How

• POS: Interjection, Noun, Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

How, adv. [OE. how, hou, hu, hwu, AS. h, from the same root as hwā, hwæt, who, what, pron. interrog.; akin to OS. hwōw, D. hoe, cf. G. wie how, Goth. hwē wherewith, hwaiwa how. Who, and cf. Why.].

•  In what manner or way; by what means or process.  [1913 Webster]

  "How can a man be born when he is old?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To what degree or extent, number or amount; in what proportion; by what measure or quality.  [1913 Webster]

  "O, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."  [1913 Webster]

  "By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility, and fountains, and rivers of the earth."  [1913 Webster]
•  For what reason; from what cause.  [1913 Webster]

  "How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale?"  [1913 Webster]
•  In what state, condition, or plight.  [1913 Webster]

  "How, and with what reproach, shall I return?"  [1913 Webster]
•  By what name, designation, or title.  [1913 Webster]

  "How art thou called?"  [1913 Webster]
•  At what price; how dear.  [1913 Webster]

  " How is used in each sense, interrogatively, interjectionally, and relatively; it is also often employed to emphasize an interrogation or exclamation. “How are the mighty fallen!” 2 Sam. i. 27. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun; -- as, the how, the when, the wherefore. Shelley."  [1913 Webster]

  "How a score of ewes now?"  [1913 Webster]

  "Let me beg you -- don't say “How?” for “What?”"  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

How, adv., conj., & n.
--interrog. adv.
1 by what means, in what way (how do you do it?; tell me how you do it; how could you behave so disgracefully?; but how to bridge the gap?).
2 in what condition, esp. of health (how is the patient?; how do things stand?).
3 a to what extent (how far is it?; how would you like to take my place?; how we laughed!). b to what extent good or well, what ... like (how was the film?; how did they play?).
--rel. adv. in whatever way, as (do it how you can).
--conj. colloq. that (told us how he'd been in India).
--n. the way a thing is done (the how and why of it).

Idiom

and how! sl. very much so (chiefly used ironically or intensively). here's how! I drink to your good health. how about
1 would you like (how about a game of chess?).
2 what is to be done about.
3 what is the news about.
how are you?
1 what is your state of health? 2 = how do you do? how come? see COME. how do? an informal greeting on being introduced to a stranger. how do you do? a formal greeting. how-do-you-do (or how-d'ye-do) n. (pl. -dos) an awkward situation. how many what number. how much 1 what amount (how much do I owe you?; did not know how much to take).
2 what price (how much is it?).
3 (as interrog.) joc. what? ('She is a hedonist.' 'A how much?').
how now? archaic what is the meaning of this? how so? how can you show that that is so? how's that?
1 what is your opinion or explanation of that? 2 Cricket (said to an umpire) is the batsman out or not?

How, int. a greeting used by N. American Indians.

Etymology

perh. f. Sioux h{aacute}o, Omaha hau

ROGET THESAURUS

How

Method

N method, way, manner, wise, gait, form, mode, fashion, tone, guise, modus operandi, MO, procedure, path, road, route, course, line of way, line of road, trajectory, orbit, track, beat, tack, steps, stair, staircase, flight of stairs, ladder, stile, perron, bridge, footbridge, viaduct, pontoon, steppingstone, plank, gangway, drawbridge, pass, ford, ferry, tunnel, pipe, door, gateway, channel, passage, avenue, means of access, approach, adit, artery, lane, loan, alley, aisle, lobby, corridor, back-door, back-stairs, secret passage, covert way, vennel, roadway, pathway, stairway, express, thoroughfare, highway, turnpike, freeway, royal road, coach road, broad highway, King's highway, Queen's highway, beaten track, beaten path, horse road, bridle road, bridle track, bridle path, walk, trottoir, footpath, pavement, flags, sidewalk, crossroad, byroad, bypath, byway, cut, short cut carrefour, private road, occupation road, highways and byways, railroad, railway, tram road, tramway, towpath, causeway, canal, street, speedway, adv, how, in what way, in what manner, by what mode, so, in this way, after this fashion, one way or another, anyhow, somehow or other, by way of, via, in transitu, on the high road to, hae tibi erunt artes.

Means

N means, resources, wherewithal, ways and means, capital, revenue, stock in trade, provision, a shot in the locker, appliances, means and appliances, conveniences, cards to play, expedients, two strings to one's bow, sheet anchor, aid, medium, instrumental, mechanical, by means of, with, by what means, by all means, by any means, by some means, wherewith, herewith, therewith, wherewithal, how, through, with the aid of, by the aid of, by the agency of.