here how


1 [hou]
in what state or condition?: How are you?
in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.
Informal. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.
and how!, Informal. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!
Here's how, Informal. (used as a toast).
how come?, Informal. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?

before 900; Middle English how, hu, Old English hū; cognate with Old Frisian hū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to German wie (Old High German hweo), Gothic hwaiwa Unabridged
Cite This Source Link To here how
World English Dictionary
how1 (haʊ)
1.  in what way? in what manner? by what means?: how did it happen? Also used in indirect questions: tell me how he did it
2.  to what extent?: how tall is he?
3.  how good? how well? what…like?: how did she sing?; how was the holiday?
4.  how about? used to suggest something: how about asking her?; how about a cup of tea?
5.  how are you? what is your state of health?
6.  informal how come? what is the reason (that)?: how come you told him?
7.  how's that for…?
 a.  is this satisfactory as regards…?: how's that for size?
 b.  an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etc: how is that for endurance?
8.  how's that?
 a.  what is your opinion?
 b.  cricket Also written: howzat (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out?
9.  archaic how now?, how so? what is the meaning of this?
10.  not standard Also: as how that: he told me as how the shop was closed
11.  in whatever way: do it how you wish
12.  used in exclamations to emphasize extent: how happy I was!
13.  ( intensifier ) and how! very much so!
14.  here's how! (as a toast) good health!
15.  the way a thing is done: the how of it
[Old English hu; related to Old Frisian hū, Old High German hweo]

how2 (haʊ)
sentence substitute
a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously
[C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota háo]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

O.E. hu, from W.Gmc. *khwo- (cf. O.S. hwo, O.Fris., M.Du. hu, Du. hoe, Ger. wie, Goth. hvaiwa "how"), from common PIE interrogative pronomial stem. However is M.E.; how come? for "why?" is recorded from 1848. And how! emphatic, first recorded 1865, said to be a Ger.-Amer. colloquialism.

Native American greeting, Siouxan (cf. Dakota hao, Omaha hau); first recorded 1817 in Eng, but noted early 17c. by Fr. missionary Jean de Brebeuf among Hurons as an expression of approval (1636).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
home owners warranty
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2014, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature