Etymology: Middle English so muche as, from so muche (adverb phrase) + as
: even
cannot recall that … their descendants were so much as mentioned in all that time — R.H.Shryock
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so much as
1. As much as
2. Even
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Main Entry: ↑so
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[with negative] even
he sat down without so much as a word to anyone
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Main Entry: ↑much
————————
so much as
— used after a negative word (such as not or a contraction of not) to stress the smallness of an amount or effort
We didn't hear so much as a word from her the whole time. [=we didn't hear a word from her]
Not only did they not help, they didn't so much as [=even] offer to help!
They ended their date without so much as a hug.
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Main Entry: ↑so
Useful english dictionary. 2012.