of

of · preposition

imported

Definitions

preposition

  1. 1.

    Expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

  2. 2.

    Indicating possession or belonging.

  3. 3.

    Expressing origin or derivation.

  4. 4.

    Indicating the material or substance constituting something.

  5. 5.

    Expressing a point of reference or relevance.

  6. 6.

    Indicating a relationship between numbers or amounts.

  7. 7.

    Expressing the cause.

  8. 8.

    Indicating time.

Related words

See also: by, from, with

Etymology

From Old English of, meaning "away, away from," from Proto-Germanic af, from Proto-Indo-European apo meaning "off, away." The word has cognates in German ab and Dutch af. Over time, it developed its many prepositional uses expressing relationships.