3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  However  \How*ev"er\,  adv  [Sometimes  contracted  into  howe'er.] 
  1.  In  whetever  manner,  way  or  degree. 
 
  However  yet  they  me  despise  and  spite.  --Spenser. 
 
  Howe'er  the  business  goes,  you  have  made  fault. 
  --Shak. 
 
  2.  At  all  events;  at  least;  in  any  case. 
 
  Our  chief  end  is  to  be  freed  from  all  if  it  may  be 
  however  from  the  greatest  evils.  --Tillotson. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  However  \How*ev"er\,  conj. 
  Nevertheless;  notwithstanding;  yet  still  though;  as  I 
  shall  not  oppose  your  design;  I  can  not  however,  approve  of 
  it 
 
  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [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  "how  did  you  catch 
  the  snake?";  "he  told  us  how  he  did  it";  (`however'  is 
  used  as  an  intensive  of  `how'  as  in  "however  did  you  get 
  here  so  soon?")  [syn:  {how}] 

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