different between notwithstanding vs besides

English

Alternative forms

• noughtwithstanding (obsolete and rare)
• nonwithstanding (misconstruction)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?tw?ð?stænd??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?tw???stænd??/
• Rhymes: -ænd??

Adverb

notwithstanding (not comparable)

1. Nevertheless, all the same.

   He, notwithstanding, persisted in his inquiries.

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, i 4:

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

   • 1789, United States Contitution, Supremacy Clause:

     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

• (nevertheless): all the same, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, anyway, after all, regardless, yet; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless

Translations

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 quotations using this term, see Citations:notwithstanding.

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

Preposition

notwithstanding

1. In spite of, despite.
   • 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.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:notwithstanding.

Synonyms

• regardless of, maugre (obsolete); see also Thesaurus:despite

Postposition

notwithstanding

1. In spite of, despite.
   • 2014, Richard Rae, "Manchester United humbled by MK Dons after Will Grigg hits double", The Guardian, 26 August 2014:

     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.

Synonyms

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

Derived terms

• notwithstanding clause (Canada)

Translations

Noun

notwithstanding (plural notwithstandings)

1. An instance of the word "notwithstanding", often characteristic of legalese.
   • 2003, Banesh Hoffmann, The Tyranny of Testing (page 53)

     It is not for nothing that our language has its ifs and buts, its yets and howevers, its neverthelesses and notwithstandings, its possiblies and probablies and perhapses, and its on-the-other-hands.

   • 2004, Trevor Carolan, Down in the Valley: Writing in British Columbia (page 107)

     Letters from the English usually contained very formally typed documents with lots of heretofores and whereases and notwithstandings.

   • 2010, Richard Marcinko, Red Cell (page 149)

     The agreements were filled with wheretofores and herebys and hereafters and notwithstandings.

English

Etymology

beside +? -s. See -s (Etymology 3)

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /b??sa?dz/, /bi?sa?dz/

Preposition

besides

1. In addition, in addition to.
   • 1661, John Fell, “The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond”, quoted in Ecclesiastical Biography by Christopher Wordsworth, fourth edition, volume IV, London: Francis & John Rivington (1853):

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]

   • 1776, Thomas Pennant, A Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides, 1772

     It is besides used as a food, either as a sallad^[sic], raw, or boiled as greens.

2. Other than; except for; instead of.

3. (obsolete) Beside.
   • 1561, Geneva Bible, Acts 16:13,^{The Geneva Bible#page/n1075}

     And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the citie, be?ides a riuer, where they were wont to pray : and we ?ate downe, and ?pake vnto the women, which were come together.

   • 1577, Raphael Holinshed et al., The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, London: John Hunne, “The Historie of Englande. Aldestane,” p. 225,^[1]

     After this, was Edwin the Kings brother accu?ed of ?ome con?piracie by him begun again?t the K. whervpõ he was bani?hed the land, and ?ent out in an old rotten ve??ell without rower or Marriner, onely accompanied with one E?quire, ?o that beeing launched foorth from the ?hore, through very di?paire Edwin lept into the Sea, and drowned him?elfe, but the E?quire that was with him recouered his body, and broughte it to land at With?and be?ides Canterbury.

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, London: William Ponsonbie, Book Two, Canto 1, p. 198,^[2]

     Be?ides them both, vpon the ?oiled gras / The dead cor?e of an armed knight was ?pred, […]

Synonyms

• (in addition): beyond, on top of; see also Thesaurus:in addition to
• (other than): barring, besides, save for; see also Thesaurus:except

Translations

Adverb

besides (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive) Also; in addition.
2. (conjunctive) Used to emphasize an additional point, especially an important or stronger reason; Moreover; furthermore.

3. Otherwise; else.

4. (obsolete) On one side.
   • c. 1611, George Chapman (translator), The Iliads of Homer, London: Nathaniell Butter, Book 8, p. 111,^[3]

     Yet Teucer would another shaft, at Hectors life dispose;
     So faine, he such a marke would hit: but still besides it goes;

Translations

See also

• on top of that
• beside