anyway English · revision 2693

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=13th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈen.i.weɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound, [[af|en|any|way]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) The form anyways has the adverbial genitive -s.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “In any way or manner”: the 13th century in Merriam-Webster,^(MWU 2024) Middle English in the SOED,^(SOED 2002) while Etymonline dates it, written separately, to the 1560s;^(Etymonline) the OED's first example is from 1570.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The phrase was long written separately; the one-word form is common from the 1830s.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Middle English also said ani-gates “in any way, somehow” (about 1400) and on anikinnes wise (about 1200), and late Old English on ǣnige wīsan.^(Etymonline) “In any way however imperfect” is from 1660.^(OED 1989) As an adverbial conjunction, “however the case may be, in any case”, it is from 1859.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It is now much used to resume or change the subject of a conversation.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – on anikinnes wise.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570 – in any manner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830s – written as one word.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1859 – in any case.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In any case; [[nevertheless]]: ''it was raining, but we went anyway''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Used to return to or change the [[subject]] of a conversation.^(AHD)

+ # At any rate; at least.^(AHD)

+ # ''(archaic)'' In any way or manner.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[anyhow]]

+ * [[anyways]]

+ * [[any]]

+ * [[way]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Anyways'' is informal or dialect.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) The two-word phrase ''any way'' still means “in any manner”: ''help in any way you can''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}