howbeit

WOTD – 10 May 2009    

English

Etymology

From how + be + it.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /haʊˈbiː.ɪt/

• Audio (US)

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Conjunction

howbeit

1. (archaic) Although.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 424,

     Howbeit we have not yet been able to overtake young madam, we may account it some good fortune that we have hitherto traced her course aright.

Translations

although

• Czech: ačkoli (cs)

• Scottish Gaelic: ge (gd)

Adverb

howbeit (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Be that as it may; nevertheless.
   • 1607, William Shakespeare, Coriolanus, act 1, sc. 9,

     I will go wash;

     And when my face is fair, you shall perceive

     Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thank you.

   • 1871 Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Through Death to Love, lines 7-10:

     Our hearts discern wild images of Death,

     Shadows and shoals that edge eternity.

     Howbeit athwart Death's imminent shade doth soar

     One Power

Translations

be that as it may

• Czech: nicméně (cs)
• German: gleichwohl (de)
• Russian: тем не менее (ru) (tem ne meneje)

• Scottish Gaelic: gidheadh (gd)
• Swedish: hur som helst (sv)