# as

Pronunciation: say "AZ" /æz/

## Preposition

1. In the role, function, or character of, as in she works as a nurse or the land was offered as security.
   - Simple: Being or acting as something, or used for something, as in she works as a nurse.
   - _The cottage is let as a holiday home._
   - _He sent her flowers as an apology._
6. Used before a noun or pronoun, in the objective case, to introduce the standard of a comparison.
   - Simple: Used before a noun or pronoun to name what something is compared with.
   - _He is as stubborn as me, and that's saying something._
   - _The room was quiet as a church._

## Adverb

2. To the same or such an extent, before an adjective or adverb and usually followed by a comparison.
   - Simple: Used before an adjective or adverb to say two things are equal in some way.
   - _The new phone is not as fast as the old model, but it costs more._
   - _The second driver finished the course just as quickly, though with far less fuss._
12. Placed after an adjective as an intensifier meaning very or extremely, with the comparison left unfinished. *(slang, Australia, New Zealand)*
   - Simple: In Australian and New Zealand slang, put after an adjective to mean 'very'.
   - _It was cold as up on the ridge this morning._
   - _Nice one, that's choice as, bro._

## Conjunction

3. Because, since or seeing that, giving the reason for something.
   - Simple: Used to give the reason for something, meaning 'because'.
   - _As you were out, I left the parcel with a neighbor._
   - _I'll go first, as I know the way._
4. While, or at the moment when something happens, or in step with another change, as in 'as she grew older, she grew calmer'.
   - Simple: While or when something happens, as in 'I read the paper as I waited'.
   - _I read the paper as I waited for the train._
   - _The lights dimmed as the orchestra tuned up._
5. In the way that, or like, including in comparisons with an imagined situation; also used to introduce a comment on what is said.
   - Simple: In the way that, or like, and also used to add a comment, as in 'as you know'.
   - _Everything went as we had planned._
   - _She looked at me as if I had said something very rude._
7. Used to introduce a relative clause, sometimes almost meaning that, which or who, chiefly after same or such.
   - Simple: Used after same or such to mean that or which.
   - _We need such help as we can get._
   - _She was wearing the same jacket as she wore to her job interview._
8. Used after an earlier as or so to complete a comparison of equality, introducing a clause.
   - Simple: Used after 'as' or 'so' to name the thing being compared with.
   - _The cake was as good as my grandmother used to make._
   - _He isn't so tall as his brother was at that age._
10. Though, following an adjective, adverb, verb or much moved to the front of the clause.
   - Simple: Used with a fronted word to mean 'although', as in 'try as she might'.
   - _Tired as I was, I finished the report._
   - _Strange as it seems, nobody noticed the missing painting._
11. Introducing a result after so or such, usually with to and an infinitive.
   - Simple: Used after 'so' or 'such' to give the result, as in 'so loud as to hurt'.
   - _The path was so steep as to be dangerous._
   - _She spoke so softly as to be almost inaudible._

## Adverb

9. For example or for instance, in formal writing, usually set off by commas before the example. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Used to introduce an example, meaning 'for instance'.

## Noun

Pronunciation: say "AYZ" /eɪz/

13. Rare alternative form of a's, the plural of the letter a or A. *(rare)* — Alternative form of a's.
   - Simple: A rare spelling of a's, the plural of the letter a.
   - _The sign painter's as are all slightly different sizes._
   - _How many as are there in 'Alabama'?_

## Other meanings

- (adverb) Used in phrases such as as distinct from and as opposed to, to show how one thing is being considered next to another.
- (conjunction) In law, used before a preposition to show that the prepositional phrase restricts the statement.
- (noun) Any of several bronze, later copper, coins of ancient Rome, or the value they represented.
- (noun) A Roman unit of weight, the libra, divided into twelve unciae and giving its name to the coin ([[s20]]).
- (conjunction) Than, used after a comparative.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–11** — From Middle English as, from Old English eallswā ("just so; as"); as is a reduced form of "also." It is related to German als and Dutch als.
**Meaning 13** — Formed from "a" combined with the suffix "-s."
**Meaning 12** — A shortening of "as hell," "as fuck," or similar phrases.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/as (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).