411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Hu þonne
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Old English
Phrase
ang phrase hū þonne ?
but how?, why
c. 992, Ælfric, "ON THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY"
ang Ðam ungeleaffullum mannum com Crist to hryre, and þam geleaffullum to æriste; and eac anum gehwilcum gelyfedum men wæs Cristes to-cyme ægðer ge hryre ge ærist. Hu ðonne? He com to ðy þæt he wolde ælc yfel towurpan, and ælc góod aræran. Christ came for the fall of unbelieving men, and for the rising of the faithful; and also to every believing man was Christ's coming both a fall and a rising. But how? He came because he would cast down every evil, and rear up every good."