Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb Be that as it may; nevertheless.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; however.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • conjunction Be it as it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding; although; albeit; yet; but; however.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • conjunction obsolete Although.
  • adverb archaic Be that as it may; nevertheless.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From how + be + it.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "CORIOLANUS: I will go wash;

    And when my face is fair you shall perceive

    Whether I blush or no: howbeit, I thank you;--

    I mean to stride your steed; and at all times

    To undercrest your good addition

    To the fairness of my power."

    - William Shakespeare, 'The Tragedy of Coriolanus'.

    August 28, 2009