since

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   From a specified time in the past.

   I met him last year, but haven't seen him since.

2. 2
   prep

   From: referring to a period of time ending in the present and defining it by the point in time at which it started, or the period in which its starting point occurred.

   I'd known her only since the previous year, so from/since the moment we got married we’ve quarrelled.

3. 3
   conj

   From the time that.

   I have loved you since I first met you.

4. 4
   conj

   Because.

   Since you didn't call, we left without you.

5. 5
   conj

   When or that.

   O ſir Iohn, doe you remember ſince wee lay all night in the Winde-mill, in S Georges field.

Etymology

From Middle English syns, synnes, contraction of earlier sithens, sithence, from sithen (“after, since”) ( + -s, adverbial genitive suffix), from Old English sīþþan, from the phrase sīþ þǣm (“after/since that (time)”), from sīþ (“since, after”) + þǣm dative singular of þæt. Cognate with Dutch sinds (“since”), German seit (“since”), Danish siden (“since”), Icelandic síðan (“since”) Scots syne (“since”).