Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of With?

\With\, n. See {Withe}.
\With\, prep. [OE. with, AS. wi? with, against; akin to AS. wi?er against, OFries. with, OS. wi?, wi?ar, D. weder, we[^e]r (in comp.), G. wider against, wieder gain, OHG. widar again, against, Icel. vi? against, with, by, at, Sw. vid at, by, Dan. ved, Goth. wipra against, Skr. vi asunder. Cf. {Withdraw}, {Withers}, {Withstand}.] With denotes or expresses some situation or relation of nearness, proximity, association, connection, or the like. It is used especially: 1. To denote a close or direct relation of opposition or hostility; -- equivalent to against. Thy servant will . . . fight with this Philistine. --1 Sam. xvii. 32. Note: In this sense, common in Old English, it is now obsolete except in a few compounds; as, withhold; withstand; and after the verbs fight, contend, struggle, and the like. 2. To denote association in respect of situation or environment; hence, among; in the company of. I will buy with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. --Shak. Pity your own, or pity our estate, Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate. --Dryden. See where on earth the flowery glories lie; With her they flourished, and with her they die. --Pope. There is no living with thee nor without thee. --Tatler. Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan philosophers. --Addison. 3. To denote a connection of friendship, support, alliance, assistance, countenance, etc.; hence, on the side of. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee. --Gen. xxvi. 24. 4. To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument, etc; -- sometimes equivalent to by. That with these fowls I be all to-rent. --Chaucer. Thou wilt be like a lover presently, And tire the hearer with a book of words. --Shak. [He] entertained a coffeehouse with the following narrative. --Addison. With receiving your friends within and amusing them without, you lead a good, pleasant, bustling life of it. --Goldsmith. 5. To denote association in thought, as for comparison or contrast. Can blazing carbuncles with her compare. --Sandys. 6. To denote simultaneous happening, or immediate succession or consequence. With that she told me . . . that she would hide no truth from me. --Sir P. Sidney. With her they flourished, and with her they die. --Pope. With this he pointed to his face. --Dryden. 7. To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the firmament with its stars; a bride with a large fortune. ``A maid with clean hands.'' --Shak. Note: With and by are closely allied in many of their uses, and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which to distinguish their uses. See the Note under {By}.