1
: from a definite past time until now
has stayed there ever since
2
: before the present time : ago
long since dead
3
: after a time in the past : subsequently
has since become rich
since
2 of 3
conjunction
1
: at a time in the past after or later than
has held two jobs since he graduated
: from the time in the past when
ever since I was a child
2
obsolete : when
3
: in view of the fact that : because
since it was raining she took an umbrella
since
3 of 3
preposition
: in the period after a specified time in the past : from a specified time in the past
Etymology
Adverb
Middle English sins, contraction of sithens, from sithen, from Old English siththan, from sīth tham after that, from sīth after, late + tham, dative of thæt that; akin to Old High German sīd later and perhaps to Latin setius to a lesser degree
First Known Use
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Conjunction
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Preposition
circa 1530, in the meaning defined above