Middle English Dictionary Entry

hǒu conjunctive adv.
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Entry Info

Forms hǒu conjunctive adv. Also ou, hov, hu, houȝ, quou, quhu & (early) heou, heu, hw, w, u, hwou, hwu, whu, wou, wu, (error) ȝu & (late) howe, owe, ho, hough, houh, hoghe, whou, whov, who, whouȝ.
Etymology OE hū. A pronunciation with the ou- diphthong seems indicated by a few rimes in late ME.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. hou interrog. adv. & interj. (2).
1a.
In what manner, in which way, in what respect; according to what method or procedure; in what state or situation: (a) in subj. cl.; (b) in obj. cl.; al ~, ~ that, ~ the; (c) in appositive & modifying clauses; al ~, ~ that; (d) in headings, with main cl. unexpressed; (e) in inf. phr.; (f) used alone, with rest of hou- cl. unexpressed.
Show 81 Quotations
1b.
By what means, through what agency or chance, by what course of action or sequence of events: (a) in subj. cl.; ~ that; (b) in obj. cl.; al ~, ~ that; (c) in appositive & modifying clauses; ~ that; (d) in headings, with main cl. unexpressed; ~ that; (e) used alone, with rest of hou- cl. unexpressed.
Show 60 Quotations
1c.
(a) By what name; ~ that; (b) at what rate or price; (c) ?of what sort or nature, ?what (sth. is) like; -- also with rest of hou- cl. unexpressed; (d) by what right, from what evidence, by what reasoning; why; (e) manere (wise) ~, the way in which (sth. happens) or by which (sb. does sth.); -- also manere ~ with rest of hou- cl. unexpressed.
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2.
To what extent, degree, number, or amount: (a) in subj. cl.; (b) in obj. cl.; -- ~ oftsithe with rest of hou- cl. unexpressed; (c) in appositive & modifying clauses; (d) in headings, with main clause unexpressed.
Show 54 Quotations
3.
(a) In whatever way, as; ~ as, as though, as if; ~..so, so..~, just as..so; (b) no matter how, howsoever; in whatever state; ~ hit were, ~ were hit, notwithstanding; ~ that; (c) to whatever extent or degree; ~ stabli, as stably as; ~ muche, as much or far as; ~ fele (mani) ever, however many, as many as; ~ muche ever, for however much, for as much as; (d) as sone..~ sone, as soon as..so soon; ~ fele..so fele, as many as there are..so many; ~ gret..so grevous, as great as..so wretched; ~ mani..so mani, so fele..~ fele, as many as..so many; ~ muche (that..so muche, so muche..~ muche, as much as..so much; (e) no matter to what degree, extent, or number; howsoever; (f) ~..ever (sumever, so-ever), ~..so..ever, howsoever, no matter how; ~ fer so that, no matter how far; ~ heigh that ever, no matter how high; ~ litel ever, no matter how little; ~ that ever the game go, no matter how the game goes, whatever happens.
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4.
As conj.: that: (a) in subj. cl., (b) in obj. cl.; ~ that; (c) in appositive & modifying clauses; al ~, ~ that; (d) in headings, etc., with main clause unexpressed.
Show 42 Quotations
5.
As rel. pron.: what; ~ that, what.
Show 10 Quotations

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