"how so" meaning in English

See how so in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adverb

Audio: en-au-how so.ogg [Australia]
Etymology: From ellipsis of "how is that so?", and also continuing Middle English how-so, hou-so, hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”); equivalent to how + so. Compare West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), German Low German woso (“how so, why”), German wieso (“how so, why”), Swedish hurså (“how so”). Etymology templates: {{l|en|ellipsis}} ellipsis, {{inh|en|enm|how-so}} Middle English how-so, {{m|enm|hou-so}} hou-so, {{m|enm|hu se|t=however, in whatsoever way}} hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”), {{com|en|how|so|nocat=1}} how + so, {{cog|fy|hoesa|t=how so, why}} West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), {{cog|nl|hoezo|t=how so, why}} Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), {{cog|nds-de|woso|t=how so, why}} German Low German woso (“how so, why”), {{cog|de|wieso|t=how so, why}} German wieso (“how so, why”), {{cog|sv|hurså|t=how so}} Swedish hurså (“how so”) Head templates: {{head|en|adverb|head=how so?}} how so?
  1. How; In what way; however Related terms: how come, how’s that
    Sense id: en-how_so-en-adv-f0xPhrt0 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 62 15 12 3 7
  2. (idiomatic) Why; For what reason. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-how_so-en-adv-13cuNqfs
  3. Used as an intensifier.
    Sense id: en-how_so-en-adv-MyGozmhg

Phrase

Audio: en-au-how so.ogg [Australia]
Etymology: From ellipsis of "how is that so?", and also continuing Middle English how-so, hou-so, hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”); equivalent to how + so. Compare West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), German Low German woso (“how so, why”), German wieso (“how so, why”), Swedish hurså (“how so”). Etymology templates: {{l|en|ellipsis}} ellipsis, {{inh|en|enm|how-so}} Middle English how-so, {{m|enm|hou-so}} hou-so, {{m|enm|hu se|t=however, in whatsoever way}} hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”), {{com|en|how|so|nocat=1}} how + so, {{cog|fy|hoesa|t=how so, why}} West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), {{cog|nl|hoezo|t=how so, why}} Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), {{cog|nds-de|woso|t=how so, why}} German Low German woso (“how so, why”), {{cog|de|wieso|t=how so, why}} German wieso (“how so, why”), {{cog|sv|hurså|t=how so}} Swedish hurså (“how so”) Head templates: {{head|en|phrase|head=how so?}} how so?
  1. How?; In what way?
    Sense id: en-how_so-en-phrase-vVM-C-HQ
  2. (idiomatic) Why?; For what reason? Tags: idiomatic Translations (why): miten niin (Finnish), kuinka niin (Finnish), kuin niin (Finnish), wieso (German), w jaki sposób? (Polish), jak to? (Polish), hurså (Swedish), hur så (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-how_so-en-phrase-iwR1cX57 Disambiguation of 'why': 4 96

Download JSON data for how so meaning in English (8.2kB)

