Etymology

Preposition

1. against

   He picked a fight with the class bully.

   • 1621, John Smith, The Proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/john_smith.html

     Many hatchets, knives, & pieces of iron, & brass, we see, which they reported to have from the Sasquesahanocks a mighty people, and mortal enemies with the Massawomecks

2. in the company of; alongside, along side of; close to; near to:

   He went with his friends.

3. in addition to; as an accessory to:

   She owns a motorcycle with a sidecar.

4. in support of:

   We are with you all the way.

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

   slain with robbers

   • 1300s?, Political, Religious and Love Poems, “An A B C Poem on the Passion of Christ”, ed. Frederick James Furnivall, 1866

     Al þus with iewys I am dyth, I seme a wyrm to manus syth.

   • , 266

     Ysiphile, betrayed with Jasoun, / Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun;

   • , V-ii

     He was torn to / pieces with a bear:

   • 1669, Nathaniel Morton, New England’s Memorial

     He was sick and lame of the scurvy, so as he could but lie in the cabin-door, and give direction, and, it should seem, was badly assisted either with mate or mariners

6. as an instrument; by means of

   cut with a knife

   • 1430?, “The Love of Jesus” in Hymns to the Virgin and Christ, ed. Frederick James Furnivall, 1867, p.26

     Þirle my soule with þi spere anoon,

   • 1619, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, A King and no King, Act IV

     you have paid me equal, Heavens, / And sent my own rod to correct me with

   • 1620, William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation http://narcissus.umd.edu:8080/eada/html/display.jsp?docs=bradford_history.xml&action=show

     They had cut of his head upon the cudy of his boat had not the man reskued him with a sword,

   • 1677, William Wycherley, The plain-dealer, Prologue

     And keep each other company in spite, / As rivals in your common mistress, fame, / And with faint praises one another damn;

7. as nourishment, more recently replaced by on
   • , IV-iii

     I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran