shops within twenty milesofthe cottage.
        • 1932September 30,Time:
          Though Washington does not officially recognize Moscow, the Hoover Administration permits a Soviet Russian Information Bureau to flourish in a modest red brick house on Massachusetts Avenue, within a mileofthe White House.
        • 2010November 7,The Guardian:
          There are now upwardsof1.4 million 99ers in America facing a life with no benefits and few prospects for finding a job in a market in which companies are still not hiring.
    2. Expressing separation.
      1. Indicatingremoval,absenceorseparation,with the action indicated by atransitive verband the quality or substance by a grammatical object.[from 10th c.]
        Finally she was relievedofthe burden of caring for her sick husband.
        • 1485,Sir Thomas Malory,“xviij”,inLe Morte Darthur,book XIII:
          And ther with on his handes and on his knees he wente soo nyghe that he touched the holy vessel / and kyste hit / and anone he was hole / and thenne he sayd lord god I thanke the / for I am helydofthis sekenesse
          And there, with his hands and on his knees, he got so close that he touched the holy vessel / and kissed it / and he was whole straight away / and then he said: lord God, I thank thee / for I am healedofthis sickness
        • 1603,Michel de Montaigne,chapter I, inJohn Florio,transl.,The Essayes[…],book II, London:[…]Val[entine]SimmesforEdward Blount[…],→OCLC:
          Antigonus [took] upon him to favour a souldier of his by reason of his vertue and valour, to have great care of him, and see whether they could recover himofa lingering and inward disease which had long tormented him[…]
        • 1816February 20, Jane Austen,Letter:
          I am almost entirely curedofmy rheumatism—just a little pain in my knee now and then, to make me remember what it was, and keep on flannel.
        • 1951September 3,Time:
          In Houston, ten minutes after the Lindquist Finance Corp. was robbedof$447, Office Manager Howard Willson got a phone call from the thief who complained: "You didn't have enough money over there."
      2. Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by anadjective.[from 10th c.]
        He seemed devoidofhuman feelings.
        • 1731August 28, Jonathan Swift,Letter:
          But schemes are perfectly accidental: some will appear barrenofhints and matter, but prove to be fruitful[…]
        • 2010October 31, Stuart James,The Guardian:
          Yet for long spells Villa looked laboured and devoidofideas.
      3. (obsolete)Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with anintransitive verb.[14th–19th c.]
        • 1822,Jacob Bailey Moore,New Hampshire,volume 1, page 5:
          He was kindly treated by the people at Saco, and recoveredofhis wounds.
    3. Expressing origin.
      1. Indicating anancestralsource or origin ofdescent.[from 9th c.]
        The word is believed to beofJapanese origin.
        • 1526,[William Tyndale,transl.],The Newe Testamẽt[…](Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany:Peter Schöffer],→OCLC,Acts:
          They wondred all, and marveylled sayinge amonge themselves: Loke, are not all these which speakeoffgalile? And howe heare we every man his awne tongue wherein we were boren?
        • 1954,The Rotarian,volume 85:6:
          My father was bornofa family of weavers in Manchester, England.
        • 2010,“The Cost of Repair”, inThe Economist:
          Nothing may comeofthese ideas, yet their potential should not be dismissed.
      2. Introducing anepithetthat indicates abirthplace,residence,dominion,or other place associated with the individual.
        JesusofNazareth (after hometown)
        AnselmofCanterbury(after diocese)
        AnselmofAosta (after birthplace)
        Anselm of Bec (after monastery)
        Pedro IIofBrazil(after dominion)
        Mrs MigginsofGasworks Road, Mudchester (after place of residence)
      3. Indicating a (non-physical)sourceof action or emotion; introducing acause,instigation;from,out of, as an expression of.[from 9th c.]
        The invention was bornofnecessity.
        • 1485,Sir Thomas Malory,chapterXIX,inLe Morte Darthur,book X:
          Faire knyght said Palomydes me semeth we haue assayed eyther other passyng sore / and yf hit may please the / I requyre theofthy knyghthode telle me thy name / Sir said the knyȝt to Palomydes / that is me loth to doo / for thou hast done me wronge.
          Fair knight, said Palamedes, seems to me we have assayed, either other passing sore / and if it may please thee / I request thee,ofthy knighthood, tell me thy name / Sir, said the knight to Palamedes, / I am loath to do that / for thou hast done me wrong.
