as

as¹ [az, əz]

adverb used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something.

↘used to emphasize an amount.

conjunction

1》 used to indicate simultaneous occurrence.

2》 used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens.

3》 because.

4》 even though.

preposition

1》 used to refer to the function or character of someone or something.

2》 during the time of being.

Phrases

as for (or to) with regard to.

as from (or of) chiefly Brit. from a particular time or date.

as if (or though) as would be the case if.

as (it) is in the existing circumstances.

as yet until now or that time.

Origin

ME: reduced form of OE alswā 'similarly' (see also).

Usage

Traditionalists hold that it is correct to say he's not as shy as I rather than he's not as shy as me, but the former construction can sound stilted and is now rarely used in normal speech. For more information on this issue, see usage at than.

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as² [as]

noun (plural asses) an ancient Roman copper coin.

Origin

L., 'a unit'.