insomuch, adv.
(ɪnsəʊˈmʌtʃ)
[The three words in so much, since 16th c. usually written conjunctly.]
1. absol. To such an extent or degree; so much, so far. rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 433 Her [priests'] power, gederid togeder, in so myche passiþ power of Petre. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. p. vi, If one fact..has lost a particle of its interest..insomuch is the Editor's design frustrated. |
2. insomuch as. a. Inasmuch as, in that, seeing that, since.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & V. Prol., In so much as I am not French by birth, but born..in the city of Marseilles. c 1500 Adam Bel & Clym of Clough 489 We beseche you now, That you graunt vs grace, Insomuche as we be to you comen. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 19 In so much as of mankind the Emperor heaunlye And father of thee Gods too thee the auctoritye signed. 1836 Westm. Rev. XXIV. 105 To be sure..the present law is inoperative; insomuch as the Universities..contain teachers who have never subscribed this famous confession. |
† b. = insomuch that: see 3. Obs.
| 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 181 Now this did more encrease..the Peoples good opinion of his sufficiency, and wise conduction of an Army; insomuch as they thought him invincible. 1628 Hobbes Thucyd. (1822) 8 Insomuch as never resting they improvd not their power. 1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. Paruta's Hist. Wars Cyprus i. ii. 25 They ran every day through the Territories..insomuch as Bernardo Mollepiero..was so sorely wounded, as he fell down dead off his horseback. |
c. To such an extent as, so as: see 1.
| 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. xii. 54 They attribute their fortune to a stander by, to a lucky or unlucky place [etc.]..insomuch as to believe, they have power to turn a stone into bread [etc.]. 1718 Freethinker No. 61 ¶14 The True Breed..is very Alert, insomuch as to pass frequently for a Clan of Intrepids. a 1832 Bentham Deontology (1834) II. 306 In so much and in so far as they are susceptible of becoming [etc.]. |
3. insomuch that: To such an extent that, so that. (The most usual construction.)
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 119 In so moche that she had al that she aught to haue by right and of custume. 1535 Coverdale 1 Macc. i. 3 In so moch, y{supt} the worlde stode in greate awe of him. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 420 [They] did denie to deliver them, insomuch, that the king openly sayd, that..he would take them without deliveraunce. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 449 There is much more pains required for the remembring of them, than of the Rules themselves; insomuch that many eminent Grammarians have written against Analogy, both in Greek and Latin. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 60 ¶3 The lover was thunder-struck with his Misfortune, insomuch that in a little time after he lost his Senses. 1833–42 Alison Hist. Europe (1849–50) XIV. xciv. §i. 1 The rain fell in torrents, insomuch that..the soldiers were often ankle-deep in water. |
† 4. With ellipsis of as: Inasmuch as, in that: = 2 a. Obs.
| 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. v. ii. 60, I speake not this, that you should beare a good opinion of my knowledge: insomuch (I say) I know you are. 1605 Timme Quersit. i. v. 20 Among salts, some are earthie..insomuch some of them are fixed, and are of the nature of earth. |