Thread: what is more to the purpose

Originally Posted by Antonio J.

It melted out of my sight, it faded into nothing in a second of time, and what was more to the purpose, my hand passed through the spectre as if it had been composed of nothing more tangible than a fog spray.

I don't believe that "what was more to the purpose" has any real meaning in the above text -- it's just antiquated filler.

I suggest that you simply translate it as "además" or "de hecho".

I agree with Luther Gaylord.

"and more to the purpose" is lenguaje florido and in context the phrase could be replaced with "and in fact" (y de hecho ) without losing any meaning.

However, the suggestion by Estefania is also valid in the same context. It's a matter of choice.