Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quhowbeit, conj. and adv. Also: quhou-, whow-, quho- and -beyt, -beid. [Var. of Howbeit conj. Cf. Quhow adv. (conj.).]

A. conj. (conj. adv.) Although; even if. Also quhowbeit that.Sometimes with nevertheles, notwithstanding or yit in the governing clause.(1) 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. II 107.
And becaus he was callit swa lard of Cauty quhoubeit it was bot for derisioun 1513 Doug. v xiii 105.
By a dyrk clowd I staw thi son away Quhoubeit … my desyre was set … Troy forto down bet c1535 Lennox Mun. 347.
Quhowbeyt 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2212 (B).
Bawburde sayis … That scho sall beir ȝow cumpany Quhowbeid ȝe byid all ȝeir 1544–5 Corr. M. Lorraine 131.
Quhowbeid I had mwny in this cuntre I durst nocht send it owir 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 393.
Quhowbeit I was legat and cardinall, Lytill I knew tharein quhat sulde be done 1549 Compl. 152/20.
I sal speik to the lord quhou be it I am bot puldir ande asse c1552 Lynd. Mon. 551.
To colȝearis … my ryme sall be diractit, With cunnyng men quhowbeit it wylbe lactit 1557 Carte Northberwic 74.
Quhowbeit Maister Thomas Vedell varnit hym to fulfill the … contract … Robert hes failȝeit therin 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 7/24.(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
And freithing him selff of the … commodities thairof whowbeit disponit to him steadfastlie under the king's privie seall Ib. 65.
Whowbeit he was verie hat in all questiones yit when it twitched his particular no man could crab him Ib. 457.
Whowbeit … ten or twoll war away, ther might be anew behind(2) 1520 Misc. Maitl. C. II 384.
The King of France may weyl considere that quhobeit this metyng hald … nevertheles it wil nocht be permanent 1562 Fam. Rose 237.
Quhowbeid Angus Ros be absent, yeit he is resauit in the agreans(3) 1525–6 Stirling B. Rec. I 25.
That the sow … was Dave Bellis … quhowbeit that hir lug was cuttit 1549 Compl. 12/18.
No man suld decist fra ane gude purpose, quhou beit that detractione be … reddy to … impung ane verteous verk Ib. 106/18.
There is nocht tua nations … that ar mair … different … nor is Inglis men and Scottis men, quhoubeit that thai be … nychtbours, and of ane langage Ib. 131/2, etc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 545.
Quhowbeit that diuers deuote cunnyng clerkis In Latyne toung hes wryttin syndrie bukis, Our vnlernit knawis lytill of thare werkis

B. adv. Nevertheless, however.Overlapping with A above. 1560–1 Bishop Bothwell in M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 69.
And that notwithstanding I cloisset my kirk dorris and hes thoilet na mes to be said thairin sensynne quhowbeit thai … brocht ane preist to ane chapell … and thair causset do mes 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 12.
Thois men are maist subiecte to the pest … quha ar of humide & hait temperament. Nixt thame, quha are hait and dry, last of all quha ar dry and cauld: quhoubeit the last be dificillar to cure nor the first 1596–7 in Melvill 401.
Whowbeit, cheiflie that censur is … execut be the pastors

C. Quhoubeit of, in spite of. 1549 Compl. 92/14.
Ȝour ald enemes quhou beit of ther puissans vald neuer hef maid sic incursions … var nocht [etc.] Ib. 30/9.