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        "(idiomatic) Why?; For what reason?"
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          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "why",
          "word": "miten niin"
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          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "why",
          "word": "kuinka niin"
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          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "why",
          "word": "kuin niin"
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          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "de",
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          "sense": "why",
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          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "pl",
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          "sense": "why",
          "word": "w jaki sposób?"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "why",
          "word": "jak to?"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "4 96",
          "code": "sv",
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          "sense": "why",
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  "etymology_text": "From ellipsis of \"how is that so?\", and also continuing Middle English how-so, hou-so, hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”); equivalent to how + so. Compare West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), German Low German woso (“how so, why”), German wieso (“how so, why”), Swedish hurså (“how so”).",
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  "pos": "adv",
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          "_dis": "62 15 12 3 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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        {
          "ref": "1809, The Literary Panorama, and National Register, page 1179",
          "text": "But how so thys money was lent or gyded, at thys daye the cheste remayneth in the chamber of London, wythout money or pledges for the same.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1897, Ursula Newell Gestefeld, How We Master Our Fate, page 62",
          "text": "But we have groaned over this experience, an O ! dear ! with every breath, and wished ourselves out of it, someway, somehow, no matter what way or how so we were rid of it.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Gesta Romanorum, page clxxxiii",
          "text": "Of every wit somewhat he can Out-take that him lacketh rule, His own estate to guide and rule; How so it stood of his speaking, He was not wise in his doing;",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
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        "How; In what way; however"
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          "however"
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      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10 1",
          "word": "how come"
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          "_dis1": "90 10 1",
          "word": "how’s that"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth",
          "text": "Yet how so ere I love, I must be wife.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013, Earlene Jernigan-Carter, When Life Just Happens: A Book of Short Stories, page 70",
          "text": "That picture wasn't much to look at, being so old and all, but Mrs. Oaks made like it looked so nice; or, that's what she said as she stared at it, looking back and forth at the picture and me like it wasn't so. Only, she just didn't know how so it wasn't. It wasn't me at all.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Eve Chilicas, Supernatural: Sci-Fi Poetry, page 24",
          "text": "My reflection in you warbled, because you see only hints, of what I see to beacon of me. Who am I who is reflecting from you? How so do I identify my soul in you?",
          "type": "quotation"
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        {
          "ref": "1771, The Book of Common Prayer",
          "text": "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord ; and in thy salvation how so shall he rejoice!",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, H. Bundy Shaw, Play On Words: Poems, Lyrics, and Other Writings of H. Bundy Shaw",
          "text": "How so we love thee! Even UNIVAC and IBM Could never count the way.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Daniel C. Joneikies, Vampyre's Pyre, page 105",
          "text": "I wished my voice would carry him through eternity, keeping us in a moment that nothing could part, oh, and how so I wanted to follow his lead, and how so to death I was determined not to concede, and how so, how so many wonderful things;",
          "type": "quotation"
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  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "miten niin"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "kuinka niin"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "kuin niin"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "wieso"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "w jaki sposób?"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "jak to?"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "hurså"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "why",
      "word": "hur så"
    }
  ],
  "word": "how so"
}

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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "woso",
        "t": "how so, why"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German woso (“how so, why”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "wieso",
        "t": "how so, why"
      },
      "expansion": "German wieso (“how so, why”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "hurså",
        "t": "how so"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish hurså (“how so”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From ellipsis of \"how is that so?\", and also continuing Middle English how-so, hou-so, hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”); equivalent to how + so. Compare West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), German Low German woso (“how so, why”), German wieso (“how so, why”), Swedish hurså (“how so”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "adverb",
        "head": "how so?"
      },
      "expansion": "how so?",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adv",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "how come"
    },
    {
      "word": "how’s that"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1809, The Literary Panorama, and National Register, page 1179",
          "text": "But how so thys money was lent or gyded, at thys daye the cheste remayneth in the chamber of London, wythout money or pledges for the same.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1897, Ursula Newell Gestefeld, How We Master Our Fate, page 62",
          "text": "But we have groaned over this experience, an O ! dear ! with every breath, and wished ourselves out of it, someway, somehow, no matter what way or how so we were rid of it.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Gesta Romanorum, page clxxxiii",
          "text": "Of every wit somewhat he can Out-take that him lacketh rule, His own estate to guide and rule; How so it stood of his speaking, He was not wise in his doing;",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "How; In what way; however"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "How",
          "how#English"
        ],
        [
          "way",
          "way"
        ],
        [
          "however",
          "however"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth",
          "text": "Yet how so ere I love, I must be wife.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013, Earlene Jernigan-Carter, When Life Just Happens: A Book of Short Stories, page 70",
          "text": "That picture wasn't much to look at, being so old and all, but Mrs. Oaks made like it looked so nice; or, that's what she said as she stared at it, looking back and forth at the picture and me like it wasn't so. Only, she just didn't know how so it wasn't. It wasn't me at all.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Eve Chilicas, Supernatural: Sci-Fi Poetry, page 24",
          "text": "My reflection in you warbled, because you see only hints, of what I see to beacon of me. Who am I who is reflecting from you? How so do I identify my soul in you?",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Why; For what reason."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Why",
          "why"
        ],
        [
          "reason",
          "reason"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) Why; For what reason."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1771, The Book of Common Prayer",
          "text": "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord ; and in thy salvation how so shall he rejoice!",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, H. Bundy Shaw, Play On Words: Poems, Lyrics, and Other Writings of H. Bundy Shaw",
          "text": "How so we love thee! Even UNIVAC and IBM Could never count the way.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2014, Daniel C. Joneikies, Vampyre's Pyre, page 105",
          "text": "I wished my voice would carry him through eternity, keeping us in a moment that nothing could part, oh, and how so I wanted to follow his lead, and how so to death I was determined not to concede, and how so, how so many wonderful things;",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used as an intensifier."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "en-au-how so.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/93/En-au-how_so.ogg/En-au-how_so.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/En-au-how_so.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "how so"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.