how now
English
Interjection
- (archaic) Hello, what is that?
- c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
- How now ſir Iohn, what are you brawling here?
Doth this become your place, your time, and buſineſſe?
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
- How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!
- 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 44:
- "How now, you scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow's hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff."
Nigerian Pidgin
Etymology
Interjection
how now