so that

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English

Etymology

From Middle English so that, so þat, sa þat, swo þat, swa þat, from Old English swā þæt, equivalent to so +‎ that. Cognate with Saterland Frisian sodät, West Frisian sadat, Dutch zodat, German sodaß, sodass.

Conjunction

so that

  1. Indicates purpose; in order that, with the result that.
    He must die so that others might live.
    • 1900 May 17, L Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo M Hill Co., →OCLC:
      He seized his axe, which he had made very sharp, and as the leader of the wolves came on the Tin Woodman swung his arm and chopped the wolf's head from its body, so that it immediately died.
  2. Indicates purpose; in such a way that, with the intent that.
    He tied a complex knot so that others would find it hard to undo.

Usage notes

  • “So that” prefaces a subordinate clause to show purpose or to give an explanation. It demonstrates a correlation between an antecedent action and an intended consequent. In a clause 1 “so that” clause2 format, the first clause represents an antecedent proposition and the second clause constitutes a consequence/effect. In a “So that” clause 1 , clause 2 format, the first clause is the intended consequent and the second clause is the antecedent proposition.

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