How did 索性 get translated as “you might as well (do it)”

Question

I'm curious as to how 索性 came to be translated as "you might as well (do it)"

1. 索性: 直截了当,干脆
2. 索性：任性

索 apparently has English meanings of: large rope, cable; rules, laws; to demand, to exact; to search, inquire; isolated

:) You could translate 索性 as 'rope nature' :)

Which meaning of 索 is involved in 索性？

"might as well" is a subjunctive statement.

Is "might as well" an over-translation?
Where does 索性 come from?
Is 索性 actually a short version of something longer?

Answer 1

Here’s a highly unsatisfying answer.

《汉语大辞典》has a definition of 索 that defines it as:

索性；干脆。

And they give the example:

《警世通言·庄子休鼓盆成大道》
早知死後無情義, 索把生前恩愛勾。

《现代汉语大词典》also has an entry on 索 that defines it as:

干脆。如：索性；索兴。

Outlier gives the following meaning tree which maps out the development of word meanings and it seems to show that this meaning was originally of a different tone:

MEANINGS
Character meanings
suǒ

1 (orig.) two hands holding a rope made of plant stalks and leaves
2 → rope

3 ⇒ to search, follow a line

4 񰁃 to ask, demand

suó

1 ⇒ strip, line

2 񰁃 simply

It would seem that suó was later merged into suǒ.