how

Question

English - Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /haʊ/
Rhymes: -aʊ

English - Etymology 1

From Middle English _how_, _hou_, _hu_, _hwu_, Old English _hū_, from Proto-Germanic _*hwō_, from the same root as _hwæt_ (“who, what”). /hw/ > /h/ due to _wh_-cluster reduction in Old English; compare _who_, which underwent this change later, and thus is spelt _wh_ (Middle English spelling of /hw/) but pronounced /h/ (it previously had a different vowel, hence avoided the spelling and sound change in Old English). Vowel change per Great Vowel Shift. Akin to Old Saxon _huo_ (Low German _wo_), _hū_, Dutch _hoe_, compare German _wie_ (“how”). See _who_ and compare _why_. ADVERB HOW (_not comparable_) * To what degree. _HOW often do you practice?_ * In what manner. _HOW do you solve this puzzle? HOW else can we get this finished?_ * Used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings. _HOW very interesting! HOW wonderful it was to receive your invitation._ * In what state. _HOW are you?_ _HOW was your vacation?_ USAGE NOTES * See usage notes on _else_ (_adv_). * _How good is it?_ means "To what extent is it good?", whereas _How is it good?_ means "In what manner is it good?". Likewise, _I know how good it is_ means "I know the extent to which it is good", whereas _I know how it is good_ means "I know the manner in which it is good". DERIVED TERMS * how many * how much * how come * how so * know-how TRANSLATIONS NOUN HOW (_plural_ HOWS) * The means by which something is accomplished. _I am not interested in the why, but in the HOW._ * 1924, Joseph Rickaby, _Studies on God and His Creatures‎_, p. 102: It is an _a posteriori_ argument, evincing the fact, but not the HOW. CONJUNCTION HOW * In which way; in such way. _I remember HOW to solve this puzzle._ * That, the fact that, the way that. * 2010 April 24, Jesse McKinley, “Don’t Call It ‘Pot’ in This Circle; It’s a Profession”, in _The New York Times_, page A1: “There’s this real Al Capone fear that they’re going to get our guys, not on marijuana, but on something else,” Mr. Edson said, referring to HOW Capone was eventually charged with tax evasion rather than criminal activity. TRANSLATIONS

From Middle English how, hou, hu, hwu, Old English hū, from Proto-Germanic *hwō, from the same root as hwæt (“who, what”). /hw/ > /h/ due to wh-cluster reduction in Old English; compare who, which underwent this change later, and thus is spelt wh (Middle English spelling of /hw/) but pronounced /h/ (it previously had a different vowel, hence avoided the spelling and sound change in Old English). Vowel change per Great Vowel Shift.