        • 1803,John Smalley,Sermons:
          Undoubtedly it is to be understood, that inflicting deserved punishment on all evil doers,ofright, belongs to God.
        • 2008December 3, Rowenna Davis,The Guardian:
          The woman who danced for me said she was thereofher own free will, but when I pushed a bit further, I discovered that she "owed a man a lot of money", and had to pay it back quickly.
      4. (following an intransitive verb)Indicates the source orcauseof the verb.[from 10th c.]
        It is said that she diedofa broken heart.
        • 2006,Joyce Carol Oates,The Female of the Species:
          He smelledofbeer and cigarette smoke and his own body.
        • 2010October 5, Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi,The Guardian:
          Two men, one from Somalia and one from Zimbabwe, diedofterminal illnesses shortly after their incarceration ended.
      5. (following an adjective)Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.[from 13th c.]
        I am tiredofall this nonsense.
        • 2010September 23, Bagehot,The Economist:
          Lib Dems were appalled by Mr Boles’s offer, however kindly meant: the party is so frightenedoflosing its independence under Mr Clegg that such a pact would “kill” him, says a senior member.
        • 2015,Vincent J. M. DiMaio,Gunshot Wounds:
          Thus, one finds individuals deadofa gunshot wound with potentially lethal levels of drugs.
    4. Expressing agency.
      1. (following apassiveverb)Indicates theagent(for most verbs, now usually expressed withby).[from 9th c.]
        I am not particularly enamouredofthis idea.
        • 1526,[William Tyndale,transl.],The Newe Testamẽt[…](Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany:Peter Schöffer],→OCLC,Acts:
          After a good while, the iewes toke cousell amonge themselves to kyll him. But their layinges awayte wer knowenofSaul.
        • 1603,Michel de Montaigne,chapter I, inJohn Florio,transl.,The Essayes[…],book II, London:[…]Val[entine]SimmesforEdward Blount[…],→OCLC:
          [S]he might appeare to be the lively patterne of another Lucrece, yet know I certainly that, both before that time and afterward, she had beene enjoyedofothers upon easier composition.
        • 1995,The Family: A Proclamation to the World‎[1],The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
          The family is ordainedofGod.
        • 2008March 27, “Selling rhythm to the world”, inThe Economist:
          Colombia and Venezuela share an elegantly restrained style, with much back-stepping, smaller hand-movements and little use of the elaborate, arm-tangling moves belovedofCuban dancers.
      2. Used to introduce the "subjective genitive";following a noun to form the head of apostmodifyingnoun phrase(see also 'Possession' senses below).[from 13th c.]
        The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreementofboth parties.
        • 1994,Paul Coates,Film at the Intersection of High and Mass Culture,page136:
          InBlood and Sand,meanwhile, Valentino repeatedly solicits the attentionofwomen who have turned away from him.
        • 2009December 28, “Head to head”, inThe Economist:
          Somehow Croatia has escaped the opprobriumofthe likes of the German Christian Democrats and others that are against any rapid enlargement of the European Union to the include rest of the western Balkans.
      3. (following an adjective)Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.[from 16th c.]
        It was very braveofyou to speak out like that.
        • 1815December (indicated as1816), [Jane Austen],Emma:[…],volumes(please specify |volume=I to III),London:[…][Charles Roworth and James Moyes]forJohn Murray,→OCLC:
          When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed,— "It is very kindofyou, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us. "
        • 2007January 10, Dorian Lynskey,The Guardian:
          Morrissey's spokesperson says he is considering the offer. It would perhaps be rudeofhim to decline.
    5. Expressing composition, substance.
      1. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.)Used to indicate thematerialorsubstanceused.[from 9th c.]
        Many 'corks' are now actually madeofplastic.
        • 1846February, Henry Melville,Typee[…]:A Peep at Polynesian Life,London:John Murray:
          The mallet is madeofa hard heavy wood resembling ebony, is about twelve inches in length, and perhaps two in breadth, with a rounded handle at one end[…]
      2. (directly following a noun)Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.[from 10th c.]
        She wore a dressofsilk.
        • 2010January 23, Simon Mawer,The Guardian:
