as

(Roget's IV) conj., modif., & prep.

1. [While]

Syn. in the process of, in the act of, on the point of; see while 1 .

2. [Because]

Syn. since, inasmuch as, for the reason that; see because .

3. [To the same degree]

Syn. in the same way, in the same manner, equally, comparatively, similarly.

4. [For a given purpose, end, use, etc]

Syn. just as, qua (Latin), just for, serving as, functioning as, acting as, in the capacity of, being, in and of itself, by its nature, essentially.