howbeit, adv. and conj.
(haʊˈbiːɪt)
[Originally three words how be it, with pa. tense how were it (= however it were): see how adv. 13.]
A. adv. However it may be; be that as it may; nevertheless; however. arch.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. i, How be hit I wyl not fayle you. 1511 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 5 How⁓behyt hit was not my desyre. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xlviii. 162 How be it, he was sory by cause one of them..skapyd away. 1612 Davies Why Ireland etc. (1747) 24 Howbeit in the meanetime, the english adventurers..did winne much ground. 1850 Mrs. Browning Prometh. Bound 17, I lack your daring..Howbeit necessity compels me so That I must dare it. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. i. 8 How⁓beit, afterwards, the coins of Cnossus..became intelligible to me as to few. |
† B. conj. or conjunctive adv. (orig. with that, which was the actual conjunctive element). Though, although. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. i. (1495) 6 How be it that this dyuyne essence..maye not be perfyghtly knowen..yet there is not any mortall persone but that he woll confesse there is a god. 1503 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 5 Half Groats..being Silver (howbeit they be cracked, shall in likewise go and be current. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. x. 108 Bot than, allace, he did sum thing without vs, Howbeit that all his lyfetyme he did dout vs. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 206 They..say the vertue of the Adamant was first by them discovered, how beit to this day they have but eight points unto their compasse. 1634 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 110, I..would fain have access and presence to The King..euen howbeit I should break up iron doors. |