Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of So?

\So\, adv. [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. sw[=a]; akin to OFries, s[=a], s?, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s?, G. so, Icel. sv[=a], sv?, svo, so, Sw. s?, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw? as; cf. L. suus one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. [root]192. Cf. As, {Custom}, {Ethic}, {Idiom}, {Such}.] 1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known. Why is his chariot so long in coming? --Judges v. 28. 2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively, following as, to denote comparison or resemblance; sometimes, also, following inasmuch as. As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so a prince ought to consider the condition he is in. --Swift. 3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to escape. I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the beginning and progress of a rising world. --T. Burnet. He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he lives in the family rather as a relation than dependent. --Addison. 4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so wisely. 5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in this or that condition or state; under these circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to something just asserted or implied; used also with the verb to be, as a predicate. Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself, and cause all your family to do so too. --Locke. It concerns every man, with the greatest seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether they be so or not. --Tillotson. He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou. --Shak. 6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction. God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion. --Locke. Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten. --Rowe. 7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; -- used to express assent. And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over, And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. --Shak. There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself. --Shak. 8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive; as, so the work is done, is it? 9. Is it thus? do you mean what you say? -- with an upward tone; as, do you say he refuses? So? [Colloq.] 10. About the number, time, or quantity specified; thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so in the country; I have read only a page or so. A week or so will probably reconcile us. --Gay. Note: See the Note under {Ill}, adv. {So} . . . {as}. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as . . . as is now common. See the Note under {As}, 1. So do, as thou hast said. --Gen. xviii. 5. As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. --Ps. ciii. 15. Had woman been so strong as men. --Shak. No country suffered so much as England. --Macaulay. {So far}, to that point or extent; in that particular. ``The song was moral, and so far was right.'' --Cowper. {So far forth}, as far; to such a degree. --Shak. --Bacon. {So forth}, further in the same or similar manner; more of the same or a similar kind. See {And so forth}, under {And}. {So, so}, well, well. ``So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit you fast.'' --Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well; passably; as, he succeeded but so so. ``His leg is but so so.'' --Shak. {So that}, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or result that. {So then}, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.
\So\, conj. Provided that; on condition that; in case that; if. Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. --Milton.
\So\, interj. Be as you are; stand still; stop; that will do; right as you are; -- a word used esp. to cows; also used by sailors.