[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/for/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / for # for preposition; conjunction (old use: for he was tired) «for» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. For shows who or what something is meant for: a present for Mum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m1) 2. For shows how long: for two hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m2) 3. For gives a price: a pen for 3 pounds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m3) 4. For gives a reason or purpose: for fun, thanks for helping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m4) 5. For means in support of: Are you for or against? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m5) 6. For can mean «as each of»: 3 sweets for every child. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m6) 7. (casual) «For real?» or «fr» means «are you serious?» or «truly»; «for ages» means a very long time; «for sure» means certainly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m7) 8. (formal) The exam voice uses «for» in stiff phrases: «for a period of», «for the purposes of», «for a consideration of» (for a price), «in exchange for». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m8) 9. For can show who something applies to or suits: "It is the law for everybody." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#m9) ### In the lessons asking for something («ask for the difference»); a price («buys a pen for 3 pounds»); a length of time («5 pages a day for 4 days» = multiply); a share («2 each for 5 children» = 2 × 5); in everyday life «for example», «for sale», «for ever», «what for?», «for now»; in casual talk «for real», «fr», «for ages», «for sure»; in the exam voice «for a period of 4 days», «for the purposes of this question», «in exchange for» ### Examples - «How many more … than» and «how many fewer … than» both ask for the difference: subtract. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x1) - Kim buys a pen for 3 pounds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x2) - Ted reads 5 pages a day for 4 days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x3) - This card is for you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x4) - We waited for the bus for ten minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x5) - Thank you for your help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x6) - We play football for fun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x7) - She ran for a goal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x8) - Mum bought 2 ice creams for each of us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x9) - waited for ages, bus never came fr [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x10) - «I got 20 out of 20.» «For real?» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x11) - Ted peruses 5 pages per diem for a period of 4 days; compute the aggregate number of pages perused. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/#x12) ### Note No operation clue by itself. Trap: «N a day for M days» or «N per diem for a period of M days» hides equal groups: multiply. «for ages» is a long time, not a number. Do not mix «for» with «four» (4) and «fore»: they sound the same. «for» a price is what one costs; «for each of us» means multiply by how many there are. ## In Jewish tradition Used as "to make atonement for you", it means to pay for or cover a wrong. In the psalms "For the Leader" opens a song, meaning it was given to the choir leader to perform. **Interpretation.** Atonement is read as a way of putting things right with God. The sacrifices on festivals were made for the whole people. "For the Leader" is read as an instruction for the Temple music leader. ### Examples - And Isaac was comforted for his mother. (Torah GEN.24.67, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x1) - I wait for Thy salvation, O Lord. (Torah GEN.49.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x2) - one he-goat, to make atonement for you. (Torah NUM.28.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x3) - For the Leader; upon the Nehiloth. (Writings PSA.5.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x4) - For the Leader; upon the Gittith. (Writings PSA.8.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x5) - For the Leader; on the Sheminith. (Writings PSA.12.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/#x6) ### Note No operation clue by itself. Trap: «N a day for M days» or «N per diem for a period of M days» hides equal groups: multiply. «for ages» is a long time, not a number. Do not mix «for» with «four» (4) and «fore»: they sound the same. «for» a price is what one costs; «for each of us» means multiply by how many there are. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «for» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/for/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«for» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/for.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «for» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/for/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«for» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/for.html) on Mova free.