          Perhaps symbolically, Van Doesburg was building a houseofstraw: he died within a few months of completion, not in Meudon but in Davos, of a heart attack following a bout of asthma.
        • 2014,Robert Kelly, Chung Wah Chow,Taiwan‎[2],9th edition,Lonely Planet,→ISBN,→OCLC,page253:
          It's 25kmofrolling pitch from the start of the 175 to Nansi. If you want to continue riding through more undeveloped natural landscape, head up the east side of Tsengwen Reservoir.
      3. Indicating the composition of a givencollectiveorquantitativenoun.[from 12th c.]
        What a lotofnonsense!
        • 1844January–December,W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray,“The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. [The Luck of Barry Lyndon.]”, inMiscellanies: Prose and Verse,volume III, London:Bradbury and Evans,[…],published1856,→OCLC:
          His papers at this period contain a massofvery unedifying and uninteresting documents[…].
        • 2010October 31, Polly Vernon,The Guardian:
          I'd expected to be confronted by oodlesofbarely suppressed tension and leather-clad, pouty-mouthed, large-haired sexiness; the visual shorthand of rock gods in general, and Jon Bon Jovi in particular.
      4. Used to link a givenclassof things with a specific example of that class.[from 12th c.]
        Welcome to the historic townofHarwich.
      5. Links two nouns in near-apposition,with the first qualifying the second;"which is also".[from 14th c.]
        I'm not driving this wreckofa car.
        • 1911,Katherine Mansfield,In a German Pension:
          As he swallowed the soup his heart warmed to this foolofa girl.
        • 2010August 22, Sean O'Hagan,The Guardian:
          "I'm having a bitchofa day, "he says, after ordering a restorative pint of Guinness and flopping down in a seat by the front window.
    6. Introducing subject matter.
      1. Links anintransitive verb,or atransitive verband its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-matter;concerning,with regard to.[from 10th c.]
        I'm always thinkingofyou.
        • 1815December (indicated as1816), [Jane Austen],Emma:[…],volumes(please specify |volume=I to III),London:[…][Charles Roworth and James Moyes]forJohn Murray,→OCLC:
          [H]e spokeofhis uncle with warm regard, was fond of talkingofhim[…]
        • 1871,George Eliot[pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter III, inMiddlemarch[…],volume I, Edinburgh, London:William Blackwood and Sons,→OCLC,book I,page44:
          You must not judgeofCelia's feeling from mine. I think she likes these small pets.
        • 2010October 19, Rebecca Seal,The Guardian:
          while producingCook,which includes more than 250 seasonal recipes by 80 different chefs, we washed up more than 500 times (oh, how I dreamedofdishwashers).
      2. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.))Introduces its subject matter;about,concerning.[from 12th c.]
        He told us the storyofhis journey to India.
        • 2010October 21,The Economist:
          Recession and rising unemployment have put paid to most thoughtsoffurther EU enlargement.
      3. (following an adjective)Introduces its subject matter.[from 15th c.]
        This behaviour is typicalofteenagers.
    7. Havingpartitiveeffect.
      1. (following a number or otherquantitiveword)Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specifiedpartor segment;"fromamong".[from 9th c.]
        Mostofthese apples are rotten.
        • 1485,Sir Thomas Malory,“lviij”,inLe Morte Darthur,book X:
          But as for me said sire Gareth I medle not of their maters therfore there is noneofthem that loueth me / And for I vnderstande they be murtherers of good knyghtes I lefte theyre company
          But as for me, said Sir Gareth, I do not meddle their matters, therefore noneofthem loves me / And, since I understand they are murderers of good knights, I left their company.
        • 1788,Edward Gibbon,The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,volume VI, London:[…]W[illiam]Strahan;andT[homas]Cadell,[…],→OCLC:
          The dead bodies of the Koreish were despoiled and insulted; twoofthe most obnoxious prisoners were punished with death[…]
        • 2010November 10, Michael Wood,The Guardian:
          Manyofthe civilisational achievements of Mesopotamia are the product of that symbiosis.
      2. (following a noun)Indicates a given part.[from 9th c.]
        • 2005,Naomi Wolf,The Treehouse,page58:
          everyone, even the ladiesofthe village, called the dishtzigayner shmeklekh,or “gypsies' penises.”
        • 2006,Norman Mailer,The Big Empty:
          That, I think, is the buried coreofthe outrage people feel most generally.
