of

¹of

prep
\əv, before consonants also ə; ˈəv, ˈäv\

Definition of OF

1

—used as a function word to indicate a point of reckoning <north of the lake>

2

a —used as a function word to indicate origin or derivation <a man of noble birth> b —used as a function word to indicate the cause, motive, or reason <died of flu> c : by <plays of Shakespeare> d : on the part of <very kind of you> e : occurring in <a fish of the western Atlantic>

3

—used as a function word to indicate the component material, parts, or elements or the contents <throne of gold> <cup of water>

4

a —used as a function word to indicate the whole that includes the part denoted by the preceding word <most of the army> b —used as a function word to indicate a whole or quantity from which a part is removed or expended <gave of his time>

5

a : relating to : about <stories of her travels> b : in respect to <slow of speech>

6

a —used as a function word to indicate belonging or a possessive relationship <king of England> b —used as a function word to indicate relationship between a result determined by a function or operation and a basic entity (as an independent variable) <a function of x> <the product of two numbers>

7

—used as a function word to indicate something from which a person or thing is delivered <eased of her pain> or with respect to which someone or something is made destitute <robbed of all their belongings>

8

a —used as a function word to indicate a particular example belonging to the class denoted by the preceding noun <the city of Rome> b —used as a function word to indicate apposition <that fool of a husband>

9

a —used as a function word to indicate the object of an action denoted or implied by the preceding noun <love of nature> b —used as a function word to indicate the application of a verb <cheats him of a dollar> or of an adjective <fond of candy>

10

—used as a function word to indicate a characteristic or distinctive quality or possession <a woman of courage>

11

a —used as a function word to indicate the position in time of an action or occurrence <died of a Monday> b : before <quarter of ten>

12

archaic : on <a plague of all cowards — Shakespeare>

Examples of OF

1. He is a coworker of mine.
2. I threw out that old shirt of yours.
3. She's a friend of my mother's.
4. He had the support of his family to help him.
5. the plays of William Shakespeare
6. What is the name of the band?
7. We admired the courage of the young woman.
8. the President of the United States
9. What is the total cost of the repairs?
10. The value of the antique is high.

Origin of OF

Middle English, off, of, from Old English, adverb & preposition; akin to Old High German aba off, away, Latin ab from, away, Greek apo

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to OF

Synonyms: afore [chiefly dialect], ahead of, ere, fore (also 'fore) [chiefly dialect], before, previous to, prior to, to

Antonyms: after, following

Related Words: till, until, up to

Near Antonyms: next, next to, since

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with OF

grave, salve, Slav, suave, taw, waw