| 释义 |
how-do-ye, how-d'ye, howdy, phr. and n. Now obs. or dial.
Forms: 6 howedye, how dee, 6–9 how-do-you, 7 how d'ee, 7–8 how-do-ye, 8 how(-)dee, 9 how de, 7– howdy, 8– how d'ye.
1. The phrase how do ye? how do you? (cf. next) = how are you? how fare you?: see do v. 19. Freq. in colloq. phr. to tell (a person) howdy.
1563–87How do you? [see do v. 19]. c1828T. O. Larkin in Calif. Hist. Soc. Q. (1937) XVI. 25 They (Southerners) often correct Yankees in their speaking... In those words they are right, but not in..how de for how do you do. 1837A. Wetmore Gaz. Missouri 287 With a smile of welcome as she gave her hand, said, ‘Howdy, Joseph.’ 1850J. Price Let. 17 Apr. in Mississippi Valley Hist. Rev. (1924) XI. 241 Tell Mother and the doctor Howdy. 1856A. J. Hoole Let. 8 June in Kansas Hist. Q. (1934) III. 56 Give my love to..all enquiring friends; tell..all the negroes howdie for me. 1887E. Eggleston Graysons i. (1888) 5 ‘Howdy, Rachel!’ said Henry Miller..and ‘Howdy! Howdy!’ came from the two sisters, to which Rachel answered with a cordial ‘Howdy! Come in!’ 1917J. M. Grider War Birds 20 Sept. (1927) 10 All the soldiers in the harbor came over to tell us howdy. 1928L. North Parasites i. 30 Mr. Ashton greeted Henry a trifle more warmly... ‘Howdy,’ he said. 1973J. Mann Only Security ii. 16, I ought really to go in and say howdy to her.
2. n. A message or salutation containing an inquiry as to the health of a person; = next 2.
1575G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 90 To requite your gallonde of godbwyes, I regive you a pottle of howedyes. a1652Brome Love-sick Court ii. i. Wks. 1873 II. 107 My great Lords Howdies are upon the entry. 1670Cotton Espernon iii. x. 510 Had the Bishop sent to him by the way of a simple How d'ee only. 1697Vanbrugh Relapse ii. Wks. (Rtldg.) 309/1 He has already sent how-do-ye's to all the town. 1743Annesley Ejectm. Trial in Howell St. Trials (1813) XVII. 1166 He was sent..with messages and how-do-yous, to know how their child did. 1894Daily News 28 Apr. 8/2 A missionary meeting..at Kingston when the coloured children sent their ‘howdies’,..which was short for ‘how do you do’, to the white children of Britain.
3. attrib. or adj.
c1600Norden Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728) 58 The next day this potentate becometh ‘How dee neighbour’ agayne. 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. vi–vii. 212 His how d'you man comes every day to know how I slept last night. 1797A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) II. 130 The how-d'ye cards of all the lords, ladies [etc.]. 1806Wolcott Wks. (1812) V. 297 No how-d'ye visits, my cool Neighbours make. 1931Times 5 Nov. 13/4 The howdy folk of Kentucky may bring forth their best. 1932E. Wallace When Gangs came to London xxiii. 224 It seems that this guy has been on howdy terms with the Big Boy ever since he came to town. |