How (greeting)

How (greeting)

The word "How" is used frequently as a greeting in representations of Native American speech. According to the "Oxford English Dictionary", the word was originally used by missionary Jean de Brébeuf to indicate an interjection of approval used by the Wyandot (or Huron in French uses); the "OED" gives the transcription "haau." ["Oxford English Dictionary", "how, int. 2" (http://dictionary.oed.com).] It later became common in popular culture, used (perhaps inaccurately) as a greeting.

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  • Greeting — (also called accosting) is a way for human beings (as well as other members of the animal kingdom) to intentionally communicate awareness of each other s presence, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status… …   Wikipedia

  • how are you? — 1. A conventional greeting to an acquaintance 2. Sometimes specifically referring to his or her state of health • • • Main Entry: ↑how * * * how are you? spoken phrase used as a greeting when you meet someone that you know. This phrase is… …   Useful english dictionary

  • how do you do? — A conventional phrase used as a greeting • • • Main Entry: ↑do * * * how do you do? spoken formal phrase used as a polite greeting when you meet someone for the first time, especially when they have introduced themselves or have been introduced… …   Useful english dictionary

  • greeting — greeting, salutation, salute denote the ceremonial words or acts of one who meets, welcomes, or formally addresses another. Greeting is the ordinary term which carries no suggestion of formality and no implication of inferiority in the one who… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • how — W1S1 [hau] adv, conj [: Old English; Origin: hu] 1.) used to ask or talk about the way in which something happens or is done ▪ How do you spell your name? ▪ How can I help you? ▪ I d like to help in some way, but I m not sure how. ▪ He explained… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • how — [ hau ] function word *** How can be used in the following ways: as an adverb (introducing a direct or indirect question): How do you spell your last name? I don t know how the system works. (introducing an EXCLAMATION): How I hate the winter!… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • how — how1 [hou] adv. [ME hwu, hu < OE, akin to OHG hweo (Ger wie), Goth hwai wa < IE interrogative base * kwo , *kwe > WHY, WHO, L quo, Sans kā] 1. in what manner or way; by what means 2. in what state or condition 3. for what reason or… …   English World dictionary

  • how-do-you-do — /how deuh yeuh dooh /, n., pl. how do you dos. Informal. 1. a greeting; salutation: She smiled and gave him a how do you do fit for a king. 2. an awkward or unpleasant event or situation: It s a fine how do you do that they ve refused to help us… …   Universalium

  • how's tricks? — (slang) How are you? • • • Main Entry: ↑trick * * * how’s tricks? informal phrase used when you meet someone to ask how they are Thesaurus: ways of asking questions and making requestshyponym to ask a question or questions …   Useful english dictionary

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