Of Word Meaning

Old English of, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch af and German ab, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ab and Greek apo

expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

expressing relationship between part and whole

expressing the relationship between a scale or measure and a value

expressing relationship between measure and value

• an increase of 5%
• a height of 10 metres

indicating an association between two entities, typically one of belonging, in which the first is the head of the phrase and the second is something associated with it

indicating association between two entities in which first is head of phrase

• the son of a friend
• the coast of Italy
• a photograph of the bride
• a former colleague of John's

expressing the relationship between a direction and a point of reference

expressing relationship between direction and point of reference

• north of Watford

expressing the relationship between a general category or type and the thing being specified which belongs to such a category

expressing relationship between category and thing belonging to it

• the city of Prague
• the idea of a just society
• the population of interbreeding individuals
• this type of book

following a noun derived from or related to a verb.

following noun derived from verb

where the head of the phrase is a predicative adjective

where head of phrase is predicative adjective

• it was kind of you to ask
• I am certain of that

indicating the relationship between a verb and an indirect object.

indicating relationship between verb and indirect object

indicating the material or substance constituting something

indicating material constituting something

• the house was built of bricks
• walls of stone

expressing time in relation to the following hour

expressing time in relation to following hour

• it would be just a quarter of three in New York