      3. (nowarchaic,literary,with precedingpartitiveword assumed, or as apredicateafterto be)Some,anamountof, one of.[from 9th c.]
        On the whole, they seem to beofthe decent sort.
      4. Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below).[from 13th c.]
        He is a friendofmine.
        • 1893,Oscar Wilde,A Woman of No Importance,section IV:
          He is just what I should have liked a sonofmine to be.
        • 2010August 27, Michael Tomasky,The Guardian:
          In its flattering way, the press tried to invest this habitofBush's with the sense that it was indicative of a particularly sharp wit.
    9. Expressing possession.
      1. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a givenlocation,placeortime.Compare "origin" senses, above.[from 9th c.]
        He was perhaps the most famous scientistofthe twentieth century.
        • 1774,Edward Long,The History of Jamaica. Or, General Survey of the Antient and Modern State of that Island,volume 2, book 2, chapter 7,5:
          The building was erected in two years, at the parochial expence, on the foundation of the former one, which was irreparably damaged by the hurricaneofAuguſt, 1712.
        • 1908,E. F. Benson,The Blotting Book:
          Thus, as he dressed, the thoughts and the rageofyesterday began to stir and move in his mind again.
        • 2003August 20, Julian Borger,The Guardian:
          Within ten seconds, the citizensofNew York, Cleveland, Detroit and Toronto were being given first-hand experience of what it was like to live in the nineteenth century.
      2. Belonging to (a place) through havingtitle,ownershiporcontrolover it.[from 9th c.]
        The ownerofthe nightclub was arrested.
        • 1977October 28,The Guardian:
          In a much-anticipated radio broadcast the DukeofEdinburgh said last night that Britain will be a grim place in the year 2000[…]
        • 2001,Dictionary of National Biography,page27:
          The third son, William John (1826-1902), was headmasterofthe Boys' British School, Hitchin[…]
      3. Belonging to (someone or something) as something theypossessor have as a characteristic;the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this intersects with the subjective genitive, above under "agency" senses.)[from 13th c.]
        Keep the handleofthe saucepan away from the flames.
        • 1933,Havelock Ellis,Psychology of Sex,volume 4:
          The breastsofyoung girls sometimes become tender at puberty in sympathy with the evolution of the sexual organs[…]
        • 2010October 29, Marina Hyde,The Guardian:
          It amounts to knocking on the doorofNo 10 then running away.
    10. Forming the "objective genitive".
      1. Follows anagent noun,verbal noun or noun of action.[from 12th c.]
        She had a profound distrustofthe police.
        • 1611,The Holy Bible,[…](King James Version), London:[…]Robert Barker,[…],→OCLC,Matthew4::
          And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishersofmen.
        • 2000,Sheila Ruth,Issues in Feminism:
          Antifeminism has been a credible cover and an effective vehicle because the hatredofwomen is not politically anathema on either the Right or the Left.
    11. Expressing qualities or characteristics.
      1. (archaicorliterary)Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbialqualifier;in respect to,as regards.[from 13th c.]
        My companion seemed affable and easyofmanner.
        • 1917,Zane Gray,Wildfire,page35:
          He was huge, raw-boned, knotty, longofbody and longofleg, with the head of a war charger.
        • 2004August 11, Sean Ingle,The Guardian:
          Still nimbleofmind and fleetoffoot, Morris buzzed here and there, linking well and getting stuck in at every opportunity.
      2. Indicates aqualityorcharacteristic;"characterized by".[from 13th c.]
        Pooh was said to be a bearofvery little brain.
        • 1891,Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,The Boscombe Valley Mystery:
          His frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent man, or else as a manofconsiderable self-restraint and firmness.
        • 1951,Jacob Bronowski,The Common Sense of Science:
          No other man has made so deep a mark on his time and on our world unless he has been a manofaction, a Cromwell or a Napoleon.
      3. Indicatesquantity,age,price,etc.[from 13th c.]
        We have been paying interest at a rateof10%.
        • 1903,Frank Norris,The Pit,Doubleday, published1924,page 4:
          She was a tall young girlofabout twenty-two or three, holding herself erect and with fine dignity.
        • 1996,Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett,Principles of Physics,published2006,page428:
