of

English Online Dictionary. What means of‎? What does of mean?

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English of, from Old English of (“from, out of, off”), an unstressed form of æf, from Proto-West Germanic *ab, from Proto-Germanic *ab (“away; away from”). Doublet of off, which is the stressed descendant of the same Old English word. More at off.

Alternative forms

• o, o', a

Pronunciation

• (stressed)
  • (UK) enPR: ŏv, IPA^(key): /ɒv/
  • (General Australian, New Zealand) enPR: ŏv, IPA^(key): /ɔv/
    • Rhymes: -ɒv
  • (US) enPR: ŭv, IPA^(key): /ʌv/
    • Rhymes: -ʌv
• (unstressed)
  • (UK) enPR: əv, IPA^(key): /əv/, (before a consonant) /ə/
  • (US) IPA^(key): /ʌv/, /əv/, (before a consonant) /ə/
  • , unstressed, as part of the expression piece of cake
  • Homophone: 've (unstressed of only, postconsonantal 've only)
  • Homophone: a (when /v/ is elided)

Preposition

of

1. Expressing distance or motion.
   1. (now obsolete or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off". [from 9th c.]
   2. (obsolete except 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.]
2. Expressing separation.
   1. Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object. [from 10th c.]
   2. Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective. [from 10th c.]
   3. (obsolete) Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb. [14th–19th c.]
3. Expressing origin.
   1. Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent. [from 9th c.]
   2. Introducing an epithet that indicates a birthplace, residence, dominion, or other place associated with the individual.

   3. Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation; from, out of, as an expression of. [from 9th c.]
   4. (following an intransitive verb) Indicates the source or cause of the verb. [from 10th c.]
   5. (following an adjective) Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective. [from 13th c.]
4. Expressing agency.
   1. (following a passive verb) Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by). [from 9th c.]
   2. Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase (see also 'Possession' senses below). [from 13th c.]
   3. (following an adjective) Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective. [from 16th c.]
5. Expressing composition, substance.
   1. (after a verb expressing construction, making etc.) Used to indicate the material or substance used. [from 9th c.]
   2. (directly following a noun) Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object. [from 10th c.]
   3. Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun. [from 12th c.]
   4. Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class. [from 12th c.]
   5. Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second; "which is also". [from 14th c.]
6. Introducing subject matter.
   1. 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. [from 10th c.]
   2. (following a noun (now chiefly nouns of knowledge, communication etc.)) Introduces its subject matter; about, concerning. [from 12th c.]
   3. (following an adjective) Introduces its subject matter. [from 15th c.]
7. Having partitive effect.
   1. (following a number or other quantitive word) Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment; "from among". [from 9th c.]
   2. (following a noun) Indicates a given part. [from 9th c.]
   3. (now archaic, literary, with preceding partitive word assumed, or as a predicate after to be) Some, an amount of, one of. [from 9th c.]
   4. Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below). [from 13th c.]
9. Expressing possession.
   1. Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above. [from 9th c.]
   2. Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it. [from 9th c.]
   3. Belonging 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.) [from 13th c.]
10. Forming the "objective genitive".
    1. Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action. [from 12th c.]
11. Expressing qualities or characteristics.
    1. (archaic or literary) Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier; in respect to, as regards. [from 13th c.]
    2. Indicates a quality or characteristic; "characterized by". [from 13th c.]
    3. Indicates quantity, age, price, etc. [from 13th c.]
    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.
12. Expressing a point in time.
    1. (chiefly regional) During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. [from 9th c.]
    2. (UK, dialectal, chiefly in the negative) For (a given length of time). [from 13th c.]

    3. (after a noun) Indicates duration of a state, activity etc. [from 18th c.]
    4. (chiefly US) Before (the hour); to (the hour). [from 19th c.]
       1. (informal) Often used without the hour

Usage notes

• (belonging to or associated with): When applied to a person or persons, the possessive is generally used instead.
• (containing, comprising, or made from): [Term?] (“Of”) may be used directly with a verb or adjectival phrase.
• When modifying a noun, modern English increasingly uses noun adjuncts rather than of. Examples include part of speech (16th century) vs. word class (20th century), Federal Bureau of Investigation (1908) vs. Central Intelligence Agency (1947), and affairs of the world (18th century) vs. world affairs (20th century).
• The use of of to link nouns to attributive adjectives modified by certain adverbs is always optional; omitting of in such instances is always permissible and does not alter the meaning of the expression. Adverbs that may be used with this construction include too, so, how, as, more, less, this, and that.

Derived terms

• line-of-sight

Related terms

Translations

See also

• -'s

Etymology 2

A spelling of /əv/ influenced by Etymology 1.

Verb

of

1. (usually in modal perfect constructions) Eye dialect spelling of have or ’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 might of done, from feelings of delicacy; indeed, they were of so dark and dreadful a nature, that I could do no more than hint at them

Usage notes

• 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

Symbol

of

1. (stenoscript) Abbreviation of off, often

Further reading

• Paul Heacock [et al.], editors (2009), “of”, in Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, retrieved 21 July 2017, reproduced in the Cambridge English Dictionary website, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Anagrams

• F/O, FO, fo, fo', fo.

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch of, from Middle Dutch of, ofte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔf/

Conjunction

of

1. or
2. whether; if

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch of, ofte. In Middle Dutch the two words merged; the form of derives from Old Dutch of, from Proto-Germanic *jabai.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔf/
• Hyphenation: of
• Rhymes: -ɔf

Conjunction

of

1. (coordinating) or

2. (subordinating) whether, if

   Synonym: (proscribed) als

3. (of ... of) either ... or

4. (of ... of dat) whether ... or

Derived terms

• ofwel

Descendants

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

German Low German

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German af, from Old Saxon af, from Proto-West Germanic *ab, from Proto-Germanic *ab. More at off.

Preposition

of

1. from

Adverb

of

1. away; from
2. off

Adjective

of

1. off (not "on")

Etymology 2

From Old Saxon eftha.

Conjunction

of

1. Synonym of àder

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse of-, from Proto-Germanic *uber. The original full form is seen in the prefixed form ofur- (“overly, super, very”). Related to yfir (“above”) and ofan (“from above”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔːv/
• Rhymes: -ɔːv

Adverb

of

1. too (to an excessive degree)

Preposition

of

1. about
2. over, above

Japanese

Etymology

From English of, as in X of X.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [o̞bɯ̟ᵝ]

Particle

of(オブ) • (obu) 

1. (informal) Used to express that one is an exemplar.

   Synonym: の中の (no naka no)

   勇(ゆう)者(しゃ)オブ勇(ゆう)者(しゃ)の○○さん

   yūsha obu yūsha no ○○-san

   XX, a hero of/among heroes

   キモいof(オブ)キモい

   kimoi obu kimoi

   absolutely disgusting

   (literally, “disgusting of the disgusting”)

See also

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

Luxembourgish

Alternative forms

• af, uef (both dialectal)

Etymology

From Middle High German af, ave, from Old High German ava, northern variant of aba, from Proto-Germanic *ab. Cognate with German ab, Dutch af, English of and off. The expected Luxembourgish forms are af (< af) and uef (< ave). The form of is probably a compromise between both variants; otherwise it would imply an irregularly lengthened Middle High German *āf, *āve.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oːf/

Adverb

of

1. (chiefly in compounds) off; down

Middle Dutch

Etymology 1

From Old Dutch of.

Conjunction

of

1. if, whether

Usage notes

Sometimes confused with ofte.

Descendants

• Dutch: of
• Limburgish: óf

Etymology 2

Adverb

of

1. Alternative form of af

Further reading

• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “of (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page II

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English of, an unstressed form of af, ob, æf (“from, off, away”), from Proto-West Germanic *ab, from Proto-Germanic *ab (“away; away from”).

Preposition

of

1. of

Alternative forms

• ofe, offe, hof, ove
• ob, om, oþ (before b, m, þ)

Descendants

• English: of
• Scots: o
• Yola: o', o, ov, of, af, av, a

References

• “of, prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

From Old English æf.

Adverb

of

1. off

Alternative forms

• ofe, offe

Descendants

• English: off
• Scots: aff

References

• “of, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 3

An alteration of oth, from Old English oþ.

Conjunction

of

1. until

Alternative forms

• oft

References

• “of, conj.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 4

Apheresis of thof, a variation of though, from Old English þēah.

Conjunction

of

1. although, though

References

• “of, conj.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Old Dutch

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Conjunction

of

1. if, whether

Descendants

• Middle Dutch: of

Further reading

• “of”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Old English

Alternative forms

• ob

Etymology

Unstressed form of æf.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ov/
• IPA^(key): /of/

Preposition

of [+dative]

1. from

2. out of
   • The Life of Saint Margaret

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, On the Seasons of the Year

3. off
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, Esther

4. by (indicating the creator of a work)
5. of (Denoting material made of)
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. John the Baptist"

Usage notes

• Of does not mean "of," even though it's where the word "of" comes from. Instead, the Anglo-Saxons mostly used the genitive case where we would say "of": Dēaðes god man sċeal ofslēan and mann undēadlīcne dōn ("The god of death must be killed and man made immortal"), Iċ hine huntiġe oþ eorðan endas ("I'll hunt him to the ends of the Earth"). Even the occasional instances where "of" translates of are a survival of its original sense "from" or "out of": sē weall is ġeworht of tiġelan and eorþteorwe ("the wall is made of brick and asphalt"), Sē Hǣlend sċolde bēon of fǣmnan ġeboren ("Jesus was supposedly born of a virgin").

• Note also that of never means "about." Phrases like "to think of" and "to speak of" are rendered with be or ymb.

• For doing something "out of" an emotion, for is typically used instead of of: Þætte for lufum ġedōn biþ, þæt ġewierþ simle beġeondan gōde and yfele ("What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil").

• For dying "of" a cause, various other prepositions or the bare dative/instrumental case are used; see sweltan.

Descendants

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

Old Norse

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Preposition

of

1. about

   Synonym: um

2. (archaic, poetic) over, above

References

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

Etymology 2

Unclear, but totally overtook the function of g-, inherited from Proto-Germanic *ga-. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Particle

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).
   • c. 850, Þjóðólfr of Hvinir, Ynglingatal, verse 1]:

Old Saxon

Etymology

Unstressed form of af.

Preposition

of

1. above
2. away from

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /of/

Interjection

of

1. ugh, tsk, sigh

   used for expressing pain, bitterness, regret; despair; abhorrence, disgust; admiration, enthusiasm; wonder, surprise

Turkish

Interjection

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

Pronoun

of (plural ofs)

1. she (third-person feminine)

Declension

Welsh

Noun

of

1. Soft mutation of gof.

Mutation

West Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian jef, from Proto-Germanic *jabai.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔf/

Conjunction

of

1. or

Further reading

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

Yola

Preposition

of

1. Alternative form of o' (“of”)

References

• 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, published 1867, page 96