“for” in Latin

In the place of, as a substitute or equivalent, in exchange of, or denoting resemblance; pro with ablative: loco alicujus or alicujus rei (in anybody’s place): to die for anybody, mori pro aliquo: to pay or give two minas for anything, duas minas dare pro re: to have heard for certain, pro certo habere: to buy, sell, for ready money, praesenti pecunia or praesentibus numis aliquid emere, or vendere: to exchange life for death, mortem cum vita commutare: to change the profession of war for that of a husbandman, studium belli gerendi agricultura commutare: to learn anything by heart word for word, ad verbum ediscere: to copy an author word for word, auctorem ad verbum transcribere (Plin., Hist. Nat., praefat., § 22): to carry anybody away for dead, aliquem pro mortuo auferre: to take anything for granted, sumere, or habere, or putare pro certo: to give anything in exchange for something else, mutare aliquid aliqua re or cum aliqua re; permutare aliquid aliqua re: to serve for wages, mercede conductum esse: I don’t do it for money, non quaero pecuniam: anything that may be had for money, venalis; pretio venalis (also of persons): for money, or for reward, pretio; pretio motus, adductus (i. e., for a recompence; e.g., to do anything). If the definite price of anything is stated (e.g., to buy anything for twenty talents), the ablative is used to express the price; after indefinite sums. For a low, high price etc., the genitives magni, maximi, plurimi, pluris, parvi, minoris, minimi, tanti, etc., are used, and also after aestimare; after verbs of buying and selling the following stand in ablative, magno, permagno, plurimo, parvo, nihilo: what would I not give for it! quidnam darem! to give (or be willing to give) or pay any price whatever for an object, quovis pretio aliquid redimere velle: for how much? quanti? to pay too much for anything, male emere: to make anybody pay for anything (IMPROP.; i. e., to punish him), gratiam alicui referre: I shall have to pay for my folly, ego pretium ob stultitiam fero (comedy): what do (or will) you sell that for? quanti hoc constat? what will you take for it? quanti indlcas? quanti hoc vendis?what or how much did you give for it? quanti rem emisti? what do you give (or pay) for board, lodging, and tuition? quanti cenas, habitas, doceris? for nothing, gratis: sine mercede (The words are found in this connection and order.) gratis et sine mercede (opposed to mercede, for wages or pay); gratuito (without interested motives, merely from kindness; opposed to accepta mercede, as Sall. Jug., 85, 8): to do anything for nothing, aliquid gratis et sine mercede facere: you shall have it for nothing, gratis tibi constat; gratuitum est: to count or reckon for nothing, pro nihilo putare, habere, ducere, aestimare; also nihilo and nihil aestimare.

Denoting intention of going to, toward, ad or in aliquem locum: to set sail for any place, vela dirigere ad aliquem locum; navem or cursum dirigere aliquo; petere or tenere locum (e.g., Diam petentes primo ad Mendin tenuere, Liv.; tenere = cursum tenere): he sailed for the place of his destination, cursum direxit, quo tendebat: to set sail for Macedonia, classe navigare in Macedoniam: the place I am bound for, *locus, quo proficisci fassus sum: to set out for any place, ire, proficisci aliquo.