          A police car, traveling southbound at a speedof40.0 m/s, approaches with its siren producing sound at a frequencyof2 500 Hz.
      4. (US,informal,considered incorrect by some)Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives modified by certain common adverbs of degree.
        It's not that bigofa deal.
        • 1990,Mary Crain, “The Social Construction of National Identity in Highland Ecuador”, inAnthropological Quarterly,volume61,number 1,page43:
          Such hegemonic projects often appropriate certain local traditions and re-inscribe them as "national," while dismissing other traditions which pose too greatofa threat to the reproduction of the existing socio-political order.
        • 1998,Lyle McDonald,The Ketogenic Diet: A Complete Guide for the Dieter and Practitioner,page98:
          For some individuals, even 1000 calories/day may be too greatofa deficit.
        • 2017,Jean Reith Schroedel, Artour Aslanian, “A Case Study of Descriptive Representation: The Experience of Native American Elected Officials in South Dakota”, inAmerican Indian Quarterly,volume41,number 3,page278:
          While it is quite obvious that the state continues to try and dilute the voting power of Native Americans, at least as bigofa challenge is the need for mobilizing Native American voters.
    12. Expressing a point in time.
      1. (chieflyregional)Duringthe course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity.[from 9th c.]
        Ofan evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river.
        • 1861,Charles Dickens, “Tom Tiddler’s Ground.Chapter VI. Picking Up Miss Kimmeens.”, inChristmas Stories[…](The Works of Charles Dickens; XV), de luxe edition, London:Chapman and Hall,published1881,→OCLC,page242:
          For, sometimesofan afternoon when Miss Pupford has been reading the paper through her little gold eye-glass[…],she has become agitated,[…]
        • 1897October 16, Henry James,What Maisie Knew,Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Herbert S. Stone & Co.,→OCLC:
          If there was a type Ida despised, Sir Claude communicated to Maisie, it was the man who pottered about townofa Sunday[…]
      2. (UK,dialectal,chiefly in the negative)For(a given length of time).[from 13th c.]
        I’ve not taken her outofa goodly long while.
      3. (after a noun)Indicatesdurationof a state, activity etc.[from 18th c.]
        After a delayofthree hours, the plane finally took off.
        • 2011March 2, Grant McCabe,The Sun:
          The cab driver's claim he was sleepwalking during the attack has already been supported by his wifeof37 years.
      4. (chieflyUS)Before(the hour);to(the hour).[from 19th c.]
        I’ll be ready at tenoftwo
        I’ll be ready at 1:50
        What's the time? / Nearly a quarterofthree.
        I'll be ready by fiveofnoon.
        • 1940June 17, “Little Bull Booed”, inTime:
          "Fellow Democrats," he began, "I left Washington at a quarteroftwo this morning[…]"
        • 1982,TC Boyle,Water Music,Penguin, published2006,page194:
          Quarterofseven. Fifteen minutes to go.
        1. (informal)Often used without the hour
          I’ll be ready at tenof
          I’ll be ready at 1:50, or 2:50, or whatever time ending in 10 makes most sense in context.
          • 2022May 16, Ariel Levine, 09:20 from the start, in Giancarlo Esposito, director,Better Call Saul S6E6: Axe and Grind(TV series), spoken by Private Investigator (Lennie Loftin):
            Wednesday was more of the same. Out at 08:30, got to the office by quarterof,clients all day.
    Usage notes
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    • (belonging to or associated with):When applied to a person or persons, the possessive is generally used instead.
    • (containing, comprising,or made from):Ofmay be used directly with a verb or adjectival phrase.
    • When modifying a noun, modern English increasingly usesnoun adjunctsrather thanof.Examples includepart of speech(16th century) vs.word class(20th century),Federal Bureau of Investigation(1908) vs.Central Intelligence Agency(1947), andaffairs of the world(18th century) vs.world affairs(20th century).
    • The use ofofto link nouns to attributive adjectives modified by certain adverbs is always optional; omittingofin such instances is always permissible and does not alter the meaning of the expression. Adverbs that may be used with this construction includetoo,so,how,as,more,less,this,andthat.
    Derived terms
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    [edit]
    Translations
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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    See also

