albeit

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English

Etymology

From the Middle English expression al be it (that), itself shortened from althagh it be that (“although it be that”), and thus composed from al (“completely, entirely”) +‎ be (3rd person singular present subjunctive of been (“to be”)) +‎ it.

Pronunciation

Conjunction

albeit

  1. Although, despite (it) being.
    Synonyms: as much as, though; see also Thesaurus:even though
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 170:
      VVho are you? tell me for more certainty, / Albeit Ile ſvveare that I do knovv your tongue.
    • 2001, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, page 92:
      The stranger had crossed a sacred line. He had mentioned the men’s mothers. Nothing could get him out of a beating now, even the fact that he was obviously a simpleton. Albeit a simpleton with a good vocabulary.
    • 2007 June 17, Ellen Marrus, Houston Chronicle:
      There’s an easy, albeit expensive, way to fix the national crisis in forensic crime labs.
    • 2011 September 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67 – 3 Romania”, in BBC Sport‎:
      Up front, skipper and open-side Lewis Moody looked almost back to full fitness, while England's set-piece was barely troubled, albeit against a Romania side showing 11 changes from that beaten by Argentina earlier in the week.

Usage notes

  • The word albeit historically also introduced an independent clause as although does (as in the Shakespearean quote above); however after the Early Modern English period, it ceased to do so, and today only introduces a noun phrase, adjectival phrase, adverbial phrase, or dependent clause.
  • Rarely, albethey is used when the meaning is “despite (the multiple things) being” rather than “despite (the single thing) being”; this is nonstandard, based on a reanalysis of albeit.

Alternative forms

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

Yola

Conjunction

albeit

  1. Alternative form of abeit
    • 1867, CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 114, lines 7-9:
      and whilke we canna zei, albeit o' 'Governere,' 'Statesman,' an alike.
      and for which we have no words but of 'Governor,' 'Statesman,' &c.

References

  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 22
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