howbeit

English

WOTD – 10 May 2009

Alternative forms

• howbe

Etymology

how +‎ be +‎ it

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /haʊˈbiː.ɪt/

• Audio:

  (file)

Conjunction

howbeit

1. (archaic) Although.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, “Tom Jones”, in The Novelist’s Magazine, volume III, London: Harrison and Co., published 1781, page 302:

     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.

Synonyms

• albeit, much as; see also Thesaurus:even though

Translations

although

• Czech: ačkoli (cs)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Maori: otirā
• Scottish Gaelic: ge

Adverb

howbeit (not comparable)

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

     I will goe waſh : / And when my Face is faire, you ſhall perceiue / Whether I bluſh, or no : howbeit, I thanke you, / I meane to ſtride your Steed, and at all times / To vnder-creſt your good Addition, / To th’ faireneſſe of my power.

   • Template:RQ:Authorized Version
   • 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

Synonyms

• be it as it may, even so, however, nonetheless; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless

Related terms

• albeit

Translations

be that as it may

• Czech: nicméně (cs)
• French: quoi qu’il en soit (fr), néanmoins (fr)
• German: gleichwohl (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: те́м не ме́нее (ru) (tém ne méneje)
• Scottish Gaelic: gidheadh
• Swedish: hur som helst (sv)