notwithstanding

WOTD – 8 October 2007    

English

Alternative forms

• noughtwithstanding

Etymology

Middle English notwithstandinge, from a calque from Latin nōn obstante ("not standing")

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˌnɒtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/
• (US) IPA: /ˌnɑtwɪθˈstændɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ændɪŋ

Adverb

notwithstanding (not comparable)

1. Nevertheless, all the same.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, i 4:

     But notwithstanding, man,
     I'll do you your master what good I can;

• For more examples of usage of this term, see the citations page.

Synonyms

• (nevertheless): all the same, nevertheless, nonetheless

Translations

never the less

• Dutch: desondanks (nl)
• French: malgré tout (fr), nonobstant (fr), cependant (fr), néanmoins (fr)
• German: dennoch (de)
• Icelandic: samt sem áður (is), engu að síður (is)
• Italian: nonostante (it)
• Portuguese: não obstante (pt)

• Russian: тем не менее (ru) (tem ne méneje), однако (ru) (odnáko); но всё же (no vsjo že); но всё-таки (no vsjó-taki); но, несмотря на это (no, nesmotrjá na éto); но, как бы то ни было (no, kak by to ní býlo, common, colloquial)
• Spanish: no obstante (es) m
• Swedish: likväl (sv), ändå (sv)
• Turkish: buna rağmen (tr), buna karşın (tr), herşeye rağmen (tr)

Conjunction

notwithstanding

1. Although.
   • 1724, Daniel Defoe, Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress, ch. 30:

     Upon which Amy had said, that notwithstanding I was angry with her and had used her so hardly for saying something about her of the same kind, yet there was an absolute necessity of securing her and removing her out of the way;

• For more examples of usage of this term, see the citations page.

Usage notes

• 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

although

• German: obwohl (de)
• Icelandic: enda þótt, þó að

• Russian: хотя (ru) (xotja)
• Turkish: olduğu halde (tr), olmakla birlikte (tr), olmasına karşın (tr), olmasına rağmen (tr), olsa da (tr)

Preposition

notwithstanding

1. In spite of, despite.
   • 1826, James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans, ch. 26:

     Notwithstanding the high resolution of Hawkeye he fully comprehended all the difficulties and danger he was about to incur.

   • 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 examples of usage of this term, see the citations page.

Usage notes

• Often used after its complement, the etymology of its name notwithstanding.

Synonyms

• (in spite of): despite, in spite of, maugre

Translations

in spite of

• Czech: přes (cs), vzdor (cs), navzdory (cs)
• Dutch: niettegenstaande (nl)
• Esperanto: malgraŭ (eo)
• French: en dépit de (fr), nonobstant (fr)
• German: ungeachtet (de), trotz (de)
• Hebrew: למרות (lamrot); אף על פי (af al pi)

• Icelandic: þrátt fyrir (is)
• Portuguese: apesar (pt)
• Romanian: in ciuda faptului ca (ro)
• Russian: несмотря на (ru) (nesmotrja na), вопреки (ru) (vopreki)
• Spanish: no obstante (es)

Derived terms

• notwithstanding clause (Canada)