somehow English · revision 4738

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1664|origins=en some, en how}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsʌm.haʊ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound, [[af|en|some|how]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the phrase ''somehow or other'': 1664 in the OED and MWU, the 1660s in Etymonline, where it is first attested.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Used alone, in some way not known or not stated, it is from 1740–1742.^(OED 1989) Before it, English used someway and someways, from Middle English someswaies (about 1200).^(Etymonline) In Lancashire and Leicestershire dialect, to ''feel somehow'' meant to feel unwell in an indefinite way.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – the earlier ''someways''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1664 – ''somehow or other''.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1740–42 – ''somehow'' alone.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In some way that is not known or not stated.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # For some reason that is not clear: ''somehow I don't trust him''.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[some]]

+ * [[how]]

+ * [[somewhat]]

+ * [[anyhow]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}