In favor of; for the use of; on account or for the sake of, pro with ablative (but only in cases in which contra or adversus would express the contrary notion; the primary notion of “for” or “in anybody’s place” being always prominent): secundum with accusative (in accordance with, but never expressing, like ex, causality): in usum or gratiam alicujus (in favor of anybody, for anybody’s advantage, use, etc.). To vote for anybody (e.g., at an election, etc.), suffragio suo ornare aliquem; suffragio suo adjuvare aliquem in petendis honoribus; suffragari alicui ad munus (Vid: Plin. Ep., 2, 1, 8; 8, 23, 2; Cic., Off., 1, 39, 138): to vote for such or such a thing, suffragari alicui rei (i. e., to decide in favor of it; e.g., alicujus consilio): to intercede for anybody, deprecari pro aliquo: he said a great deal for our side, multa secundum causam nostram disputavit: to speak for and against anything, de aliqua re in utramque partem or in contrarias partes disputare (☞ not pro et contra): a good deal may be said both for and against the zeal you display in your duty, either that... or that, etc., de officio tuo in utramque partem disputari potest; vel in eam... vel in eam (Vid. Cic., De Div., 11, 27, 7): I neither speak for the matter nor against it, neque ullam in partem disputo: to be for or against a law (of two parties), favere adversarique legi (Vid: Liv., 34, 1); suadere, dissuadereque legem (to advise or oppose its adoption; Vid: Liv., 45, 21, compared with 34, 1): anything makes for the opposite party, aliquid facit or (of a thing personified) stat ab adversario; aliquid facit or (of a thing personified) stat cum adversario: to be for anybody’s advantage, e re alicujus esse; alicui prodesse or utile esse; aliquem juvare: for my advantage or interest, e re mea: for the advantage or interests of the state, e republica: to lay aside his party feeling for the sake of the state, studium reipublicae (dative) dimittere (Caes., B.C., 1, 8; ☞ inimicitias suas reipublicae condonare, Cic.; largiri, Tac.). ☞ Often “for,” in similar phrases, is expressed by the dative only; e.g., to demand anything from anybody for anybody, ab aliquo petere alicui aliquid: we are not preparing ourselves for the school, but for life, non scholae, sed vitae discimus: for the public or general welfare, omnium salutis causa.

Towards, in: adversus (both with accusative, in a friendly as well as a hostile sense): erga (in a friendly sense only; e.g., love for anybody, amor in or erga aliquem). ☞ In many instances, however, an oblique case is sufficient to express “for;” e.g., a remedy for fear, remedium timoris (or timori); love for anybody, amor alicujus; care for you, vestri cura: an oblique case must not, however, be used unless where it is quite free from ambiguity: an oblique case (mostly the dative) will also suffice after certain adjectives; e.g., after “fit,” “convenient,” etc.; but also the genitive is sometimes used instead; e.g., anxious for anything, studiosus alicujus rei: So after “it is becoming” or “unbecoming” for anybody, decet or dedecet aliquem.

In proportion, according to, pro (different both from secundum, which denotes accordance, and from ex, which implies causality): for my part, pro mea parte (i. e., according to the measure of my strength; ☞ equidem has been generally explained “I, for my part;” but Hand shows that this force does not belong to it, but that of an affirmative particle, the affirmation referring to the speaker. Since, however, “I, for my part” is often little more than this, affirming that the speaker will do so and so, whether others do or not, “I, for my part” is often sufficiently translated by equidem): every one for himself, pro sua quisque parte: for so great a victory there was but little bloodshed, minor clades quam pro tanta victoria fuit: they are very few for the number of the well-disposed, pro multitudine bene sentientium admodum pauci: they thought that, for their numbers and their military glory, their territory was too confined, pro multitudine hominum et pro gloria belli angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur (Caes.). Another circumlocution by which this proportional “for” is translated is with ut, where “esse” or “exspectari poterat” must be supplied; e.g., he was learned for those times, erat, ut temporibus illis (sc. esse poterat) eruditus. So; a rich man for those times, ut tum erant tempora, dives: an eloquent man for a Theban, satis exercitatus in dicendo, ut Thebanus scilicet (Nep.).

Denoting purpose, sometimes by the gerundive, or by the gerund in the genitive with “causa” or by the accusative with ad; e.g., Antigonus delivered up the corpse of Eumenes to his friends for interment, Antigonus Eumenem mortuum propinquis ejus sepeliendum tradidit: for the purpose of foraging, pabulandi causa (e.g., tres legiones mittere): for the purpose of laying Celtiberia waste, ad depopulandam Ceitiberiam. By later writers the participle future active is used in similar cases after verbs denoting or implying motion. To do anything for the purpose of, etc., facere aliquid eo consilio, ut etc. “For” may also be translated by the supine: for the purpose of imploring, etc., (vemunt) rogatum, etc.; and by ut or qui with subjunctive.

