browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about how
how |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: How \How\, adv [OE. how hou, hu hwu, AS h?, from the same root as hw[=a], hw[ae]t, who what pron. interrog.; akin to OS hw[=o]w, D. hoe, cf G. wie how Goth. hw[=e] wherewith, hwaiwa how [root]182. See {Who}, and cf {Why}.] 1. In what manner or way by what means or process. How can a man be born when he is old? --John iii. 4. 2. To what degree or extent, number or amount; in what proportion; by what measure or quality. O, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day --Ps. cxix. 97. By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility, and fountains, and rivers of the earth. --Bentley. 3. For what reason; from what cause How now my love! why is your cheek so pale? --Shak. 4. In what state, condition, or plight. How and with what reproach, shall I return? --Dryden. 5. By what name designation, or title. How art thou called? --Shak. 6. At what price; how dear. [Obs.] How a score of ewes now? --Shak. Note: How is used in each sense interrogatively, interjectionally, and relatively; it is also often employed to emphasize an interrogation or exclamation. ``How are the mighty fallen!'' --2 Sam. i. 27. Sometimes also it is used as a noun -- as the how the when the wherefore. --Shelley. Let me beg you -- don't say ``How?'' for ``What?'' --Holmes. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: how adv 1: to what extent or amount or degree; "how tall is she?" 2: in what way or manner or by what means "how did you catch the snake?"; "he told us how he did it"; (`however' is used as an intensive of `how' as in "however did you get here so soon?") [syn: {however}]
more about how
This work is licensed under a