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    Etymology 2

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    A spelling of/əv/influenced by Etymology 1.

    Verb

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    of

    1. (usually in modal perfect constructions)Eye dialectspelling ofhaveor’ve,chiefly in depictions of colloquial speech.
      • 1846,Linus Wilson Miller,Notes of an Exile to Van Dieman's Land(McKinstry: Fredonia, NY) p. 367
        I have refrained from giving many details which I mightofdone, from feelings of delicacy; indeed, they were of so dark and dreadful a nature, that I could do no more than hint at them
      • 1926,F. Scott Fitzgerald,The Great Gatsby,Penguin, published2000,page33:
        "I had a woman up here last week to look at my feet, and when she have been the bill you'dofthought she had my appendicitus out. "
      • 1943,Raymond Chandler,The High Window,Penguin, published2005,page87:
        ‘You mustofleft your door unlocked. Or even open.’
      • 1992,Neal Stephenson,Snow Crash,New York: Bantam Books,→ISBN,page340:
        "You couldn'tofknown, "Livio says.
    Usage notes
    [edit]
    • Not uncommonly seen in colloquial writing, outside the context of intentional eye dialect spelling. This usage is considered erroneous and often vigorously proscribed.

    Etymology 3

    [edit]

    Symbol

    [edit]

    of

    1. (stenoscript)Abbreviationofoff,often

    Further reading

    [edit]
    • Paul Heacock[et al.],editors (2009), “of”,inCambridge Academic Content Dictionary,Cambridge, Cambridgeshire:Cambridge University Press,→ISBN,retrieved21 July 2017,reproduced in theCambridge English Dictionarywebsite, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Anagrams

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    Afrikaans

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    Etymology

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    FromDutchof,fromMiddle Dutchof,ofte.

    Pronunciation

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    Conjunction

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    of

    1. or
    2. whether;if

    Dutch

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    Etymology

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    FromMiddle Dutchof,ofte.In Middle Dutch the two words merged; the formofderives fromOld Dutchof,fromProto-Germanic*jabai.

    Pronunciation

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    Conjunction

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    of

    1. (coordinating)or
      Wil je thee,ofheb je liever koffie?
      Do you want tea,orwould you prefer coffee?
    2. (subordinating)whether,if
      Synonym:(proscribed)als
      Ik weet nietofdat wel zo'n goed idee is.
      I don't knowifthat's such a good idea.
    3. (of... of)either...or
      Synonyms:ofwel,danwel,hetzij
      Je kan kiezen:ofje bent stil,ofje vertrekt.
      You can choose:eitheryou stay quiet,oryou get out.
    4. (of... of dat)whether...or
      Ik weet nietofik moet vertrekkenof datik het haar moet uitleggen.
      I don't knowwhetherI should leaveorI should explain it to her.

    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • Afrikaans:of
    • Jersey Dutch:ov,of
    • Negerhollands:of
    • →Aukan:ofu
    • →Papiamentu:òf,of

    German Low German

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    Etymology 1

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    FromMiddle Low Germanaf,fromOld Saxonaf,fromProto-West Germanic*ab,fromProto-Germanic*ab.More atoff.

    Preposition

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    of

    1. from

    Adverb

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    of

    1. away;from
    2. off

    Adjective

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    of

    1. off(not "on")

    Etymology 2

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    FromOld Saxoneftha.

    Conjunction

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    of

    1. Synonym ofàder

    Icelandic

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    Etymology

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    FromOld Norseof-,fromProto-Germanic*uber.The original full form is seen in the prefixed formofur-(“overly, super, very”).Related toyfir(“above”)andofan(“from above”).

    Pronunciation

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    Adverb

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    of

    1. too(to an excessive degree)
      Ég eroffalleg.
      I amtoobeautiful. (referring to a woman)
      Ég eroffallegur.
      I amtoobeautiful. (referring to a man)

    Preposition

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    of

    1. about
    2. over,above

    Japanese

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    Etymology

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    FromEnglishof,as inX of X.

