Meaning of 'at' (Webster Dictionary)
- Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence,
nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour;
at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at
the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are
derived all the various uses of at.
- A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on,
something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand;
at sea and on land.
- The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at
peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at
disadvantage.
- The relation of some employment or action; occupied with;
as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating);
except at puns.
- The relation of a point or position in a series, or of
degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80¡; goods sold at
a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is
short at the longest.
- The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at
twenty-one; at once; at first.
- The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or
effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this
declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve,
endure at your hands.
- Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at
it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink,
mock, laugh at any one.
Definition
[ prep.]