Hovel Hov"el noun [ Middle English
hovel ,
hovil , probably a dim. from Anglo-Saxon
hof house; akin to D. & German
hof court, yard, Icelandic
hof temple; confer Prov. English
hove to take shelter,
heuf shelter, home.]
1. An open shed for sheltering cattle, or protecting produce, etc., from the weather. Brande & C. 2. A poor cottage; a small, mean house; a hut. 3. (Porcelain Manuf.) A large conical brick structure around which the firing kilns are grouped. Knight.
Hover Hov"er intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Hovered ;
present participle & verbal noun Hovering .] [ Middle English
hoveren , and
hoven , probably orig., to abide, linger, and from Anglo-Saxon
hof house; confer OFries.
hovia to receive into one's house. See
Hovel .]
1. To hang fluttering in the air, or on the wing; to remain in flight or floating about or over a place or object; to be suspended in the air above something. Great flights of birds are hovering about the bridge, and settling on it.
Addison. A hovering mist came swimming o'er his sight.
Dryden. 2. To hang about; to move to and fro near a place, threateningly, watchfully, or irresolutely. Agricola having sent his navy to hover on the coast.
Milton. Hovering o'er the paper with her quill.
Shak.
How How adverb [ Middle English
how ,
hou ,
hu ,
hwu , Anglo-Saxon
h... , from the same root as
hwā ,
hwæt , who, what, pron. interrog.; akin to Old Saxon
hwō w, Dutch
hoe , confer German
wie how, Goth.
hwē wherewith,
hwaiwa how. √182. See
Who , and confer
Why .]
1. In what manner or way; by what means or process. How can a man be born when he is old?
John iii. 4. 2. To what degree or extent, number or amount; in what proportion; by what measure or quality. O, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Ps. cxix. 97. By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility, and fountains, and rivers of the earth.
Bentley. 3. For what reason; from what cause. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale?
Shak. 4. In what state, condition, or plight. How , and with what reproach, shall I return?
Dryden. 5. By what name, designation, or title. How art thou called?
Shak. 6. At what price; how dear. [ Obsolete]
How a score of ewes now?
Shak. »
How is used in each sense, interrogatively, interjectionally, and relatively; it is also often employed to emphasize an interrogation or exclamation. "
How are the mighty fallen!"
2 Sam. i. 27. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun; -- as, the
how , the when, the wherefore.
Shelley. Let me beg you -- don't say " How ?" for "What?"
Holmes.
However How·ev"er conj. Nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet; still; though; as, I shall not oppose your design; I can not, however , approve of it. In your excuse your love does little say;
You might howe'er have took a better way.
Dryden. Syn. --
However ,
At least ,
Nevertheless ,
Yet . These words, as here compared, have an adversative sense in reference to something referred to in the context.
However is the most general, and leads to a final conclusion or decision. Thus we say, the truth,
however , has not yet fully come out;
i.e. , such is the speaker's conclusion in view of the whole case. So also we say,
however , you may rely on my assistance to that amount;
i. e. , at all events, whatever may happen, this is my final decision.
At least is adversative in another way. It points out the utmost concession that can possibly be required, and still marks the adversative conclusion; as,
at least , this must be done; whatever may be our love of peace, we must
at least maintain the rights of conscience.
Nevertheless denotes that though the concession be fully made, it has no bearing of the question; as,
nevertheless , we must go forward.
Yet signifies that however extreme the supposition or fact comceded may be, the consequence which might naturally be expected does not and will not follow; as, though I should die with thee,
yet will I not deny thee; though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him. Confer
But .