What is "for all the world"

For \For\, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f["u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f["o]r, Dan. for, adv. f["o]r, Goth. fa['u]r, fa['u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra-. [root] 202. Cf. Fore, First, Foremost, Forth, Pro-.] In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.

1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.

   With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath.
   --Shak.

   How to choose dogs for scent or speed.
   --Waller.

   Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for C[ae]sar's health.
   --Dryden.

   That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant.
   --Hooker.

2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.

   The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.
   --Spenser.

   It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters.
   --Bacon.

   Shall I think the worls was made for one, And men are born for kings, as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured?
   --Dryden.

   For he writes not for money, nor for praise.
   --Denham.

3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.

   We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
   --2 Cor. xiii. 8.

   It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate.
   --Tillotson.

   Aristotle is for poetical justice.
   --Dennis.

4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; ?ntending to go to.

   We sailed from Peru for China and Japan.
   --Bacon.

5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.

   And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
   --Ex. xxi. 23, 24.

6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.

   We take a falling meteor for a star.
   --Cowley.

   If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru??
   --Locke.

   Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet for their model.
   --Dryden.

   But let her go for an ungrateful woman.
   --Philips.

7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.

   The writer will do what she please for all me.
   --Spectator.

   God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene.
   --Dr. H. More.

   For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us.
   --Swift.

8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.

   For many miles about There 's scarce a bush.
   --Shak.

   Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.
   --prior.

   To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.
   --Garth.

9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.]

   We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.
   --Beau. & Fl.

   For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently. See under As.

   As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
   --Josh. xxiv. 15.

   For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend.
   --Dryden.

   For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of.

   For all the world, wholly; exactly. ``Whose posy was, for all the world, like cutlers' poetry.''
   --Shak.

   For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since.

   For by. See Forby, adv.

   For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever.

   For me, or For all me, as far as regards me.

   For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.]
   --T. Hook.

   For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] ``For that I love your daughter.''
   --Shak.

   For thy, or Forthy [AS. for[eth][=y].], for this; on this account. [Obs.] ``Thomalin, have no care for thy.''
   --Spenser.

   For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- ``What went ye out for to see?''
   --Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4.

   O for, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically expressing desire or prayer. ``O for a muse of fire.''
   --Shak.

   Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. ``Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will.''
   --Sir M. Hale.

World \World\, n. [OE. world, werld, weorld, weoreld, AS. weorold, worold; akin to OS. werold, D. wereld, OHG. weralt, worolt, werolt, werlt, G. welt, Icel. ver["o]ld, Sw. verld, Dan. verden; properly, the age of man, lifetime, humanity; AS. wer a man + a word akin to E. old; cf. AS. yld lifetime, age, ylde men, humanity. Cf. Werewolf, Old.]

1. The earth and the surrounding heavens; the creation; the system of created things; existent creation; the universe.

   The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.
   --Rom. 1. 20.

   With desire to know, What nearer might concern him, how this world Of heaven and earth conspicuous first began.
   --Milton.

2. Any planet or heavenly body, especially when considered as inhabited, and as the scene of interests analogous with human interests; as, a plurality of worlds. ``Lord of the worlds above.''
   --I. Watts.

   Amongst innumerable stars, that shone Star distant, but high-hand seemed other worlds.
   --Milton.

   There may be other worlds, where the inhabitants have never violated their allegiance to their almighty Sovereign.
   --W. B. Sprague.

3. The earth and its inhabitants, with their concerns; the sum of human affairs and interests.

   That forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe.
   --Milton.

4. In a more restricted sense, that part of the earth and its concerns which is known to any one, or contemplated by any one; a division of the globe, or of its inhabitants; human affairs as seen from a certain position, or from a given point of view; also, state of existence; scene of life and action; as, the Old World; the New World; the religious world; the Catholic world; the upper world; the future world; the heathen world.

   One of the greatest in the Christian world Shall be my surety.
   --Shak.

   Murmuring that now they must be put to make war beyond the world's end -- for so they counted Britain.
   --Milton.

5. The customs, practices, and interests of men; general affairs of life; human society; public affairs and occupations; as, a knowledge of the world.

   Happy is she that from the world retires.
   --Waller.

   If knowledge of the world makes man perfidious, May Juba ever live in ignorance.
   --Addison.

6. Individual experience of, or concern with, life; course of life; sum of the affairs which affect the individual; as, to begin the world with no property; to lose all, and begin the world anew.

7. The inhabitants of the earth; the human race; people in general; the public; mankind.

   Since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it.
   --Shak.

   Tell me, wench, how will the world repute me For undertaking so unstaid a journey?
   --Shak.

8. The earth and its affairs as distinguished from heaven; concerns of this life as distinguished from those of the life to come; the present existence and its interests; hence, secular affairs; engrossment or absorption in the affairs of this life; worldly corruption; the ungodly or wicked part of mankind.

   I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
   --John xvii.

9. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. --1 John ii. 15, 16. 9. As an emblem of immensity, a great multitude or quantity; a large number. ``A world of men.'' --Chapman. ``A world of blossoms for the bee.'' --Bryant. Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company. --Shak. A world of woes dispatched in little space. --Dryden. All . . . in the world, all that exists; all that is possible; as, all the precaution in the world would not save him. A world to see, a wonder to see; something admirable or surprising to see. [Obs.] O, you are novices; 't is a world to see How tame, when men and women are alone, A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew. --Shak. For all the world.

   1. Precisely; exactly.

   2. For any consideration.

      Seven wonders of the world. See in the Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

      To go to the world, to be married. [Obs.] ``Thus goes every one to the world but I . . .; I may sit in a corner and cry heighho for a husband!''
      --Shak.

      World's end, the end, or most distant part, of the world; the remotest regions.

      World without end, eternally; forever; everlastingly; as if in a state of existence having no end.

      Throughout all ages, world without end.
      --Eph. iii. 21.

prep.phr. (context idiomatic English) entirely, to all appearances.

adv. under any circumstances; "she wouldn't give up her pets for love or money" [syn: for love or money, for anything, for any price]