Re: Somewhat (was: another silly phonology question)

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