combien

See also: combein

French

Etymology

From Old French combien, from comme + bien.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃.bjɛ̃/
  • (file)

Adverb

combien

  1. how much (for uncountable nouns)
  2. how much (for money)
  3. how many (for countable nouns)

Derived terms

Further reading

Anagrams


Old French

Alternative forms

  • cumbien, cumben

Etymology

From comme + bien.

Adverb

combien

  1. how much, how many
    • c. 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
      Dez ke Richart le sout, un espie enveia
      Saveir u Thiebaut ert, e combien gent il a.
      As soon as Richard knew about it, he sent a spy
      to know where Thibalt was, and how many people he had with him.

Descendants

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