inasmuch as
5
6.6
- idiom
- Formal
:
en la medida en que
- We postponed the meeting, inasmuch as several key members were unavailable.
- inasmuch as they constitute
- inasmuch as they represent
Examples
-
And inasmuch as it tormented him, it also reminded him of who he was.
Fiction book (2001) -
Inasmuch as the social sciences neglect the problem of evil, they become less than scientific.
Academic text (2005) -
However, family members complained that the tool was inappropriate for them, inasmuch as the questions focused on the patient's experiences.
Academic text (2008) -
Inasmuch as community colleges are teaching institutions, they will need to search for effective teachers.
Academic text (1999) -
Judges cannot avoid morality completely inasmuch as they must make that much of a moral judgment.
Academic text (2008) -
One can easily draw the parallel between the family and the Church, inasmuch as both have a community-like structure and purpose.
Academic text (2005) -
Students may be perplexed as to why they need to understand the concepts, inasmuch as the technology does the work for them.
Academic text (2001) -
Inasmuch as negotiators will not name the evil they confront, they remain blind to it.
Academic text (2011) -
Such activity is advantageous inasmuch as it prevents atrophy of the muscles of the residual limb and sustains their function.
Academic text (1995) -
Mr. Pontiac might well reevaluate his inclination to take overly assertive positions, inasmuch as they at times risk becoming counterproductive.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To give the reason for something
35
6.7
To the extent that something is true or happens
1
9.2
So much that something happens
Surface Forms
Morphology
inasmuch + as
The phrase can be analyzed as 'in as much as' (i.e. 'to the extent that'), so there is a recognizable compositional link to the constituents; however the usual causal sense 'because/since' and the fused form 'inasmuch as' are formal and relatively rare. A B1 learner who knows the separate words may catch a general sense of extent but would likely not reliably infer the conventional causal/ concessive usage without prior exposure.
Etymology
Inasmuch as may come from the older phrase in as much as, literally the words in, as, much, meaning 'in the amount that'. So people used it to say 'to the extent that' or 'because', and that is why today it introduces a reason or limit.