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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Notwithstanding

Nōt'with-stānd'ing, prep.

preposition

prep. Without opposition, prevention, or obstruction from; in spite of.

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

Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition, proclaim the wonders he had done for them. Decay of Piety.

Synonyms—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; as, in spite of every difficulty, he at last succeeded. “In spite of all applications, the patient grew worse every day.” Arbuthnot. The nature of the case, therefore, will decide which of the two shall be used. 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.” “In spite of,” might seem rude and ungentlemanly.

Nŏt'/with-stănd'ing

commonly classed as an adv. or conj., originally the participle of withstand, with not prefixed. This not obstructing or preventing; nevertheless; however; 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.

I Kings xii. 11, 12.

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

☞ Notwithstanding is, by Johnson and Webster, viewed as a participle absolute. Its several meanings, either as preposition, adverb, and conjunction, are capable of being explained in this view. Johnson says, “This word, though in conformity to other writers called here a conjunction, is properly a participial adjective, as it is compounded of not and withstanding, and answers to the Latin non obstante; it is most properly and analogically used in the ablative case absolute with a noun; as, he is rich, notwithstanding his loss.” Dr. Webster says it is “the participle of withstand, with not prefixed, and signifying not opposing, nevertheless. It retains, in all cases, its participial signification. For example, it is a rainy day, but notwithstanding that, the troops must be reviewed, that is, the rainy day not opposing or preventing. That, in this case, is a substitute for the whole first clause of the sentence. It is to that clause what a relative is to an antecedent noun, and which may be used in the place of it; notwithstanding which, that is, the rainy day.” 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.