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Re: Somewhat (was: another silly phonology question)

From:John Cowan <cowan@...>
Date:Monday, December 4, 2000, 13:32
On Mon, 4 Dec 2000, Raymond Brown wrote:

> In earlier English, including early modern English, 'somewhat' was not > infrequently used as a _pronoun_ = something.
I did a little Google search, and one place where "somewhat" is in active use as a pronoun in the U.S. (and I suppose, elsewhere) is in the construction "somewhat of an X", as in I have somewhat of a problem with this. which is equivalent to I have something of a problem with this. both meaning that I have a problem to a small degree.
> The thing the puzzles me is why 'somewho' (= some one) has AFAIK been attested.
I suppose you mean "not attested". Good question. -- John Cowan cowan@ccil.org One art/there is/no less/no more/All things/to do/with sparks/galore --Douglas Hofstadter