Denoting duration of time; e.g., for ten days, per decem dies. It may also be rendered by the accusative, but with this difference, that “per” is pointed out more exactly the uninterrupted duration of time; and by inter of what has or has not occurred within a space of past time, Germani inter quatuordecim dies tectum non subierunt (Caes.): to give anybody a pension for life, *aliquem annuis, dum vivit, praebitis sustentare: for a short time, paullisper; ad tempus (only for a while): parumper (for a short while): for a few days, in paucos dies: they have water on board for forty-five days, aqua dierum quinque et quadraginta in nave est: for ever, in omne tempus; in perpetuum; perpetuo (Ter., Eun., 5, 8, 13); in aeternum (as Liv., 4, 4, in aeternum urbe condita); in omnem vitam (for life; as Sen., Ep., 108, alicui rei in omnem vitam renunciare): for days and days, dies continuos complures (e.g., in litore facere): for the time to come [Vid: “for the FUTURE”]: for the present [Vid: PRESENT]: for once, non plus quam semel (not more than once): once for all, semel; e.g., ut semel dicam (Vid: Spald., Quint., 5, 13, 3): to ask the use of his father’s chariot for a day, in diem currus paternos rogare (Ov., Met., 2, 48).

As denoting the time for which some arrangement is now made, mostly in with accusative, he invited him for the next day, (ad cenam) invitavit in posterum diem: the auction is fixed for January, auctio constituta est in mensem Januarium: not only for the present, but for next year, nec in praesens modo sed in venientem annum.

As far as, or according to (e.g., my knowledge): for anything I know, quantum sciam; quod quidem nos audierimus (as far as I have heard or learnt).

Concerning: as for me, you, such or such a thing, etc. [Vid: CONCERNING]: it is not for me (i. e., not my business), hoc non meum est; hae non meae sunt partes: so much for that (i. e., concerning that point), haec hactenus; de his hactenus: thus much for divination (i. e., regarding it), haec habui, quae de divinatione dicerem: it is not for a young man to, etc., non decet juvenem (with following infinitive; e.g., to do anything of that description, tale quid facere [Vid :, also, To BECOME]).

Notwithstanding; e.g., for all that (speaking of dangers, for instance) the ranks remained immovable, or the soldiers kept their ground, for some time, tamen (e.g., in tot circumstantibus malis) mansit aliquamdiu immota acies: for all my entreaties, quamquam saepe eum rogaveram: he encountered many dangers, but for all that (he was not disheartened), multa pericula subiit, sed neque haec perpessus, etc.: for all its fine name, qui tamen tanto nomine quam sit parvus vides (Cic., De Rep.): for all his old age and grey head, he is a fool, stultus est adversus aetatem et capitis canitiem: but for all their years, they were both of them young in mind, sed in hac aetate utrique animi juveniles erant: they were found out, for all their miserable appearance, noscitabantur tamen in tanta deformitate: for all my entreaties, he returned to Rome, contemtis or neglectis precibus meis Romam rediit: for all his cries, licet alta voce clamaret: but for all that, atqui (as waiving a preceding proposition, and opposing to it something stronger or more certain).

Denoting adherence, the being favorably inclined toward: to be for anything, alicujus rei amicum, amantem esse: to be for a free government, reipublicae liberae esse amicum; libertatis esse amantem: those that are for the king, regii (i. e., the king’s party): to be for the Persians, Persarum esse studiosum or fautorem; cum Persis facere; Persarum rebus or Persis favere. [Vid: to be anybody’s FOLLOWER]

Denoting propensity; e.g., for drink, vinolentia: to have an inclination for anything, inclinatum, proclivem, pronum esse ad aliquid (the latter bent on anything): taste for anything [Vid: TASTE].

