of

Function: preposition Etymology: Middle English, off, of, from Old English, adverb & preposition; akin to Old High German aba off, away, Latin ab from, away, Greek apo Date: before 12th century 1 -- used as a function word to indicate a point of reckoning <north of the lake> 2 a -- used as a function word to indicate origin or derivation <a man of noble birth> b -- used as a function word to indicate the cause, motive, or reason <died of flu> c : BY <plays of Shakespeare> d : on the part of <very kind of you> 3 -- used as a function word to indicate the component material, parts, or elements or the contents <throne of gold> <cup of water> 4 a -- used as a function word to indicate the whole that includes the part denoted by the preceding word <most of the army> b -- used as a function word to indicate a whole or quantity from which a part is removed or expended <gave of his time> 5 a : relating to : ABOUT <stories of her travels> b : in respect to <slow of speech> 6 a -- used as a function word to indicate belonging or a possessive relationship <king of England> b -- used as a function word to indicate relationship between a result determined by a function or operation and a basic entity (as an independent variable) <a function of x> <the product of two numbers> 7 -- used as a function word to indicate something from which a person or thing is delivered <eased of her pain> or with respect to which someone or something is made destitute <robbed of all their belongings> 8 a -- used as a function word to indicate a particular example belonging to the class denoted by the preceding noun <the city of Rome> b -- used as a function word to indicate apposition <that fool of a husband> 9 a -- used as a function word to indicate the object of an action denoted or implied by the preceding noun <love of nature> b -- used as a function word to indicate the application of a verb <cheats him of a dollar> or of an adjective <fond of candy> 10 -- used as a function word to indicate a characteristic or distinctive quality or possession <a woman of courage> 11 a -- used as a function word to indicate the position in time of an action or occurrence <died of a Monday> b : BEFORE <quarter of ten> 12 archaic : ON <a plague of all cowards -- Shakespeare>