    Pronunciation

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    Particle

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    of(オブ)•(obu)

    1. (informal)Used to express that one is an exemplar.
      Synonym:の trung の(no naka no)
      Dũng(ゆう)Giả(しゃ)オブDũng(ゆう)Giả(しゃ)の○○さん
      yūshaobuyūsha no ○○-san
      XX, a heroof/amongheroes
      キモいof(オブ)キモい
      kimoiobukimoi
      absolutely disgusting
      (literally, “disgustingofthe disgusting” )

    See also

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    • ザ(za,with similar function,literally“the”)

    Luxembourgish

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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    FromMiddle High Germanaf,ave,fromOld High Germanava,northern variant ofaba,fromProto-West Germanic*ab(a),fromProto-Germanic*ab.

    Cognate withGermanab,Dutchaf,Englishofandoff.The expected Luxembourgish forms areaf(<af) anduef(<ave). The formofwas probably formed as a compromise between both variants. Otherwise it would imply an irregularly lengthened Middle High German*āf, *āve.

    Pronunciation

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    Adverb

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    of

    1. (chiefly in compounds)off,down

    Derived terms

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    Middle Dutch

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    Etymology 1

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    FromOld Dutchof.

    Conjunction

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    of

    1. if,whether
    Usage notes
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    Sometimes confused withofte.

    Descendants
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    Etymology 2

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    Adverb

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    of

    1. Alternative form ofaf

    Further reading

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    Middle English

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    Etymology 1

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      FromOld Englishof,an unstressed form ofaf,ob,æf(“from, off, away”),fromProto-West Germanic*ab,fromProto-Germanic*ab(“away; away from”).

      Preposition

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      of

      1. of
        • c.1400,Geoffrey Chaucer,The Canterbury Tales,General Prologue, lines1–3:
          Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
          The droghteofMarch hath perced to the roote
          When in April the sweet showers fall
          That pierce the droughtofMarch to the root and all
      Alternative forms
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      Synonyms
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      Descendants
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      References

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      Etymology 2

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      FromOld Englishæf.

      Adverb

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      of

      1. off
      Alternative forms
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      Descendants
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      References

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      Etymology 3

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      An alteration ofoth,fromOld Englishoþ.

      Conjunction

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      of

      1. until
      Alternative forms
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      References

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      Etymology 4

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      Apheresis ofthof,a variation ofthough,fromOld Englishþēah.

      Conjunction

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      of

      1. although,though

      References

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      Old Dutch

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      Etymology

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      (Thisetymologyis missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at theEtymology scriptorium.)

      Conjunction

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      of

      1. if,whether

      Descendants

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      • Middle Dutch:of

      Further reading

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      • “of”,inOudnederlands Woordenboek,2012

      Old English

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      Alternative forms

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      • ob—beforeb

      Etymology

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        Unstressed form ofæf.

        Pronunciation

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        Preposition

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        of[withdative]

        1. from
          Hē isofþām ilcan wīċe swā iċ.
          He isfromthe same village as me.
        2. out of
          Ofþām ǣġe crēap ān lȳtel and swīðe hungriġ trēowwyrm.
          Out ofthe egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.
          • The Life of Saint Margaret
            Iċ nylle nān word māofþīnum mūðe ġehīeran.
            I don't want to hear one more wordout ofyour mouth.
          • late 10th century,Ælfric,On the Seasons of the Year
            Swā swā fiscas cwelaþ gif hīeofwætre bēoþ, swā ēac cwileþ ǣlċ eorðliċ līchama gif hē biþ þǣre lyfte bedǣled.
            Just as fish die if they'reout ofthe water, every land animal dies if it is deprived of air.
        3. off
          • late 10th century,Ælfric,Esther
            Sē cyning slīepte his bēagof.
            The king slipped his ringoff.
        4. by(indicating the creator of a work)
        5. of(Denoting material made of)
          • c. 992,Ælfric,"The Nativity of St. John the Baptist"
            "Eal his reaf wæs awefenofolfendes hǽrum, his bigleofa wæs stiðlic; ne dranc he wines drenc, ne nanes gemencgedes wætan, ne gebrowenes: ofet hine fedde, and wude-hunig, and oðre waclice ðigena. "
            "All his garment was wovenofcamel's hair, his food was coarse; he drank not drink of wine, nor of any mixed or prepared fluid: fruit fed him and wood-honey, and other common things. "