Respecting anybody or anything; e.g., to fear for anybody, metuere, praemetuere, timere, praetimere (†) alicui: to fear for one’s self, suis rebus or sibi suisque rebus timere (“pro se adire sollicitudinem,” Plin., Ep., 2, 9, 1, is an affected expression): to entertain great fears for the state, de republica valde timere.

Against, with a tendency to resist; e.g., to provide wood for the winter, providere ligna in hiemem.

Denoting use or remedy; e.g., to be good for anything, mederi alicui rei; remedio esse ad aliquid; utilem esse contra aliquid, or alicui rei, or adversus morbum (Cic.); prodesse adversus aliquid or alicui rei (as well of medicines as other things); salutarem esse ad aliquid; prodesse ad aliquid (e.g., ad morsus serpentum); valere adversus aliquid; efficacem esse contra aliquid: to give such a medicine for the dropsy, medicamentum dare ad aquam intercutem (Cic.): do you know of any remedy for it? num medicinam hujus rei in venire potes? is there no remedy for it? huic morbo nullane est adhibenda curatio? (Vid: Cic., Tusc. 3, 2, 4), or nullamne huic morbo medicinam facere potes?

Denoting the use to which anything is to be put: to be good for anything, ad aliquid or alicui rei utile esse; usui esse; for nothing, ad nullam rem utilis: fit for anything [Vid: FIT].

Because, by reason of, on account of (denoting cause): for fear, metu; propter timorem; metu coactus, permotus: for this reason, propter hanc causam; ob eam causam: for certain reasons, certis de causis: to like anybody for his sweet disposition, aliquem pro ejus suavitate amare: for good reasons, justis de causis: to have good reasons for anything, cum causa aliquid facere; non sine gravi causa aliquid facere: for that reason, ea de causa; ob or propter eam causam: for more than one reason, aliquot de causis: to be praised for anything, alicujus rei nomine laudari: for your sake, tua, causa: for the sake of age and honor, aetatis atque honoris gratia: to entreat anybody for heaven’s sake, aliquem per deos orare or obtestari (Sall.).

As: to take for granted, sumere, or habere, or putare pro certo; pro explorato habere: you have taken for granted that the gods are blessed, deos beatos esse sumsisti: it is taken for granted by the philosophers, inter omnes philosophos constat: to know anything for certain, rem exploratam habere; aliquid certe or pro certo scire; aliquid certis auctoribus comperisse: I know for certain, certum scio; certo scio; certo comperi; certum or pro certo habeo: to take (anybody or anything) for a model, aliquem sibi imitandum proponere; proponere sibi aliquem ad imitandum; aliquem exemplum sibi deligere; also, imitari only; aliquid ad imitandum proponere; aliquid in exemplum assumere.

For (in negative sentences) denoting a preventive cause: you will not be able to see the sun for the multitude of their darts, solem prae jaculorum multitudine non videbitis (Liv.): the decree could not be heard for the clamor, decretum exaudiri prae strepitu et clamore non potuit. (☞ prae must not be used of a positive case: to leap for joy, gaudio or laetitia [not prae gaudio] exsultare; but we may say prae gaudio vix compotem esse animi, because the joy is what nearly prevents a man fin being himself).

Denoting motive or reason: what for? cur? quam ob rem? quapropter? qua de causa? quid est, quod? etc. (asking for the motive of anything): what are you doing that for? cur hoc facis?

