NOTWITHSTAND'ING, the participle of withstand, with not prefixed, and signifying not opposing; nevertheless. It retains in all cases its participial signification. For example, "I will surely rend the knigdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant; notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it, for david thy father's sake." 1 Kings 11. In this passage there is an ellipsis of that, after notwithstanding. That refers to the former part of the sentence, I will rend the kingdom from thee; notwithstanding that (declaration or determination,) in thy days I will not do it. in this and in all cases, notwithstanding, either with or without that or this, constitutes the case absolute or independent.

The participle of withstand, with not prefixed, and signifying not opposing; nevertheless. It retains in all cases its participial signification. For example, “I will surely rend the kingdom front thee, and will give it to thy servant; notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake.” 1 Kings xi. In this passage there is an ellipsis of that, after notwithstanding. That refers to the former part of the sentence, I will rend the kingdom from thee; notwithstanding that [declaration or determination,] in thy days I will not do it. In this and in all cases, notwithstanding, either with or without that or this, constitutes the case absolute or independent. “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. “Christ enjoined on his followers not to publish the cures he wrought; but notwithstanding his injunctions, they proclaimed them.” Here, notwithstanding his injunctions, is the case independent or absolute; the injunctions of Christ not opposing or preventing. This word answers precisely to the Latin non obstante, and both are used with nouns or with substitutes for nouns, for sentences or for clauses of sentences. So in the Latin phrase, hoc non obstante, hoc may refer to a single word, to a sentence or to a series of sentences.

1. 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."

2. 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.