natheless, nathless, adv. (and prep.) Now only arch.
(ˈneɪθlɪs, ˈnæθlɪs)
Forms: α. 1 na þe læs, naðe læs, 3 naðelas, 4–5 naþeles, (4 -lese), 4–6 natheles, (4 -lees), 6– natheless, (6 -lesse, also 6 naithe-, naythelesse, 7 nay-the-less). β. 4–7 nathles, (4 naþles), 6–7 nathlesse, (6 naith-), 7 nathless.
[f. OE. ná na adv.1 + þe (= þ{yacu}) the + læs less adv. Cf. netheless and notheless.]
Nevertheless, notwithstanding.
| α c 900 in Bouterwek Screadunga (1858) 22 Þa na þe læs beseah Lothes wif underbæc. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1011 Naðe læs for eallum þisum griðe..hi ferdon æᵹhwider folc mælum. c 1200 Vices & Virtues 27 Ac naðelas ic wille, a godes half, ðat tu bie ȝewarned. c 1290 Beket 414 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 118 Ake naþeles is heorte bar euere to Thomas þer. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 403 But natheles I trowe that she Was faire sumtyme, and fresh to se. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xlviii. 208 (Harl. MS.), Naþeles hit shall be don as thow wolt have hit. 1533 More Apol. 131 This Calanius beynge a senator, and natheles lenyng all vnto the people. 1596 Spenser Hymn Beauty 159 Nathelesse the soule is faire and beauteous still. 1622 Wither Philarete M 4 Yet I, poore I; must perish nay-the-lesse. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1768) II. 348 But she comes on very well nathelesse. 1816 Scott Old Mort. Introd., If it be..pretended that my information..is, natheless, incompetent to the task. 1867 Morris Jason ix. 228 Somewhat they doubted, natheless forth they passed. |
| β c 1400 Apol. Loll. 4 Þowe he be his seruaunt of dette & oblisching, naþles he is not his seruaunt in filling of werk. 1600 Holland Livy xxiv. xix. 521 The enterprise, being a service of small consequence, and nath'lesse very dangerous. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 299 The torrid Clime Smote on him sore..; Nathless he so endur'd. 1748 Thomson Cast. Indol. ii. xli, Nathless with feigned respect he bade give back The rabble rout. 1790 Coleridge Devonshire Roads, Nathless Revenge and Ire the Poet goad. 1814 Scott Wav. xxx, ‘Indubitably’, answered Mr. Cruickshanks;..‘Nathless, if your honour—’. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. (1870) I. ii. 554 Nathless by some few fathers old These tales about the place were told. |
b. prep. In spite of, notwithstanding.
rare.
| 1567 Drant Horace, Ep. Ded., Wheras, nathles the wyt of the one and the port of the other, all theyre wyde fames hadd long ere this time bene drenched in the dust. 1802 Mrs. Radcliffe Gaston de Blondeville Posth. Wks. 1826 III. 39 Yet could he not endure to behold him, nathless the expectations of most in the court. 1882 O'Donovan Merv Oasis I. 327 Nathless the dread which I had of these creatures, I was obliged to make a halt. |