Webster
✕

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Notwithstanding

Not′with·stand′ing (·wĭt͟h·stănd′ĭng), prep. Without prevention, or obstruction from or by; in spite of.

We gentil women bee Loth to displease any wight, Notwithstanding our great right. Chaucer's Dream.

Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition, proclaim the wonders he had done. Dr. H. More.

☞ Notwithstanding was, by Johnson and Webster, viewed as a participle absolute, an English equivalent of the Latin non obstante. Its several meanings, either as preposition, adverb, or conjunction, are capable of being explained in this view. Later grammarians, while admitting that the word was originally a participle, and can be treated as such, prefer to class it as a preposition or disjunctive conjunction.

Syn. — In spite of; despite. — Notwithstanding, In spite of, Despite. These words and phrases are often interchanged, but there is a difference between them, chiefly in strength. Notwithstanding is the weaker term, and simply points to some obstacle that may exist; as, I shall go, notwithstanding the rain. In spite or despite of has reference primarily to active opposition to be encountered from others; as, "I'll be, in man's despite, a monarch; " "I'll keep mine own, despite of all the world." Shak. Hence, these words, when applied to things, suppose greater opposition than notwithstanding. We should say. "He was thrust rudely out of doors in spite of his entreaties," rather than "notwithstanding". On the other hand, it would be more civil to say, "Notwithstanding all you have said, I must still differ with you."

Not′with·stand′ing, adv. or conj. [Originally the participle of withstand, with not prefixed.] Nevertheless; however; although; as, I shall go, notwithstanding it rains.

I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it. 1 Kings xi. 11, 12.

They which honor the law as an image of the wisdom of God himself, are, notwithstanding, to know that the same had an end in Christ. Hooker.

You did wisely and honestly too, notwithstanding She is the greatest beauty in the parish. Fielding.

Notwithstanding that, notwithstanding; although.

These days were ages to him, notwithstanding that he was basking in the smiles of the pretty Mary. W. Irving.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty. Of the others, 1,362 (a word or a single letter each) were inferred by AI from the context by the dictionary’s own rules and are marked with a wavy underline (tap or point at one to see the note); the rest, which could not be inferred with confidence, are left as “?”.