from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
So \So\, adv. [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. sw[=a]; akin to OFries,
s[=a], s?, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s?, G. so, Icel. sv[=a], sv?,
svo, so, Sw. s?, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw? as; cf. L. suus
one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. [root]192. Cf. As,
{Custom}, {Ethic}, {Idiom}, {Such}.]
1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or
as implied, or as supposed to be known.
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Why is his chariot so long in coming? --Judges v.
28.
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2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like
reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively,
following as, to denote comparison or resemblance;
sometimes, also, following inasmuch as.
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As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so
a prince ought to consider the condition he is in.
--Swift.
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3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with
as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to
escape.
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I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the
beginning and progress of a rising world. --T.
Burnet.
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He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he
lives in the family rather as a relation than
dependent. --Addison.
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4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can
not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so
wisely.
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5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in
this or that condition or state; under these
circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to
something just asserted or implied; used also with the
verb to be, as a predicate.
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Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself,
and cause all your family to do so too. --Locke.
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It concerns every man, with the greatest
seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether
they be so or not. --Tillotson.
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He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou. --Shak.
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6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this
reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a
conjuction.
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God makes him in his own image an intellectual
creature, and so capable of dominion. --Locke.
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Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness;
So may the guilt of all my broken vows,
My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten. --Rowe.
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7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; --
used to express assent.
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And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over,
And if it please you, so; if not, why, so. --Shak.
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There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor,
so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself.
--Shak.
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8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive;
as, so the work is done, is it?
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9. Is it thus? do you mean what you say? -- with an upward
tone; as, do you say he refuses? So? [Colloq.]
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10. About the number, time, or quantity specified;
thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so
in the country; I have read only a page or so.
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A week or so will probably reconcile us. --Gay.
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Note: See the Note under {Ill}, adv.
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{So} . . . {as}. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative
correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the
equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative
assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By
Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as
. . . as is now common. See the Note under {As}, 1.
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So do, as thou hast said. --Gen. xviii.
5.
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As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. --Ps.
ciii. 15.
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Had woman been so strong as men. --Shak.
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No country suffered so much as England. --Macaulay.
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{So far}, to that point or extent; in that particular. "The
song was moral, and so far was right." --Cowper.
{So far forth}, as far; to such a degree. --Shak. --Bacon.
{So forth}, further in the same or similar manner; more of
the same or a similar kind. See {And so forth}, under
{And}.
{So, so}, well, well. "So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit
you fast." --Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well;
passably; as, he succeeded but so so. "His leg is but so
so." --Shak.
{So that}, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or
result that.
{So then}, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.
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