How to parse. ...

Par. 363-365.] "FOR," " OF."

217

(16) " He is now sleeping, for the first time since last
Monday."
(17) "Be sensible, for once."
363 The use of "for " after " but" is to be explained
by reference to the radical meaning of "but," i.e.
"except" (see Par. 381):(18) "He would have died but for me," i.e. "except,
or only, (that it happened otherwise) because of
me."
364 "For," in the sense of "in front of," i.e. "in
behalf of," is often used at the beginning of a sentence, to call attention to that about which one is
going to speak: -
(19) " For his part, he is indifferent."
Hence
(20) "As for him, he is indifferent," i.e., " (So far) as
(one may speak) for, i.e., in behalf of, about,
him."
In the middle of the Sentence, " for " is not now
so common as it was once, e.g. in Bacon's time:
"(The counsel of Rehoboam) was young counsel for
(as regards) the persons, and violent counsel jbr
(as regards) the matter."
" For to," see Par. 402.
365 5 "Of," having originally the force of of, is
still used with this meaning in(1) " Within ten miles of (i.e. from) the coast."