since
sɪns
Why one word for from then also means because
The picture A dot is marked in the past, and an unbroken line runs from that dot to now. SINCE is the line from its starting point to now, FOR is the length of that line.
Where the picture shows up in since
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from that dot to now
I have worked here since 2019.
aɪ həv wɜːrkt hɪr sɪns ˈtwenti ˈnaɪntiːn
I started here in 2019 and I am still here.
an unbroken line runs from a dot labelled 2019 all the way to today
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nothing after that point
She hasn't called since Monday.
ʃiː ˈhæzənt kɔːld sɪns ˈmʌndeɪ
No phone call has come after Monday.
after Monday's dot the line is empty, with no phone mark on it at all
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from that clock time
We have been waiting since three o'clock.
wiː həv bɪn ˈweɪtɪŋ sɪns θriː əˈklɑːk
We started waiting at three and still are.
a line of waiting starts at the three o'clock mark and stretches to the moving hand
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launching from a given fact
Since you are here, can you help me?
sɪns juː ɑːr hɪr kæn juː help miː
You are already here, so could you help?
a glance at the person already standing inside the doorway, then a hand pointing straight at the boxes beside them
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ever after (used alone)
He left last year, and I haven't seen him since.
hiː left læst jɪr ənd aɪ ˈhævənt siːn hɪm sɪns
He left last year and I have not seen him after that.
past the dot where he left, the line runs on to today with nothing marked on it
All of it in one picture
since is a line that starts at one past dot and runs to today. Start the line at 2019 and it is working here from then; leave the stretch after Monday's dot empty and it is no call after that; stretch the line from the three o'clock mark and it is waiting from then. Push off from the person already standing there and it becomes because; keep only the tail of the line and it becomes ever after that.