Definitions
1.PrepositionExpressing distance or motion.
From (a place); off. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}"Take the chicken out of the freezer.; He hasn't been well of late.; There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage."
2.PrepositionFrom (a place); off. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}"Take the chicken out of the freezer."
3.PrepositionSince, from (a given time, earlier state etc.)."He hasn't been well of late."
4.PrepositionFrom, away from (a position, number, distance etc.)."There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage."
5.PrepositionExpressing separation.
Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object."Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband.; He seemed devoid of human feelings."
6.PrepositionIndicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object."Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband."
7.PrepositionIndicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective."He seemed devoid of human feelings."
8.PrepositionIndicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb.
9.PrepositionExpressing origin.
Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent."The word is believed to be of Japanese origin.; Jesus of Nazareth (after hometown); Anselm of Canterbury (after diocese); Anselm of Aosta (after birthplace); Anselm of Bec (after monastery); Pedro II of Brazil (after dominion); Mrs Miggins of Gasworks Road, Mudchester (after place of residence); The invention was born of necessity.; It is said that she died of a broken heart.; I am tired of all this nonsense."
10.PrepositionIndicating an ancestral source or origin of descent."The word is believed to be of Japanese origin."
11.PrepositionIntroducing an epithet that indicates a birthplace, residence, dominion, or other place associated with the individual."Jesus of Nazareth (after hometown); Anselm of Canterbury (after diocese); Anselm of Aosta (after birthplace); Anselm of Bec (after monastery); Pedro II of Brazil (after dominion); Mrs Miggins of Gasworks Road, Mudchester (after place of residence)"
12.PrepositionIndicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation; from, out of, as an expression of."The invention was born of necessity."
13.PrepositionIndicates the source or cause of the verb."It is said that she died of a broken heart."
14.PrepositionIndicates the subject or cause of the adjective."I am tired of all this nonsense."
15.PrepositionExpressing agency.
Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by)."I am not particularly enamoured of this idea.; The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties.; It was very brave of you to speak out like that."
16.PrepositionIndicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by)."I am not particularly enamoured of this idea."
17.PrepositionUsed to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase (see also 'Possession' senses below)."The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties."
18.PrepositionUsed to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective."It was very brave of you to speak out like that."
19.PrepositionExpressing composition, substance.
Used to indicate the material or substance used."Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic.; She wore a dress of silk.; I'll have a dozen of those apples, please.; What a lot of nonsense!; Germany's formal name is the Federal Republic of Germany.; Welcome to the historic town of Harwich.; I'm not driving this wreck of a car."
20.PrepositionUsed to indicate the material or substance used."Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic."
21.PrepositionUsed to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object."She wore a dress of silk."
22.PrepositionIndicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun."I'll have a dozen of those apples, please.; What a lot of nonsense!"
23.PrepositionUsed to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class."Germany's formal name is the Federal Republic of Germany.; Welcome to the historic town of Harwich."
24.PrepositionLinks two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second; "which is also"."I'm not driving this wreck of a car."
25.PrepositionIntroducing subject matter.
Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-matter; concerning, with regard to."I'm always thinking of you.; He told us the story of his journey to India.; This behaviour is typical of teenagers."
26.PrepositionLinks an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-matter; concerning, with regard to."I'm always thinking of you."
27.PrepositionIntroduces its subject matter; about, concerning."He told us the story of his journey to India."
28.PrepositionIntroduces its subject matter."This behaviour is typical of teenagers."
29.PrepositionHaving partitive effect.
Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment; "from among"."Most of these apples are rotten.; We want a larger slice of the cake.; On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort.; He is a friend of mine."
30.PrepositionIntroduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment; "from among"."Most of these apples are rotten."
31.PrepositionIndicates a given part."We want a larger slice of the cake."
32.PrepositionSome, an amount of, one of."On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort."
33.PrepositionLinks to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below; see also double possessive)."He is a friend of mine."
34.PrepositionExpressing possession.
Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above."He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century.; The owner of the nightclub was arrested.; Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames."
35.PrepositionBelonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above."He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century."
36.PrepositionBelonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it."The owner of the nightclub was arrested."
37.PrepositionBelonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this intersects with the subjective genitive, above under "agency" senses.)"Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames."
38.PrepositionForming the "objective genitive".
Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action."She had a profound distrust of the police."
39.PrepositionFollows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action."She had a profound distrust of the police."
40.PrepositionExpressing qualities or characteristics.
Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier; in respect to, as regards."My companion seemed affable and easy of manner.; Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain.; A young man of 20 has been paying interest at an exorbitant rate of 10%.; It's not that big of a deal. (Standard form: It's not that big a deal.)"
41.PrepositionLinks an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier; in respect to, as regards."My companion seemed affable and easy of manner."
42.PrepositionIndicates a quality or characteristic; "characterized by"."Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain."
43.PrepositionIndicates quantity, age, price, etc."A young man of 20 has been paying interest at an exorbitant rate of 10%."
44.PrepositionUsed to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives modified by certain common adverbs of degree."It's not that big of a deal. (Standard form: It's not that big a deal.)"
45.PrepositionExpressing a point in time.
During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity."Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river.; I’ve not taken her out of a goodly long while.; After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off.; I’ll be ready at ten of two; What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three.; I'll be ready by five of noon.; I’ll be ready at ten of"
46.PrepositionDuring the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity."Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river."
47.PrepositionFor (a given length of time)."I’ve not taken her out of a goodly long while."
48.PrepositionIndicates duration of a state, activity etc."After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off."
49.PrepositionBefore (the hour); to (the hour)."I’ll be ready at ten of two; What's the time? / Nearly a quarter of three.; I'll be ready by five of noon.; I’ll be ready at ten of"
50.PrepositionOften used without the hour"I’ll be ready at ten of"
51.VerbEye dialect spelling of have and 've, chiefly in depictions of colloquial speech.