Definition of so

What does the word so mean?

• part of speech: adverb

  To the extent or in the manner set forth by preceding or following as clause or implied in context, thus, equally, similarly, analogously, (now used to express degree before as-clause only with negative, as I am not so cag r, but I am as eager, as you; as the tree falls, so must it lie; as bees love sweetness, so flies love rottenness; rarely used twice correlatively, as so many men so many minds; when he saw her so frightened; why are you panting so?; so& so only can it be done; stand just so; did not expect to live so long; did not get it by force& ought not to be so deprived of it; often in sentence appended as explanation, as I paid him double. I was so pleased; ever or never so bad &c. in condit. clause, as bad &c. as possible; so far, up to this time or point or extent, as so far it has not happened, so far you are right; so or in so far as or archaic so far forth as, to whatever extent; & so forth. & so on, et cetera, & the like; so long as, with the proviso, on the condition, that; so be it, form of acceptance, resignation, &c.; SO-LONG; so much for, that is all that need be done or said about; is only so much rubbish, all rubbish; at so much a week, a head, &c., a definite but unspecified sum &c.; similarly so much of one ingredient& so much of another; not so much as, less than, not even; is not so much discontented as unsatisfied); to the degree or in the manner or with the intent or result set forth by following that-clause or but clause or as to (so high that you cannot reach it; so run that ye may obtain; warned him so that he might avoid the danger; all precautions have been taken, so that we expect to succeed; not so deaf but he can hear a cannon; was so fortunate as to escape; put it so as not to offend him; it so happens that he was not there); to a degree that demands exclamatory emphasis (so many worlds, so much to do!; I am so glad, tired!; she is so beautiful!; so kind of you!; also colloq. or vulg. with ever, as that is ever so much better, he is ever so angry!); on condition that or that, on condition set forth in as-clause or implied, (so that or so it is done, it matters not how; so may you find forgiveness as now you forgive me!; so help me God!, form of asseveration); accordingly, consequently, therefore, as appears or results from preceding or implied statement or fact, (he says he was not there, so he doubtless was not; so or and so I cannot come; so you are back again; so look to yourself); (accompanying emphasis on some later word) moreover, also, as well, in actual fact, (well, so I did; you said it was good, & so it is; yes, I denied it, but or& so did you; your birthday? yes, so it is); (as substitute, often preceding vb. for obj. of say, call, speak, tell, think, hope, suppose, do, &c.) it, this, that, the same, this is what, (so he said; so spake Achilles, i.e. what precedes, & Patroclus so, i.e. what follows; also ellipt., as So Satan, whom the archangel thus rebukes; do you think so?; & so say all of us; I suppose so, form of agreement; I told you so, warned you in vain; she is ill& he thinks himself so; so-called, epithet questioning accuracy of description; so to say or speak, apology for exaggeration, metaphor, neologism, &c.; you don\'t say so?, formula of surprise); in that state or condition, actually the case, (he, it, is better so; God said Let there be light, & it was so; must it be so?; but perhaps it is not, even if it were, so; though it was, or things were, ever or never so vulg., however bad the state of things; also with omission of it is &c., as how so?, why so?, if so, not so; also ellipt. for is that so? chiefly in imit. of German, as He went off yesterday So?; quite so, just so, forms of agreement); (archaic) and so, after which I, they, &c., proceeded (& so to dinner, a division, &c.); (cllipt. after conditional clause; archaic) let it be so, very well, (if you are content, so); (as int., also soh) that will do, stay as you are, stand still, be quiet; (in comb, with relative words) -ever (also with -ever appended, as whoso, whosoever); so-&-so, particular person or thing not needing to be specified (never mind what so-&-so says; tells me to do so-&-so); so so, pred. adj. or adv., not more than passable, -bly; or so, or thereabouts (after expressions of quantity or numbers; send me half-a-dozen or so; llb, or so will do). [old English]