Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.