MISCELLANIOUS EXAMPLES: for good, in omne tempus: he has given up anything for good, alicui rei in omnem vitam renunciatum est: for one’s life; e.g., don’t tell anybody for your life, cave, ne dicas or dixeris: to be at a loss for; e.g., for a proper expression, verbis satis dicere non possum: one feels at a loss for words to express anything, verbis aliquid dici non potest. ☞ “For” often stands before the subject of an infinitive, and must be omitted in translation; e.g., it is right for children to obey their parents, rectum est, decet, oportet, etc., liberos parentibus obedire. It is often a “sign” of the dative. It is impossible for me, hoc facere, efficere non possum: it is impossible for me to, etc., fieri non potest, ut, etc., or nequeo with infinitive; e.g., it is impossible for a king to live like a private person, nescit rex vivere privatus: for instance, or example, verbi or exempli causa or gratia; sometimes vel [SYN. in INSTANCE]: for its own sake, gratis, gratuito; often by ipse or per se ipse (e.g., virtus per se ipsa laudabilis): for anything I care, per me... licet (e.g., per me quiescat licet). ☞ Pro must be carefully used: dicere pro aliqua re and contra rem are right; but “to speak for and against,” is in utramque partem. Of price, of course “for” must be omitted. “For,” with reference to a coming time, not pro but in hunc annum, proximum annum, etc. To be prepared for, paratum esse ad aliquid (e.g., ad omnes casus). “For the present,” nunc, in praesentia, hoc tempore. “Word for word” ad verbum (e.g., ad verbum discere; ad verbum aliquid ex Graecis exprimere): to translate anything word for word, verbum pro verbo reddere (Cic.): to return like for like, par pari reddere: he was left for dead, ille pro occiso relictus est, for which tamquam or uti occisus are elsewhere used (Vid: Cic., Sest., 38; Caes., B.C., 3, 109; Liv., Passim. Krebs): to produce arguments for the existence of the gods, afferre argumenta, cur dii sint: riches are sought after for their use, divitiae expetuntur, ut utare. For this reason, that, etc. [Vid: REASON]. For other combinations; e.g., to look for, to wait for, to wish for, etc., etc.; Vid: To LOOK, To WAIT, etc.

(alleging a reason or cause)(alleging a reason or cause), nam: namque: enim: etenim (with this difference, that “nam” introduces the subsequent sentence, as explicative of the preceding one; the statement contained in the latter being defined by certain reasons alleged. The sentence joined by “nam” appears only as an appendix, as it were, to the preceding one; hence “namque”: both, as a general rule, stand at the beginning of the sentence: “enim” is used if the subsequent sentence is necessary to render the preceding one intelligible, or establish the proof of whatever has been advanced in it: in this latter case the reason alleged is as important as the assertion itself: the copulative “et” is used to show the connection; and hence “etenim,” which precedes the sentence for the purpose of giving prominence to the reason contained in it; whereas “enim,” if standing by itself, is always inserted somewhere into the sentence; compare Zumpt, §345): ☞ etenim and enim both sometimes assert what the speaker wishes to be taken for granted; etenim is also, used in explanatory parentheses, and in questions, in which enim is also used; but etenim (= et cum ita res sit, quaeso) makes the connection more distinct, Pr. Intr., ii., 791]. For... not, neque enim (but non enim is not so uncommon in Cic. as is supposed, Pr. Intr. ii., 789): for since, etenim, quoniam: for if, etenim si (ib., 791): for... never, neque unquam. For nothing is, nihil est enim (☞ in a sentence with est beginning with the predicate, or non, num, nemo, nihil, quis, or if est is emphatic, est mostly takes the second, enim the third place, Pr. Intr., ii., 112).

Because, cum: quia: quod: quoniam: quandoquidem (implying also a reason, with this difference, that “cum” alleges a simple reason merely, our “since; “quia” and “quod,” of which the former is the stronger, allege a reason founded on necessity, our “because;” “quoniam” alleges a reason deduced from the accidental occurrence of circumstances, our “whereas;” “quandoquidem” gives a reason inferred from some preceding circumstance): siquidem (= “since it is admitted,” implies something known and granted; Vid: Zumpt, § 346). Vid. BECAUSE, especially on the manner of translating “for” = “because” by the relative (qui, quippe qui), a participle etc.