2 Answers

how 1 |hou|
adverb [ usu. interrogative adverb ]
1 in what way or manner; by what means: how does it work? | he did not know how he ought to behave | [ with infinitive ] : he showed me how to adjust the focus.
2 used to ask about the condition or quality of something: how was your vacation? | how did they play?
• used to ask about someone's physical or mental state: how are the children? | I asked how he was doing.
3 [ with adj. or adv. ] used to ask about the extent or degree of something: how old are you? | how long will it take? | I wasn't sure how fast to go.
• used to express a strong feeling such as surprise about the extent of something: how kind it was of him | how I wish I had been there!
4 [ relative adverb ] the way in which; that: she told us how she had lived out of a suitcase for a week.
• in any way in which; however: I'll do business how I like.
PHRASES
and how! informal very much so (used to express strong agreement): “Did you miss me?” “And how!”
here's how! dated said when drinking to someone's health.
how about 1 used to make a suggestion or offer: how about a drink? 2 used when asking for information or an opinion on something: how about your company?
the how and why the methods and reasons for doing something: tonight's edition demystifies the how and why of television ratings.
how come? see come.
how do? an informal greeting.
how do you do? a formal greeting.
how many what number: how many books did you sell?
how much what amount or price: just how much did it cost?
how now? archaic what is the meaning of this?
how so? how can you show that that is so?
how's that for ——? isn't that a remarkable instance of ——?: how's that for stereotypical thinking?
ORIGIN Old English h?; related to Dutch hoe, also to who and what.
how 2 |hou|
exclam.
a greeting attributed to North American Indians (used in humorous imitation).
ORIGIN early 19th cent.: perhaps from Sioux háo or Omaha hou .

How now brown cow...the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain...