Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Any \A"ny\, a. & pron. [OE. [ae]ni[yogh], [ae]ni, eni, ani, oni,
   AS. [=ae]nig, fr. [=a]n one. It is akin to OS. [=e]nig, OHG.
   einic, G. einig, D. eenig. See {One}.]
   1. One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one
      indefinitely, whosoever or whatsoever it may be.

   Note: Any is often used in denying or asserting without
         limitation; as, this thing ought not be done at any
         time; I ask any one to answer my question.

               No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither
               knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. --Matt.
                                                  xi. 27.

   2. Some, of whatever kind, quantity, or number; as, are there
      any witnesses present? are there any other houses like it?
      ``Who will show us any good?'' --Ps. iv. 6.

   Note: It is often used, either in the singular or the plural,
         as a pronoun, the person or thing being understood;
         anybody; anyone; (pl.) any persons.

               If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, .
               . . and it shall be given him.     --Jas. i. 5.

               That if he found any of this way, whether they
               were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
               Jerusalem.                         --Acts ix. 2.

   {At any rate}, {In any case}, whatever may be the state of
      affairs; anyhow.

Source : WordNet®

at any rate
     adv 1: used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a
            previous statement; "Anyhow, he is dead now"; "I think
            they're asleep; anyhow, they're quiet"; "I don't know
            what happened to it; anyway, it's gone"; "anyway,
            there is another factor to consider"; "I don't know
            how it started; in any case, there was a brief
            scuffle"; "in any event, the government faced a
            serious protest"; "but at any rate he got a knighthood
            for it" [syn: {anyhow}, {anyway}, {in any case}, {in
            any event}]
     2: if nothing else (`leastwise' is informal and `leastways' is
        colloquial); "at least he survived"; "they felt--at any
        rate Jim felt--relieved though still wary"; "the influence
        of economists--or at any rate of economics--is
        far-reaching" [syn: {at least}, {leastways}, {leastwise}]