as

¹

[ az; unstressed uhz ]

adverb

1. to the same degree, amount, or extent; similarly; equally:

   I don't think it's as hot and humid today as it was yesterday.

2. for example; for instance:

   Some flowers, as the rose, require special care.

3. thought to be or considered to be:

   the square as distinct from the rectangle; the church as separate from the state.

4. in the manner (directed, agreed, promised, etc.):

   She sang as promised. He left as agreed.

conjunction

1. (used correlatively after an adjective or adverb preceded by an adverbial phrase, the adverbial as, or another adverb) to such a degree or extent that:

   It came out the same way as it did before. You are as good as you think you are.

2. (without antecedent) in the degree, manner, etc., of or that:

   She's good as gold. Do as we do.

3. at the same time that; while; when:

   as you look away.

4. since; because:

   As you are leaving last, please turn out the lights.

5. though:

   Questionable as it may be, we will proceed.

6. with the result or purpose:

   He said it in a voice so loud as to make everyone stare.

7. Informal. (in dependent clauses) that:

   I don't know as I do.

8. Midland and Southern U.S. and British Dialect. than.

pronoun

1. (used relatively) that; who; which (usually preceded by such or the same ):

   I have the same trouble as you had.

2. a fact that:

   She did her job well, as can be proved by the records.

3. New England, Midland, and Southern U.S. who; whom; which; that:

   Them as has gets.

preposition

1. in the role, function, or status of:

   to act as leader.

as

²

[ as ]

noun

, plural as·ses [as, -iz].

1. a copper coin and early monetary unit of ancient Rome, originally having a nominal weight of a pound of 12 ounces: discontinued c80 b.c.
2. a unit of weight equal to 12 ounces.

As

³

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. arsenic ( def 1 ).

AS

⁴

abbreviation for

1. American Samoa (approved especially for use with zip code).
2. Anglo-Saxon.
3. antisubmarine.

as-

⁵

1. variant of ad- before s: assert.

AS.

⁶

abbreviation for

1. Anglo-Saxon.

A.S.

⁷

abbreviation for

1. Anglo-Saxon.
2. Associate of Science ( def ).

As

¹

symbol for

1. chem arsenic
2. altostratus

as

²

/ æs /

noun

1. an ancient Roman unit of weight approximately equal to 1 pound troy (373 grams)
2. the standard monetary unit and copper coin of ancient Rome

AS

³

abbreviation for

1. AlsoA.S. Anglo-Saxon
2. antisubmarine
3. Australian Standards

as

⁴

the internet domain name for

1. American Samoa

as

⁵

/ æz; əz /

conjunction

1. often preceded by just while; when; at the time that

   he caught me as I was leaving

2. in the way that

   dancing as only she can

3. that which; what

   I did as I was told

4. (of) which fact, event, etc (referring to the previous statement)

   to become wise, as we all know, is not easy

5. as it were
   as it were in a way; so to speak; as if it were really so
6. as you were
   as you were
   1. a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etc
   2. a statement to withdraw something just said
7. since; seeing that

   as you're in charge here, you'd better tell me where to wait

8. in the same way that

   he died of cancer, as his father had done

9. in spite of the extent to which

   intelligent as you are, I suspect you will fail

10. for instance

    capital cities, as London

adverb

1. 1. used correlatively before an adjective or adverb and before a noun phrase or a clause to indicate identity of extent, amount, etc

      she is as heavy now as she used to be

      she is as heavy as her sister

   2. used with this sense after a noun phrase introduced by the same

      she is the same height as her sister

preposition

1. in the role of; being

   as his friend, I am probably biased

2. as for
   as foras to with reference to

   as for my past, I'm not telling you anything

3. as from formal.
   as fromas of (in expressions of time) from

   fares on all routes will rise as from January 11

4. as if
   as ifas though as it would be if

   he talked as if he knew all about it

5. as is
   as isas it is in the existing state of affairs

   as it is, I shall have difficulty finishing all this work, without any more

6. See per
   as per
   as per See per
7. See regard
   as regards
   as regards See regard
8. See such
   as such
   as such See such
9. See such
   such as
   such as See such
10. as was
    as was in a previous state
11. See well
    as well
    as well See well 1
12. as yet
    as yet up to now; so far

