Definition of "of" [of]

• Derived or coming from; originating at or from: customs of the South. (preposition)
• Caused by; resulting from: a death of tuberculosis. (preposition)
• Away from; at a distance from: a mile east of here. (preposition)
• So as to be separated or relieved from: robbed of one's dignity; cured of distemper. (preposition)
• From the total or group comprising: give of one's time; two of my friends; most of the cases. (preposition)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "-- The relation of possession may be expressed not only by (_'s_) and by _of_ but by the use of such phrases as _belonging to_, _property of_, etc."
• "_A Description of the natives of_ Louisiana; _of their manners and customs, particularly those of the_ Natchez: _of their language, their religion, ceremonies_, Rulers _or_ Suns, _feasts, marriages, &c."
• "Besides, he caused a general visitation to be made of all the land from Quito to Chile, registering the whole population for more than a thousand leagues; and imposed a tribute [_so heavy that no one could be owner of a_ mazorca _of maize, which is their bread for food, nor of a pair of_ usutas, _which are their shoes, nor marry, nor do a single thing without special licence from Tupac Inca."