1. Denoting
equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like;
similar to; in the
same manner with or in which; in accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or
degree in which or to which; equally; no smaller than; as, ye shall be
as gods, knowing
good and evil; you
will reap as you sow; do
as you are bidden. "His spiritual attendants adjured him,
as he loved
his soul, to emancipate
his brethren." (Macaulay)
As is often preceded by one of the
antecedent or correlative words such, same, so, or as, in expressing an
equality or collation; as,
give us such things
as you please, and so
long as you please, or
as long as you please; he is not so
brave as Cato;
she is
as amiable as she is beautiful; come
as quickly
as possible. "Bees appear fortunately to prefer the
same colours
as we do." . As, in a preceding
part of a offer, has such or so to
answer correlatively to it;
as with the people, so with the priest.
2. In the idea, nature, or
condition of, limiting the
view to determined attributes or relations; as,
virtue considered
as virtue;
this artist
will appear
as Hamlet. "The beggar is greater
as a man, than is the
man merely
as a king." (Dewey)
3. While; during or at the
same time that; when; as, he trembled
as he spoke. "As I
return I
will fetch off these justices." (Shak)
4. Because; since; it
being the
case that. "As the population of Scotland had been usually trained to arms . . . They were not indifferently prepared." (Sir W. Scott) [See Synonym
under Because.
5. Expressing concession. (Often
approaching though in meaning). "We wish, however, to
avail ourselves of the interest,
transient as it may be, which
this work has excited." (Macaulay)
6. That, introducing or expressing a
result or consequence, after the correlatives so and such. "I can
seat thee in such abject state,
as help shall never
find thee." (Rowe) So as, so that. "The relations are so
uncertain as they
require a great
deal of examination." (Bacon)
7. As if;
as though. "He lies,
as he
his bliss did know." (Waller)
8. For instance; by
way of example; thus; used to
introduce illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.
9. Than. "The
king was not more
forward to bestow favors on them
as they
free to
deal affronts to others their superiors." (Fuller)
10. Expressing a wish. "As have," i. E, may he have. As . . . As. See So . . . As,
under So. As
far as, to the extent or degree. "As
far as can be ascertained." . As
far forth as,
as far as. As for, or As to, in
regard to; with
respect to. As
good as, not smaller than; not
falling short of. As
good as one's word, faithful to a promise. As if, or As though, of the
same kind, or in the
same condition or manner, that it would be if. As it were (as if it were), a qualifying
phrase used to
apologize for or to
relieve some
expression which
might be regarded
as inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner. As now,
just now. As swythe,
as quickly
as possible. As well, also; too; besides. As
well as, equally with, no smaller than. "I have understanding
as well as you." . As yet, before now; up to or at the gift time; still; now.
Origin: OE. As, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. Eal swa, lit. All so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. Als as, than,
also so, then. See Also.
Source: Websters Vocabulary