    I have received no compensation as yet

Usage Note

As a conjunction, one sense of as is “because”: As she was bored, Sue left the room. As also has an equally common use in the sense “while, when”: As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered and applauded. These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity: As the gates were closed, he walked away. (When? Because?) As … as is standard in both positive and negative constructions: The fleet was as widely scattered then as it had been at the start of the conflict. Foreign service is not as attractive as it once was. So … as is sometimes used in negative constructions (… not so attractive as it once was ) and in questions ( “What is so rare as a day in June?” ). The phrase as far as generally introduces a clause: As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources. In some informal speech and writing, as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object: As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources. As to as a compound preposition has long been standard though occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for about, of, on, or concerning: We were undecided as to our destination. As to sometimes occurs at the beginning of a sentence, where it introduces an element that would otherwise have less emphasis: As to his salary, that too will be reviewed. As to what and as to whether are sometimes considered redundant but have long been standard: an argument as to what department was responsible. all, farther, like ¹, so ¹.

Usage

See note at like 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of as¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English as, als, alse, also, Old English alswā, ealswā “all so, quite so, quite as, as”; cognate with Middle Dutch alse ( Dutch als ), Old High German alsō ( Middle High German álsō, álse, als, German also “so,” als “as, as if, because”); also

Origin of as²

First recorded 1540–50; from Latin as (also assis ); further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of as¹

C17: from Latin ās unity, probably of Etruscan origin

Origin of as²

Old English alswā likewise; see also

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as … as, (used to express similarity or equality in a specified characteristic, condition, etc., as between one person or thing and another):

   as rich as Croesus.

2. as far as, to the degree or extent that:

   It is an excellent piece of work, as far as I can tell.

3. as good as,
   1. equivalent to; in effect; practically:

      as good as new.

   2. true to; trustworthy as:

      as good as his word.

4. as how, Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. that; if; whether:

   He allowed as how it was none of my business. I don't know as how I ought to interfere.

5. as is, in whatever condition something happens to be, especially referring to something offered for sale in a flawed, damaged, or used condition:

   We bought the table as is.

6. as it were, in a way; so to speak:

   He became, as it were, a man without a country.

7. as of, beginning on; on and after; from:

   This price is effective as of June 23.

8. as regards, with regard or reference to; concerning:

   As regards the expense involved, it is of no concern to him.

9. as such,
   1. as being what is indicated; in that capacity:

      An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect.

   2. in itself or in themselves:

      The position, as such, does not appeal to him, but the salary is a lure.

10. as yet, up to the present time; until now:

    As yet, no one has thought of a solution.

11. as for / to, with respect to; in reference to:

    As for staying away, I wouldn't think of it.

12. as if / though, as it would be if:

    It was as if the world had come to an end.

13. as long as. long ¹( def 37 ).
14. as well as. well ¹( def 19 ).
15. as well. well ¹( def 18 ).

Example Sentences

It was formerly spelled s-v-a-s-t-i-c-a and s-u-a-s-t-i-k-a, but the later spelling, both English and French, is s-w-a-s-t-i-k-a.

From Project Gutenberg

As if anything can be 100% perfect—though A. S. comes awfully near it!

From Project Gutenberg

"T-a-s-t-e and s-e-e," cried the man who had fallen down, hiccuping.

From Project Gutenberg

Den I jes put her down e-a-s-y on de hath-rug, fo de fire, en kiver her up wid a shawl.

From Project Gutenberg

The first which they offer, and that most usually accepted as the true one, is the A.-S.

From Project Gutenberg