What is "so that"

So \So\, adv. [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. sw[=a]; akin to OFries, s[=a], s?, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s?, G. so, Icel. sv[=a], sv?, svo, so, Sw. s?, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw? as; cf. L. suus one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. [root]192. Cf. As, Custom, Ethic, Idiom, Such.]

1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known.

   Why is his chariot so long in coming?
   --Judges v. 28.

2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively, following as, to denote comparison or resemblance; sometimes, also, following inasmuch as.

   As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so a prince ought to consider the condition he is in.
   --Swift.

3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to escape.

   I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the beginning and progress of a rising world.
   --T. Burnet.

   He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he lives in the family rather as a relation than dependent.
   --Addison.

4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so wisely.

5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in this or that condition or state; under these circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to something just asserted or implied; used also with the verb to be, as a predicate.

   Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself, and cause all your family to do so too.
   --Locke.

   It concerns every man, with the greatest seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether they be so or not.
   --Tillotson.

   He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou.
   --Shak.

6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction.

   God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion.
   --Locke.

   Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten.
   --Rowe.

7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; -- used to express assent.

   And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over, And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.
   --Shak.

   There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself.
   --Shak.

8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive; as, so the work is done, is it?

9. Is it thus? do you mean what you say? -- with an upward tone; as, do you say he refuses? So? [Colloq.]

10. About the number, time, or quantity specified; thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so in the country; I have read only a page or so.

    A week or so will probably reconcile us.
    --Gay.

    Note: See the Note under Ill, adv.

    So . . . as. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as . . . as is now common. See the Note under As, 1.

    So do, as thou hast said.
    --Gen. xviii. 5.

    As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
    --Ps. ciii. 15.

    Had woman been so strong as men.
    --Shak.

    No country suffered so much as England.
    --Macaulay.

    So far, to that point or extent; in that particular. ``The song was moral, and so far was right.''
    --Cowper.

    So far forth, as far; to such a degree.
    --Shak.
    --Bacon.

    So forth, further in the same or similar manner; more of the same or a similar kind. See And so forth, under And.

    So, so, well, well. ``So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit you fast.''
    --Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well; passably; as, he succeeded but so so. ``His leg is but so so.''
    --Shak.

    So that, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or result that.

    So then, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.

conj. 1 (non-gloss definition: Indicates purpose); in order that, with the result that. 2 (non-gloss definition: Indicates purpose); in such a way that, with the intent that.