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also

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: alsó

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English also, alswo, alswa (also als(e), as, whence English as), from Old English eallswā (“just like, also”), from Proto-West Germanic *allswā, equivalent to all +‎ so. Cognate with Scots alsa, alswa (“also, even so, in the same way, as, as well”), Saterland Frisian also (“accordingly, therefore, thus”), West Frisian alsa (“so, just so, even so, thus”), Old Saxon alsō (“similarly, as if, just as, when”), Dutch alzo (“so, thus”), German also (“so, thus”), Danish altså (“so”), Norwegian Bokmål altså (“so, therefore, accordingly, thus”), Norwegian Nynorsk altso (“so, accordingly, therefore, thus”), Swedish alltså (“so, therefore, accordingly, thus, then”). Doublet of as. More at all, so.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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also (not comparable)

  1. (conjunctive, focus) In addition; besides; as well; further; too. [from 14th c.]
    Everyone had eggs for breakfast, but Alice also had toast.
    • 1905, Bertrand Russell, On Denoting:
      The subject of denoting is of very great importance, not only in logic and mathematics, but also in the theory of knowledge.
    • 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0016:
      Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; […].
    • 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
      Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
  2. (obsolete) To the same degree or extent; so, as.
    • c. 1709, John Strype, Annals of the Reformation and Establishment of Religion:
      […] thereupon the queen's majesty […] did send a solemn ambassade of her privy-counsellors, whereof one was an ancient earl of the realm, the other also an ancient baron of the same, and others of the council of her state […]

Usage notes

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The adverb also can go in various places within a sentence, with minimal change of meaning.

  • The golf courses are excellent. Also, the tennis courts are fantastic.
  • The golf courses are excellent and the tennis courts are fantastic also.
  • Not only are the golf courses excellent but also the tennis courts are fantastic.
  • There are not just excellent golf courses here. There are also fantastic tennis courts.

In Norwegian non-native English, may be used in the beginning of sentence, because of confusing with the Norwegian Bokmål altså and Norwegian Nynorsk altso.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German alles, from Old High German also, alsō (“as, like”); equivalent to all + so. Cognate with English also, as.

Pronunciation

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Conjunction

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also (coordinating)

  1. so, therefore
    Er aß zu viel Kuchen, also wurde er krank.
    He ate too much cake so he got sick.

Adverb

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also

  1. then, thus, so, hence (Used to connect a sentence or clause with previous information.)
    Heute bin ich beschäftigt. Also sollen wir uns morgen treffen?
    I'm busy today. Should we meet tomorrow then?
  2. Used to introduce additional information about something previously mentioned.
    Kürbiskuchengewürz, also eine Mischung aus Zimt und anderen Gewürzen, ist zu dieser Jahreszeit sehr beliebt.
    Pumpkin spice, a mixture of cinnamon and other spices, is very popular at this time of year.
  3. (dated) thus, in this way
    • 1883–1885, Friedrich Nietzsche, “Von den drei Verwandlungen”, in Also sprach Zarathustra […] ‎[1], Erster Theil; republished as Alexander Tille, transl., Thus Spake Zarathustra, 1896:
      Also sprach Zarathustra. Und damals weilte er in der Stadt, welche genannt wird: die bunte Kuh.
      Thus spake Zarathustra when he stayed in the town which is called : The Cow of Many Colours.

Interjection

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also

  1. alright (Indicates agreement with something.)
    Ich würde gerne spazieren. Also, los geht's!
    I would like to take a walk. Alright, let's go!
  2. so (Used as a lead-in or to start a new topic.)
    Also, was sollen wir zu Abend essen?
    So, what should we have for dinner?
  3. Used to resume an interrupted train of thought.
    Das ist nicht wichtig. Also, wie ich bereits sagte, es kommt auf den Preis an.
    That's not important. As I said before, the price matters.
  4. An intensifier, indicates an emotional connection to the statement.
    Schmeckt dir die Suppe? Nein, also ich hasse sie!
    Do you like the soup? No, I hate it!

Derived terms

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Further reading

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  • “also” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Luxembourgish

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Etymology

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From German also.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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also

  1. so
  2. thus, therefore

Middle Dutch

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Etymology

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From Old Dutch alsō, from al + sō.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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alsô

  1. so, thus
  2. also, to the same degree
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Descendants

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  • Dutch: alzo

Further reading

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Middle English

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Adverb

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also

  1. also: to the same degree or extent; so, as
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xvj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVII:
      IN suche maner they kepte launcelot four and twenty dayes and also many nyghtes that euer he laye stylle as a dede man / and at the xxv daye byfelle hym after myddaye that he opened his eyen
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Old Dutch

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Etymology

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From Proto-West Germanic *allswā, corresponding to al +‎ sō.

Adverb

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also

  1. so, thus
  2. so, to that degree
  3. therefore

Descendants

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Further reading

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  • “alsō (I)”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Conjunction

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alsō

  1. as, like
  2. as if
  3. when
  4. because
  5. so that

Descendants

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Further reading

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  • “alsō (II)”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

Saterland Frisian

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Etymology

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From Old Frisian alsā.

Adverb

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also

  1. so; thus; therefore; accordingly
  2. for that reason; hence

Tagalog

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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also (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ᜔ᜐᜓ)

  1. mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus lutjanus)

Anagrams

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Volapük

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Adverb

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also

  1. so
  2. thus
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