Wordwizard

a. That is a nice, if quaint, way of expressing the idea.

Would you say that sentence corresponds to:

1. That is a nice, although quaint, way of expressing the idea.

or to

2. a. That is a nice, although maybe quaint, way of expressing the idea.

Does (a) say it is quaint or does it say it might be considered quaint?

Interestingly the American Heritage Dictionary has both possibilities:

American Heritage Dictionary Entry: if (ahdictionary.com)

Meaning 2 is the one I have in mind.

Many thanks

Your meaning 1 is the only interpretation I would put on it. This is also the meaning you reference at dictionary.com. The meaning is much the same as "albeit".

Meaning 2 doesn't work for me and I don't see an example of that meaning at the dictionary.com entry you referenced.