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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

How, adv.² Also: hou, hov, hw. [ME. how, hou, hu, OE. hú.  See also Quhow.]

1. In what way or manner. a. In direct questions.Also, = how is it that? why? a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 265.
Hevinly god! … how happynis this thing? c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix. 5.
Lord god, how sall I governe me? 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1358 (B).
Allace, gossop, … how standis it with ȝow? c1552 Id. Mon. 857.
Father, hov happinnit the mischance? a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxlix. 1.
How sould I rewill me or in quhat wys? 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xi.
And if thou be to ly at the altar, how wantst thou a priest to say thy soule masse?

b. In subordinate clauses, or introducing a subject.(1) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 86.
Quhen scho saw hou the Jouys ded Vith hyme c1420 Wynt. vi. 1747.
Schyr Knowt than askyt how that wes ?1438 Alex. ii. 3068.
Now haue I tald … How thay … Sall set ane bushment 1456 Hay I. 70/30.
I se na way how … the common proffit may be kepit in gude policy 1485 Slater Early Sc. Texts. No. 8 (i).
To schaw how and for qwat caus ... thai halde ... the landys [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 5/15.
To gif kingis … exempill hou thai suld … gouerne thar pepill c1500-c1512 Dunb. xi. 41.
Rype thi mynde how every thing befell a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxx. 11.
Gar it be providit … how thi nobill person sall be gyddit a1605 Montg. Sonn. v. 12.
Pan with Apollo playis, I wot not hou 1652 Honours of Scotl. 121.
I can not bot admyre hou men quho professis frendschip … will prefer any thing to it(2) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 46.
Hou oure lady consawit wes c1420 Wynt. viii. x. (W).
How Johne the Bellioll … Ganestude King Edwardis bidding 1533 Boece Table 26.
How Andro Murray was chosin coleig to the gouernoure 1535 Stewart II. 363 heading.
How King Hungus prayit to Sanct Andro, and how Sanct Andro apperit

c. With that added. (Also as in sense 2.) 1375 Barb. I. 486.
Will ȝe nocht se How that gouernyt is this countre? a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 30.
How that men ma ensample ta For to serwe god Ib. xxvii. 33.
Of his byrth and hou that he Schupe hym to God plesand to be c1420 Wynt. i. 356.
To se how that this Coryne Walde dele wyth hym ?1438 Alex. ii. 3209.
He … asked thame how that he micht Pleis the chyld a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 70.
Throw all Bretane it salbe blawin owt, How that thow … gat thy paikis c1590 Fowler I. 44/196.
To knaw how that Andromeda did sett his hart on fyre

d. Denoting a fact or result, = ‘that’. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1146.
He hym vmthocht, Hou scho [had] sad that he suld nocht Pas of his abbay 1466 Reg. Great S. 215/2.
[It being] considerit … how our soverane lord is cled with the superiorite of the said landis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 133/3.
Declarand to hire hou sche suld consaue and bere the … son of God 1533 Reg. Great S. 286/2.
It is weill kend … how … we mak grete reparatioun 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 24.
It is not unknawin … how thai ar mellit with godles papistes

2. To what (an) extent; in what (a) degree. 1375 Barb. xii. 83 (E).
Bot, how sa quhoyne deyt thar, Rebutyt foulily thai war ?1438 Alex. i. 1342.
A! deir God, how he was douchty! 1428 Liber Melros 521.
Bot I walde ger thaim hafe knawleg hw mekil land the West Maynis war, thai couth nocht rychtwysly depart it c1510 Prester John 310 b.
How hungry that euer he be, he salbe … saciat 1534 Wemyss Chart. 156.
Alssone and how lang the said xij pannis gangis a1568 Scott xxxiv. 29.
How mony are begyllit! 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
Remembir how far … ȝe haif obleist ȝour selffis 1580 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 69.
It may thairby be testifeit … howmekill ye recoverit thereof 1592 Boyd Fam. P. No. 77 (3 Nov.).
[To] renew the samin sua oft and how oft thay be requirit to resigne ... the samin