However

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  However \How*ev"er\, adv. [Sometimes contracted into howe'er.]
     1. In whetever manner, way, or degree.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              However yet they me despise and spite. --Spenser.
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              Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault.
                                                    --Shak.
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     2. At all events; at least; in any case.
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              Our chief end is to be freed from all, if it may be,
              however from the greatest evils.      --Tillotson.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  However \How*ev"er\, conj.
     Nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet; still; though; as, I
     shall not oppose your design; I can not, however, approve of
     it.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           In your excuse your love does little say;
           You might howe'er have took a better way. --Dryden.
  
     Syn: {However}, {At least}, {Nevertheless}, {Yet}.
  
     Usage: These words, as here compared, have an adversative
            sense in reference to something referred to in the
            context. However is the most general, and leads to a
            final conclusion or decision. Thus we say, the truth,
            however, has not yet fully come out; i.e., such is the
            speaker's conclusion in view of the whole case. So
            also we say, however, you may rely on my assistance to
            that amount; i. e., at all events, whatever may
            happen, this is my final decision. At least is
            adversative in another way. It points out the utmost
            concession that can possibly be required, and still
            marks the adversative conclusion; as, at least, this
            must be done; whatever may be our love of peace, we
            must at least maintain the rights of conscience.
            Nevertheless denotes that though the concession be
            fully made, it has no bearing of the question; as,
            nevertheless, we must go forward. Yet signifies that
            however extreme the supposition or fact comceded may
            be, the consequence which might naturally be expected
            does not and will not follow; as, though I should die
            with thee, yet will I not deny thee; though he slay
            me, yet will I trust in him. Cf. {But}.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  however
       adv 1: despite anything to the contrary (usually following a
              concession); "although I'm a little afraid, however
              I'd like to try it"; "while we disliked each other,
              nevertheless we agreed"; "he was a stern yet fair
              master"; "granted that it is dangerous, all the same I
              still want to go" [syn: {nevertheless}, {withal}, {still},
               {yet}, {all the same}, {even so}, {nonetheless}, {notwithstanding}]
       2: by contrast; on the other hand; "the first part was easy;
          the second, however, took hours"
       3: to whatever degree or extent; "The results, however general,
          are important"; "they have begun, however reluctantly, to
          acknowledge the legitimacy of some of the opposition's
          concerns"
       4: in whatever way or manner; "Victory, however it was brought
          about, was sweet"; "however he did it, it was very clever"
       5: in what way or manner or by what means (`however' is
          sometimes used as an intensive form of `how'); "how did
          you catch the snake?"; "he told us how he did it";
          "however did you get here so soon?" [syn: {how}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  42 Moby Thesaurus words for "however":
     after all, again, albeit, all the same, although, anyhow, anyway,
     anywise, at all, at all events, at any rate, but, by any means,
     come what may, even, even so, except, for all that, how, howbeit,
     in any case, in any event, in any way, in what way, irregardless,
     just the same, nevertheless, no matter how, no matter what, nohow,
     nonetheless, notwithstanding, on, per contra, rather, regardless,
     save, still, though, when, yet, yowl