Hower

[hou] /haʊ/ Scot. and North England

noun
1.
a hole.
2.
the hold of a ship.
3.
a ; dell.
adjective
4.
.
5.
.
[hou] /haʊ/
noun, adjective, Scot. and North England.
1.
.
/haʊ/
adverb
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…?

8.
how’s that?

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!
noun
15.
the way a thing is done: the how of it
/haʊ/
sentence substitute
1.
a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously
/haʊ/
noun
1.
(Scot & Northern English, dialect) a depression in the earth’s surface, such as a basin or valley
/haʊ/
noun
1.
Elias. 1819–67, US inventor of the sewing machine (1846)
2.
Gordon, known as Gordie. born 1928, US ice-hockey player, who scored1071 goals in a professional career lasting 32 years.
3.
Howe of Aberavon, Baron, title of (Richard Edward) Geoffrey Howe. born 1926, British Conservative politician; Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979–83); foreign secretary (1983–89); deputy prime minister (1989–90)
4.
Richard, 4th Viscount Howe. 1726–99, British admiral: served (1776–78) in the War of American Independence and commanded the Channel fleet against France, winning the Battle of the Glorious First of June (1794)
5.
his brother, William, 5th Viscount Howe. 1729–1814, British general; commander in chief (1776–78) of British forces in the War of American Independence
adv.

Old English hu, from West Germanic *hwo- (cf. Old Saxon hwo, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch hu. Dutch hoe, German wie, Gothic hvaiwa “how”), from common PIE interrogative pronomial stem *kwo- (see who). How come? for “why?” is recorded from 1848. And how! emphatic, first recorded 1865. The formulation was common in book and article titles by then, e.g. The National Debt, and How to Pay It), but Pennsylvania writer Bayard Taylor, in whom it is first recorded, seems to regard it as a German or German-American expression.
interj.

Native American greeting, Siouxan (cf. Dakota hao, Omaha hau); first recorded 1817 in English, but noted early 17c. by French missionary Jean de Brebeuf among Hurons as an expression of approval (1636).

Related Terms

and how, know-how
home owners warranty