Where does “however” come from?

However derives from Middle English how-ever, a compound of the interrogative how and the indefinite ever, originally meaning "in whatever manner or way."

however (English): Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of; To...

Definitions

  1. Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of; To...

Ancestry of “however”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhowever—
Every word from Middle English however →