Since, conj.
Seeing that; because; considering; -- formerly followed by that. Since that my penitence comes after all, Imploring pardon. Shak. Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade, Then let example be obeyed. Granville.
Syn. -- Because; for; as; inasmuch as; considering. See Because.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Since, adv.
1. From a definite past time until now; as, he went a month ago, and I have not seen him since. We since become the slaves to one man's lust. B. Jonson.
2. In the time past, counting backward from the present; before this or now; ago. w many ages since has Virgil writ Roscommon. About two years since, it so fell out, that he was brought to a great lady's house. Sir P. Sidney.
3. When or that. [Obs.] Do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in St. George's field Shak.
Since, prep.
From the time of; in or during the time subsequent to; subsequently to; after; -- usually with a past event or time for the object. The Lord hath blessed thee, since my coming. Gen. xxx. 30. I have a model by which he build a nobler poem than any extant since the ancients. Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for since; he lists it under because.
Where he writes about it:
Since, originally denoting succession in time, signifies a succession in a chain of reasoning, a natural inference or result. — from because
Since is weaker than because; as is weaker than since; either may introduce the reason before the main statement; thus, since or as you are going, I will accompany you. — from because