how

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   In what way or by what means.

   How do you solve this puzzle?

2. 2
   adv

   To what degree or amount.

   How often do you practise?

3. 3
   adv

   In what state or condition.

   How are you today?

4. 4
   adv

   In the way that.

   I said it exactly how he said it.

5. 5
   adv

   Used to add emphasis to surprise or strong feelings.

   How very interesting!

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷ- Proto-Indo-European *kʷís Proto-Germanic *hwō Old English hū Middle English how English how From Middle English how, hou, hu, hwu, from Old English hū, from Proto-West Germanic *hwō, from Proto-Germanic *hwō (“through what, how”), 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 chang…

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