as meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

as

adv

/əz/ · /æz/

Etymology From Middle English as, als(a), alswa, from Old English eallswā (“just so; as”), thus representing a reduced form of also. Compare German Low German a(l)s, German als, Dutch als.

To such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree.

She regards her kids as (being) holy as saints.
You’re not as tall as I am, but you are definitely as happy as can be.

4 more examples

It's not as well made, but it's twice as expensive.
In 1939, as in 1914, all of Europe seemed to want war.
“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

Considered to be, in relation to something else; in the relation (specified).

Dated, Formal For example; for instance. (Compare such as.)

Likewise many other indulgences were by virtue hereof granted; as, to have a portatile altar, to receive the Sacrament privately; […]1820, John Strype, The Life of the Learned Sir Thomas Smith, page 48:
First; original; indigenous; primitive; native; as, the aboriginal tribes of America.1913, “Aboriginal”, in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary:

1 more example

The floor of the chamber was tesselated, of marble and green tourmaline, and on every square of tourmaline was carven the image of a fish: as the dolphin, the conger, the cat-fish, the salmon, the tunny, the squid, and other wonders of the deep.1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 3:

Derived terms: as I live and breathe

as

conj

Etymology From Middle English as, als(a), alswa, from Old English eallswā (“just so; as”), thus representing a reduced form of also. Compare German Low German a(l)s, German als, Dutch als.

12 senses

1In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.
2Used after so or as to introduce a comparison.
3Used to introduce a result: with the result that it is; as to.
4Expressing concession: though.
5At the same instant or moment that: when.
6At the same time that, during the same time when: while.
7Varying through time in the same proportion that.
8Being that, considering that, because, since.
9Introducing a comparison with a hypothetical state (+…
10used before a preposition to clarify that the…
11Functioning as a relative conjunction, and sometimes…
12Than.

In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.

Do as I say!
I'm under a lot of pressure, as you know.

4 more examples

As you wish, my lord!
Mom was slim, as were most of her relatives.
The kidnappers released him as (was) agreed.
A nearby to-infinitive may be a factor for choosing 'in order to', as will emphasis.

Used after so or as to introduce a comparison.

She's twice as strong as I was two years ago.
It's not so complicated as I expected.

1 more example

It’s as easy to do it right as it is to do it wrong.

Used to introduce a result: with the result that it is; as to.

[...] that the Board of Regents had fallen into disrepute; that intelligent men inquired what the board was; he said that it was a quiet body, and kept out of the newspapers — and so quiet as to lead many to suppose tho board had ceased to exist.1868, Proceedings and Debates of the [New York] Constitutional Convention Held in 1867 and 1868 in the City of Albany, page 2853:
It was a talent he had developed; he could actually be so quiet as to be practically invisible. In class, he was rarely called upon to answer any questions. In the crowded hallways, he could slip in and out without offending any of the local bullies ...2006, Eric Manasse, The Twenty-First Man, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 7:

1 more example

Under most circumstances, it will be possible to draw a distinction sufficiently clear as to allow an unambiguous allocation to one or other category.2011, Herwig C. H. Hofmann, Gerard C. Rowe, Alexander H. Türk, Administrative Law and Policy of the European Union, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 507:

Expressing concession: though.

(As) much as I respect your viewpoint, I can’t agree.
(As) bravely as they fought, they soon lost the battle.

3 more examples

Try as she might, she could not escape.
1843 (first published), Thomas Babington Macaulay, Essays We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the interest, transient as it may be, which this work has excited.
If this happens, be patient and, difficult as it may be, try not to take these reactions personally.2009, Matthew Friedman, Laurie B. Slone, J Friedman, After the War Zone, →ISBN:

› At the time that; during the time when:

At the same instant or moment that: when.

As I came in, she fled.

At the same time that, during the same time when: while.

He sleeps as the rain falls.

Varying through time in the same proportion that.

