Definitions

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

  • adverb To whatever degree or extent.
  • adverb By whatever means.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In what manner or to what degree soever.
  • Although; notwithstanding.
  • Be that as it may; in any case; nevertheless.

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

  • adjective In what manner soever; to whatever degree or extent; however.
  • adjective obsolete Although; though; however.

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

  • adverb In any manner whatsoever.
  • adverb To whatever degree or extent; however.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

how +‎ soever

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Examples

  • We still want a healthy debate involving some "sane" GOP members to hear their side of the story, howsoever predictable it may be, before considerng a bulldozer for the final push towards the health care bill.

    Clinton's advice to Obama: Forget about Republicans 2009

  • Mr. Sharif is a married, former head of government who likely had no expectation that these personal musings -- howsoever accurate or inaccurate they may be -- would be published in Ms. Barker's pithy memoir.

    C. Christine Fair: Baffled by The Taliban Shuffle C. Christine Fair 2011

  • I suppose it would lose some of its glamour if I were married to a ditch digger and had seven children, howsoever.

    A Covert Affair Jennet Conant 2011

  • It will inhabit, it will contaminate howsoever many it shall soak, luxuriating in its honey.

    our ragged wits, ragged minds Jerry Ratch 2011

  • Mr. Sharif is a married, former head of government who likely had no expectation that these personal musings -- howsoever accurate or inaccurate they may be -- would be published in Ms. Barker's pithy memoir.

    C. Christine Fair: Baffled by The Taliban Shuffle C. Christine Fair 2011

  • Mr. Sharif is a married, former head of government who likely had no expectation that these personal musings -- howsoever accurate or inaccurate they may be -- would be published in Ms. Barker's pithy memoir.

    C. Christine Fair: Baffled by The Taliban Shuffle C. Christine Fair 2011

  • I suppose it would lose some of its glamour if I were married to a ditch digger and had seven children, howsoever.

    A Covert Affair Jennet Conant 2011

  • The state, howsoever feeble and fragmented, instils a sense of commonality for its people, in suffering and in all triumphs.

    Davinder Kumar: No Country for Stateless People Davinder Kumar 2011

  • Mr. Sharif is a married, former head of government who likely had no expectation that these personal musings -- howsoever accurate or inaccurate they may be -- would be published in Ms. Barker's pithy memoir.

    C. Christine Fair: Baffled by The Taliban Shuffle C. Christine Fair 2011

  • Are the methods of such a revolt wise, howsoever great the provocation and evil may be?

    DARKWATER W.E.B. DU BOIS 2004

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