Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
With
With
,p
rep.
[OE.
with
, AS. wi[GREEK]
with, against; akin to AS. wi[GREEK]er
against, OFries. with
, OS. wi[GREEK]
, wi[GREEK]ar
, D. weder
, weêr
(in comp.), G. wider
against, wieder
gain, OHG. widar
again, against, Icel. vi[GREEK]
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.
☞ 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. Shakespeare
Pity your own, or pity our estate,
Nor twist our fortunes
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
And tire the hearer
with
a book of words. Shakespeare
[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;
“A maid with clean hands.” as, the firmament
. with
its stars; a bride with
a large fortuneShak.
☞ 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
. Webster 1828 Edition
With
WITH
, prep. [G.]1.
By, noting cause, instrument or means. We are distressed with pain; we are elevated with joy. With study men become learned and respectable. Fire is extinguished with water.2.
On the side of, noting friendship or favor.Fear not, for I am with thee. Genesis 26.
3.
In opposition to; in competition or contest; as, to struggle with adversity. The champions fought with each other an hour. He will lie with any man living.4.
Noting comparison. The fact you mention compares well with another I have witnessed.5.
In company. The gentlemen traveled with me from Boston to Philadelphia.6.
In the society of. There is no living with such neighbors.7.
In connection, or in appendage. He gave me the Bible, and with it the warmest expressions of affection.8.
In mutual dealing or intercourse.I will buy with you, sell with you--
9.
Noting confidence. I will trust you with the secret.10.
In partnership. He shares the profits with the other partners. I will share with you the pleasures and the pains.11.
Noting connection.Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate.
12.
Immediately after.With this he pointed to his face.
13.
Among. I left the assembly with the last.Tragedy was originally with the ancients a piece of religious worship.
14.
Upon.Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan philosophers.
15.
In consent, noting parity of state.See! Where on earth the flowry glories lie, with her they flourishd, and with her thy die.
With and by are closely allied in many of their uses, and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which their uses may be distinguished. It is observed by Johnson that with seems rather to denote an instrument, and by a cause; as, he killed an enemy with a sword, but he died by an arrow. But this rule is not always observed.
With, in composition, signifies for the most part opposition, privation; or separation, departure.