As my fear grew, so did my legs become heavy.
As she grew older, she grew wiser.

Being that, considering that, because, since.

As it’s too late, I quit.
(As) tired as he was, I decided not to disturb him.

Dated Introducing a comparison with a hypothetical state (+ subjunctive, or with the verb elided): as though, as if.

And sodenly there cam a sounde from heven as it had bene the commynge off a myghty wynde […]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts ij:
Oft haue I ſeene the haughty Cardinall, More like a Souldier then a man o' th' Church, As ſtout and proud as he were Lord of all […]1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

4 more examples

And then he flue on hir as he were wood, / And on hir breeche did hack and foyne a-good.1593, Thomas Nashe, The Choice of Valentines, lines 140-141:
I start as from some dreadful dream.1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
I feel securely fixed on the careering chair, and with the momentum gained I steer myself as on skis to the guard and come to a stop with a happy little flourish.1990, Andrew Fetler, “The third count”, in Triquarterly, number Spring:
They think they are romantic, tragic figures, exiled as on Elba. They picture themselves as enlightened barons bringing civilization, opportunity, and kindness to the brown-skinned.1992/1993 Winter, Katherine Weissman, “The Divorce Gang”, in Ploughshares, volume 18, number 4, page 202:

Law used before a preposition to clarify that the prepositional phrase restricts the meaning of the sentence; specifically.

The case is dismissed as between Jones and Smith.
The case is dismissed as against Smith.

Functioning as a relative conjunction, and sometimes like a relative pronoun: that, which, who. (See usage notes.)

You strike me as being a very fidgety type of person.
He had the same problem as she did getting the lock open.

4 more examples

I read this extract as being extremely pessimistic.
Now will he sit under a medlar tree, And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit, As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
the temper is to be altered and amended, with such things as fortify and strengthen the heart and brain […]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 5, member 1, subsection v:
‘Sissy is not a name,’ said Mr. Gradgrind. ‘Don’t call yourself Sissy. Call yourself Cecilia.’ ‘It’s father as calls me Sissy, sir,’ returned the young girl in a trembling voice, and with another curtsey.1854, Charles Dickens, “Book I, Chapter II”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:

England, Obsolete, Possibly, Rare Than.

Midland US and Southern US

The king was not more forward to bestow favours on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiors.1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
Darkness itself is no more opposite to light as their actions were diametricall to their words.1660, James Howell, Parly of Beasts, page 48:

Synonyms: albeit, although, while, whilst, given that, seeing that
Derived terms: as much as, forasmuch, green as a gooseberry, green as grass, much as, whenas, whereas, whereäs

as

prep

Etymology From Middle English as, als(a), alswa, from Old English eallswā (“just so; as”), thus representing a reduced form of also. Compare German Low German a(l)s, German als, Dutch als.

Introducing a basis of comparison, with an object in the objective case.

You are not as tall as my sister.
They are big as houses.

2 more examples

A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; as, again, the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire.1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0016:
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

In the role of.

What is your opinion as a parent?
As your big sis, I worry about your life too.

3 more examples

He was never seen as the boss, but rather as a friend.
Directed by Howard Hawks, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starred Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei and Jane Russell as Dorothy.2000, Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast, St. James encyclopedia of popular culture, volume 2, page 223:
Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:

In the form of.

I bought you a new toy as a special treat.

Derived terms: as-built

as

noun

/ˈæs/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin as. Doublet of ace.

A libra, a Roman pound.

Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics Ancient Rome Any of several coins of Rome, coined in bronze or later copper; or the equivalent value.

as

adv

/ˈæz/

Etymology Shortening of as hell or as fuck or similar.

Australia, New Zealand, Especially, Slang Used to intensify an adjective; very much; extremely.

sweet as
It also appears in other positions in the sentence: his big as car could hardly fit. It's pretty scratched, and dented as.2021 May 17, “Language Matters: Sweet as is Kiwi as”, in Stuff:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.