of

I

[[t]ʌv, ɒv[/t]] unstressed [[t]əv[/t]] or, esp. before consonants, [[t]ə[/t]]

prep.

1) (used to indicate distance or direction from, separation, deprivation, etc.):

within a mile of the house; robbed of one's money[/ex]

2) (used to indicate derivation or origin):

the songs of Gershwin[/ex]

3) (used to indicate cause or reason):

dead of hunger[/ex]

4) (used to indicate material, substance, or contents):

a dress of silk; a book of poems[/ex]

5) (used to indicate apposition or identity):

a genius of a pilot[/ex]

6) (used to indicate possession or association):

property of the church[/ex]

7) (used to indicate inclusion in a number, class, or whole):

one of us[/ex]

8) (used to indicate the object of the action noted by the preceding noun, verb, or adjective):

the ringing of bells; to write of home; tired of working[/ex]

9) (used to indicate qualities or attributes):

a woman of courage[/ex]

10) (used to indicate a specified time):

They arrived of an evening[/ex]

11) dial. before the hour of; until:

ten minutes of one[/ex]

12) on the part of:

It was nice of you to come[/ex]

13) set aside for or devoted to:

a minute of prayer[/ex]

14) archaic by:

consumed of worms[/ex]

•

Etymology: bef. 900; ME, OE: of, off; c. G ab, L ab, Gk apó usage: of with an adjective after the adverb how or too is largely characteristic of informal speech: How long of a drive will it be? It's too hot of a day for tennis. This is often criticized in more formal situations. See also couple, off II

of

[[t]əv[/t]] auxiliary v. Nonstandard.

have: He should of asked me

Compare a IV