notwithstanding

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English

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WOTD – 8 October 2007

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English notwithstandinge, notwithstondyng, natwithstandyng, equivalent to not +‎ withstanding. Compare Middle English notgainstonding, not aȝenstondynge, of similar meaning and formation.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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notwithstanding (not comparable)

  1. Nevertheless, all the same.
    He, notwithstanding, persisted in his inquiries.
    • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
      But notwithstanding, man,
      I'll do you your master what good I can;
    • 1789, United States Contitution, Supremacy Clause, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:notwithstanding.

Synonyms

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Translations

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Conjunction

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notwithstanding

  1. Although; despite; even though.
    • 1724, [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunate Mistress; […] [Roxana], London: […] E. Applebee, […], published 1740, →OCLC, page 293:
      After this, Amy told her, That notvvithſtanding I vvas angry vvith her, and had uſed her ſo hardly, for ſaying ſomething about her of the ſame kind; yet there vvas an abſolute Neceſſity of ſecuring her, and removing her out of the VVay; […]
    • 1951 April, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 273:
      The firebox married to Britannia's boiler is not, however, in the Doncaster tradition, notwithstanding that it is comparable in dimensions to that of the "V2."

Usage notes

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  • The conjunction is sometimes expressed in the form notwithstanding that, as in "the front was nearly four miles in advance, notwithstanding that the men marched three abreast" (Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, ch. 49. See citations page.).

Translations

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Preposition

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notwithstanding

  1. In spite of, despite.
    Synonyms: regardless of, maugre (obsolete), see also Thesaurus:despite
    notwithstanding personal preferences, the school district's rules on the topic govern our decision
    • 1675, Richard Allestree, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety:
      Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition, proclaim the wonders he had done.
    • 1826, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 26, in The Last of the Mohicans:
      Notwithstanding the high resolution of Hawkeye he fully comprehended all the difficulties and danger he was about to incur.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:notwithstanding.
  2. (used postpositively) In spite of, despite.
    Synonyms: despite, in spite of, maugre (obsolete)
    in accordance with school district rules on the topic, personal preferences notwithstanding
    • 2014 August 26, Richard Rae, “Manchester United humbled by MK Dons after Will Grigg hits double”, in The Guardian:
      Van Gaal’s dismissal of his ability to play a central role notwithstanding, Shinji Kagawa began playing just behind the strikers Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernández.
    • 1679, Habeas Corpus Act, section 11:
      And be it declared and enacted by the authority aforesaid, that an Habeas Corpus, according to the true intent and meaning of this act, may be directed and seen in any county Palatine, the Cinque Ports, or other privileged places within the Kindgom of England, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey; any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:notwithstanding.

Derived terms

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Translations

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