"with" - meanings, definitions, synonyms, thesaurus and antonyms

\With\, n.
See {Withe}.

\With\, prep. [OE. with, AS. wi? with, against; akin to AS.
wi?er against, OFries. with, OS. wi?, wi?ar, D. weder,
we[^e]r (in comp.), G. wider against, wieder gain, OHG. widar
again, against, Icel. vi? against, with, by, at, Sw. vid at,
by, Dan. ved, Goth. wipra against, Skr. vi asunder. Cf.
{Withdraw}, {Withers}, {Withstand}.]
With denotes or expresses some situation or relation of
nearness, proximity, association, connection, or the like. It
is used especially:

1. To denote a close or direct relation of opposition or
   hostility; -- equivalent to against.

         Thy servant will . . . fight with this Philistine.
                                               --1 Sam. xvii.
                                               32.

Note: In this sense, common in Old English, it is now
      obsolete except in a few compounds; as, withhold;
      withstand; and after the verbs fight, contend,
      struggle, and the like.

2. To denote association in respect of situation or
   environment; hence, among; in the company of.

         I will buy with you, talk with you, walk with you,
         and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink
         with you, nor pray with you.          --Shak.

         Pity your own, or pity our estate, Nor twist our
         fortunes with your sinking fate.      --Dryden.

         See where on earth the flowery glories lie; With her
         they flourished, and with her they die. --Pope.

         There is no living with thee nor without thee.
                                               --Tatler.

         Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan
         philosophers.                         --Addison.

3. To denote a connection of friendship, support, alliance,
   assistance, countenance, etc.; hence, on the side of.

         Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee.
                                               --Gen. xxvi.
                                               24.

4. To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument,
   etc; -- sometimes equivalent to by.

         That with these fowls I be all to-rent. --Chaucer.

         Thou wilt be like a lover presently, And tire the
         hearer with a book of words.          --Shak.

         [He] entertained a coffeehouse with the following
         narrative.                            --Addison.

         With receiving your friends within and amusing them
         without, you lead a good, pleasant, bustling life of
         it.                                   --Goldsmith.

5. To denote association in thought, as for comparison or
   contrast.

         Can blazing carbuncles with her compare. --Sandys.

6. To denote simultaneous happening, or immediate succession
   or consequence.

         With that she told me . . . that she would hide no
         truth from me.                        --Sir P.
                                               Sidney.

         With her they flourished, and with her they die.
                                               --Pope.

         With this he pointed to his face.     --Dryden.

7. To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the
   firmament with its stars; a bride with a large fortune.
   ``A maid with clean hands.'' --Shak.

Note: With and by are closely allied in many of their uses,
      and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which to
      distinguish their uses. See the Note under {By}.