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how come?

 - 2 dictionary results

how

1[hou]
–adverb
1. in what way or manner; by what means?: How did the accident happen?
2. to what extent, degree, etc.?: How damaged is the car?
3. in what state or condition?: How are you?
4. for what reason; why?: How can you talk such nonsense?
5. to what effect; with what meaning?: How is one to interpret his action?
6. what?: How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?
7. (used as an intensifier): How seldom I go there!
8. by what title or name?: How does one address the president?
9. at what price: How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?
10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?: How do you sell these tomatoes?
11. in what form or shape?: How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?
–conjunction
12. the manner or way in which: He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.
13. about the manner, condition, or way in which: I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.
14. in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.
15. Informal. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.
–noun
16. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending whys and hows.
17. a way or manner of doing something: to consider all the hows and wherefores.
18. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.
19. and how! Informal. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!
20. Here's how, Informal. (used as a toast).
21. how come? Informal. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?
22. how so? how does it happen to be so? why?: You haven't any desire to go? How so?

Origin:
bef. 900; ME how, hu, OE hū; c. OFris hū, ho, D hoe; akin to G wie (OHG hweo), Goth hwaiwa
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

how  (interj.)
Native American greeting, Siouxan (cf. Dakota hao, Omaha hau); first recorded 1817 in Eng, but noted early 17c. by Fr. missionary Jean de Brebeuf among Hurons as an expression of approval (1636).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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