how farest thou

how farest thou

English

Etymology

Occurs already as Old English hū færest þū, literally “how are you going or traveling.”

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /haʊ ˈfɛɹɪst ðaʊ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /haʊ ˈfɛəɹɪst ðaʊ/

Phrase

how farest thou?

1. (obsolete) how are you?, how's it going?
   • c. 995, Ælfric of Eynsham, Extracts on Grammar in English

     Hui man cwiþ on Læden and eall swa on Englisc: "Hui, hu færest þu?"

   • c. 1380, Geoffrey Chaucer, "House of Fame"

     "How farest thow now?", quod he to me. "Wel," quod I.

   • c. 1607, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra

     POMPEY: "I know thee now. How farest thou, soldier?" ENOBARBUS: "Well. And well am like to do, for I perceive four feasts are toward."