notwithˈstanding, prep., adv., and conj.
Also 4–5 -stonding(e, -yng(e.
[f. not adv. + pres. pple. of withstand v., after med.L. non obstante, OF. non obstant.]
A. prep. In spite of.
Properly the same construction as in 2, differing only in the order of the words.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 434 And notwiþstondynge þis, Crists Chirche shulde live, ȝif alle siche prelats wanteden þerinne. c 1402 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. 333 Notwithstanding his manhood and his might, Love unto him did full great unright. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. iv. (1885) 117 He dothe wronge, nothwithstondynge the said lawe declared by the prophete. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 651 Notwith⁓standyng gentle aduertisement to them geuen,..they remayned still in one obstinate minde. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iv. ii. 12 Notwithstanding all her sodaine quips. 1625 Bacon Ess., Nobility (Arb.) 191 Wee see the Switzers last well, notwithstanding their Diuersitie of Religion. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ i. ii. §4 It might be the old famous Tyre still, notwithstanding what Sanchoniathon speaks. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxxii, But notwithstanding this, it is impossible to describe our good humour. a 1806 Fox Jas. II (1808) 214 Thomas Archer, a clergyman.., was executed, nothwithstanding many applications in his favour. 1888 Burgon Lives 12 Gd. Men II. x. 258 Notwithstanding the engrossing labours of the Hall..[he] was..a thoughtful and laborious student in Divinity. |
b. Sc. In spite
of something.
| 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. v. (1677) 251 The Factions at home, notwithstanding of the Abstinence, were not idle. 1653 Baillie Dissuas. Vind. (1655) 16 Acts of most hearty communion, nothwithstanding of some avowed differences. 1697 [C. Leslie] Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 117 Not⁓withstanding of this high Value they put upon themselves,..See how Jealous they are [etc.]. c 1817 Hogg Tales & Sk. III. 66 Notwithstanding of his..remonstrances. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 404 Notwithstanding of this common opinion, a loss of a small portion of time..may have a material effect upon some future operations. |
2. Following
this,
that, or a
n., in a syntactical relation corresponding to the ablative absolute in Latin. Also
† not that withstanding.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos vi. 23 This notwystondyng, alwaye they be in awayte. c 1500 Melusine 208 She was abasshed of the grete honour.., not that withstandyng she ansuerd in this manere. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden Soc.) 179 But, her worthiness notwithstanding, and that he had a fair daughter by her, he..was wonderfully tormented in conscience. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. i. 260 He hath not monie for these Irish warres: (His burthenous taxations notwithstanding). a 1640 Massinger, etc. Old Law iii. ii, These notwithstanding, His hair and wrinkles will betray his age. |
| 1844 Act 7 & 8 Vict. c. 32 §26 Any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding. 1857 G. Lawrence Guy Liv. iii, Hunting three days a week, which he persisted in doing, all lectures and regulations notwithstanding. |
† b. As a
quasi-n. rare—1.
| 1689 Consid. conc. Succession 28 We may easily perceive that it binds Men to Allegiance (not indefinitely, but) with a Notwithstanding to the pretended Authority of the Pope. |
B. adv. Nevertheless, still, yet.
| c 1440 Alph. Tales 8 Not-with-stondyng, afor his bruther was abbott, he was a wurthie merchand. c 1450 Merlin 235 Not-with-stondinge, I sey not [etc.]. 1530 Tindale Doctr. Treat. (Parker Soc.) 480 Notwithstanding yet, when Paul wrote the epistle to the Colossians, Mark was with him. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 88 The people of Crete are liers,..yet Epimenides maie be excepted, and be a true manne of his worde notwithstandyng. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xi. 13 Borasques..proceed not out of the West, notwithstanding do often happen in Winter. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xxix. 100 Yet notwithstanding he promised to send friendly succours. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xix. 95 Their King was notwithstanding never considered as their Representative. 1736 Butler Anal. i. vii. Wks. 1874 I. 134 Were these assertions true, yet the government of the world might be just and good notwithstanding. 1769 Goldsm. Hist. Rome (1786) II. 494 Julian..was, notwithstanding, a very good and a very valiant prince. 1813 Southey Nelson II. 22 The father..declared he saw that it would come to pass notwithstanding. 1875 Thirlwall Lett. (1881) I. 393 It can matter little that the rite is notwithstanding a real sacrament. |
C. conj. Although.
| c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. xii. 355 Thei bileeueden it and witnessen it, not withstonding Pope Damasis wroot the contrarie to Ierom. 1502 Lett. Rich. III & Hen. VII (Rolls) II. 111 Notwithstonding your grace had commaundid us to retorne, yet we..wold be content to make here abode. 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 155 He returned home, notwithstanding the bisshop offred him lodginge. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 243 That the Duke of Lorrain had no right thereto, notwithstanding others maintained the contrary. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 745 [He] would needes goe on shore.., notwithstanding some advised and intreated him the contrary. 1676 Doctrine of Devils 170 Notwithstanding they knew the Laws, Customes, and Statutes, of the Nation. 1765 Goldsm. Ess. xxiv. Misc. Wks. 1837 I. 323 Notwithstanding he had set his features to the semblance of a smile, I could perceive he was out of humour. 1786 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1868) 16 The Caliph, notwithstanding the table had been thirty times covered, found himself incommoded by the voraciousness of his guest. 1829 Wordsw. Prose Wks. (1876) I. 264 Notwithstanding objections may lie against some parts of her Liturgy,..her doctrines are exclusively scriptural. 1859 Lang Wand. India 409 Notwithstanding it was enlivened by several exciting incidents,..I was very glad when it was over. |
b. Followed by
that with dependent clause.
| 1584 Cogan Haven Health (1636) 176 Milke, notwithstanding that it seemeth to be wholly of one substance, yet it is compact, or made of three severall substances. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 125 Notwithstanding that it were once burned by the D. of Burgundie. |
| 1820 W. Irving Sk. Bk. (1821) I. 149 He [James I of Scotland] was detained prisoner by Henry IV, notwithstanding that a truce existed between the two countries. 1855 Pusey Doctr. Real Pres. iii. (1859) 329 The Church has ever worshipped our Lord truly and spiritually present in the Sacrament, notwithstanding that..His Human nature is at the Right Hand of God in Heaven. |