        Usage notes

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        • Ofdoes not mean "of," even though it's where the word "of" comes from. Instead, the Anglo-Saxons mostly used thegenitive casewhere they would say "of":Dēaðesgod man sċeal ofslēan and mann undēadlīcne dōn( "The godof deathmust be killed and man made immortal "),Iċ hine huntiġe oþeorðanendas( "I'll hunt him to the endsof the Earth"). Even the occasional instances where" of "translatesofare a survival of its original sense "from" or "out of":sē weall is ġeworhtoftiġelan and eorþteorwe( "the wall is madeofbrick and asphalt "),Sē Hǣlend sċolde bēonoffǣmnan ġeboren( "Jesus was supposedly bornofa virgin ").
        • Note also thatofnever means "about." Phrases like "to think of" and "to speak of" are rendered withbeorymb.
        • For doing something "out of" an emotion,foris typically used instead ofof:Þætteforlufum ġedōn biþ, þæt ġewierþ simle beġeondan gōde and yfele( "What is doneout oflove always takes place beyond good and evil ").
        • For dying "of" a cause, various other prepositions or the bare dative/instrumental case are used; seesweltan.

        Descendants

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        • Middle English:of
          • Scots:o
          • English:of

        Old Norse

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        Etymology 1

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        (Thisetymologyis missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at theEtymology scriptorium.)

        Preposition

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        of

        1. about
          Synonym:um
        2. (archaic,poetic)over,above

        References

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        • (with accusative)“of”,inGeir T. Zoëga (1910)A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic,Oxford: Clarendon Press

        Etymology 2

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        Unclear, but totally overtook the function ofg-,inherited fromProto-Germanic*ga-.Thisetymologyis incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

        Particle

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        of

        1. (archaic,poetic)Indicates association or togetherness;co-.
          ‎of+ ‎barmr(“bosom”)+ ‎-i(“agent suffix”)→ ‎of barmi(“brother”,literally“of the same bosom; co-bosomer”)
        2. (archaic,poetic)Indicates completeness or wholeness. In verbs, also indicates perfectivity (a finished action).

        Anagrams

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        Old Saxon

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        Etymology

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        Unstressed form ofaf.

        Preposition

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        of

        1. above
        2. awayfrom

        Romanian

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        Pronunciation

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        Interjection

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        of

        1. ugh,tsk,sigh
          used for expressing pain, bitterness, regret; despair; abhorrence, disgust; admiration, enthusiasm; wonder, surprise

        Turkish

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        Interjection

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        of

        1. oof(often expressing that some task requires great effort)
        2. ouch(used both for literally and emotionally painful situations)
        3. ugh(expressing disgust or strong dismay)

        Volapük

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        Pronoun

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        of(pluralofs)

        1. she(third-person feminine)

        Declension

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        declension ofof
        singular plural
        nominative of ofs
        genitive ofa ofas
        dative ofe ofes
        accusative ofi ofis

        Welsh

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        Noun

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        of

        1. Soft mutation ofgof.

        Mutation

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        Welsh mutation
        radical soft nasal aspirate
        gof of ngof unchanged
        Note:Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

        West Frisian

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        Etymology

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        FromOld Frisianjef,fromProto-Germanic*jabai.

        Pronunciation

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        Conjunction

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        of

        1. or

        Further reading

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        • “of”,inWurdboek fan de Fryske taal(in Dutch),2011

        Yola

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        Preposition

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        of

        1. Alternative form ofov(“of”)
          • 1867,GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY,page58:
            Muskawnofbuthther.
            A large lumpofbutter.
          • 1867,“THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, inSONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY,number 5, page96:
            To his sweethearth, an smack lick a dabofa brough.
            To his sweetheart, and smacked like a slapofa shoe.

        References

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        • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor,A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland,London: J. Russell Smith, published1867,page96
        Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=of&oldid=82270889"