Word of the Day

: January 28, 2008

albeit

conjunction awl-BEE-it

What It Means

: conceding the fact that : even though : although

albeit in Context

Troy has finally landed a role in a Broadway play, albeit as a minor character.

Did You Know?

In the middle of the 20th century, several usage commentators observed that the "archaic" word "albeit" was making a comeback. The "archaic" descriptor was not entirely apt. Evidence indicates that "albeit," which was first recorded in English in the 14th century, never really went out of use (although, admittedly, its use did seem to drop off a bit in the 19th century). It is true, however, that use of "albeit" has increased considerably since the 1930s, judging by evidence in Merriam-Webster's files.