All 12 Uses
however
in
Washington Black
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- As the days passed, however, I began to understand that he would not make blistering use of his fists, as the master would.†
p. 72.7 *however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
- We would also, however, find ourselves subject to the laws of American freedom.†
p. 140.9
- I was careful, however, knowing how murderous lead was to sea life: when it had set, I filled up the tank with shell-lac dissolved in naphtha to make a paste with whiting.†
p. 261.1
- You were a cause to him, not a person—however much he protested otherwise.†
p. 283.3however = to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
- No one, however, has written me to tell me otherwise.†
p. 307.5however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
- However did you find me?†
p. 342.5however = to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
- However did you manage it?†
p. 379.4 *
- However did he get such a name?†
p. 68.4
- He grinned at this, his eyes bright, his lips crooked, and I found myself, however reluctantly, smiling back.†
p. 170.4
- However painfully it had struck him down, the release seemed too easy—like a betrayal of the countless men and women and children whose fates he had ended on a whim, because the sky on that day was too blue or they moved too slowly through the field or the moon had kept him up the night previous.†
p. 268.7
- I did not see her, felt only my hands on the crusted paper, the fragility of it, as if the lives described here might break apart in my clumsy fingers; as if I would destroy these people's sole commemoration, however awful it was.†
p. 314.3
- He was a wretched man, a pox, but I did not rejoice at the brutality of his end, however well deserved.†
p. 337.4 *
Definitions:
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(1)
(however as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
-
(2)
(however as in: However much she tried...) to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
-
(3)
(however as in: However you do it, get it done!) in whatever way
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(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Much more rarely (and arguably incorrectly), however can be used to intensify the word how, as when one says "However did you find her?" Grammarians would suggest using two words for that usage: "How ever did you find her?"