Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nevertheles, adv. Also: nevir-, -yr(e)-, newer-, -yrand -thelese, -less(e, -lis; and Nertheles. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. neuer the lesse, -les(e, nevertheless.Written chiefly as one word.]

1. Nevertheless, none the less, notwithstanding.(1) a1400 Leg. S.ii. 450.
Thai ar thi frendis neuir-the-lese Ib. xxiv. 465; etc. 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts. No. 28. 1405 Ib. No. 58.
This present writ neuerthelesse to stande in all effect c1420 Wynt. vii. 203.
Nevyretheles Ib. 1831; etc.
Nevyrtheles ?14.. Ship Laws c. 8 (H).
And gif the schipmene grantit nocht the maistir sall cast it neuir the les 1456 Hay II. 22/6.
Suppos of all officis of honourabilitee the knychtis office be the lawast … nevertheles the ordre is hyest and maist honorable 1490 Irland Mir. I. 5/14. a1500 Seven S. 625.
Neuertheles the child was ay Deligent in all that he may Ib. 1243. 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 327.
Nochtvythstanding the said Jhone Stalkaris clame of intreis … the said Jhon has neuer the les … renuncijt [etc.] 1494 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 583.
Newertheles I bynd & oblis me … to the said Petire 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 107.
Seik in my bodye nevir the les hailin to my mynd 1533 Gau 83/28. 1558-66 Knox I. 392.
Thay nevirtheles continewit still in thair wickit purpoise a1578 Pitsc. I. 30/21, II. 68/30. 1590 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 51.
Nevertheles the saids personis … wrangouslie refuissis [etc.] 1600 Dundee Shipping P. 68.
Newer the lles shir y howp in God that ye sall find that y sall do may dewtei 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 4.(2) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 953.
Scho suld ȝet neuir-the-lese With castite restrenȝe hyr flesche c1400 Troy-bk. i. 478.
Ȝhit will I tell ȝow neuirtheles Somwhat mare of that maiden fre c1420 Wynt. iii. 203.
Tyll his wyff yhit nevertheles He tauld all Ib. v. 4971.
Nevyrtheles yhit it fell As [etc.] Ib. vii. 2018.
Yhit nevyrtheles all to be dwne This Rychard passyd on a1500 Henr. Fab. 1650 (Bann.). 1535 Stewart 36016; etc. 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 139.
Albeit the party be greit … yit nevirtheles sall thair greitnes nor respect of thair kinrent stay ws to execut justice a1578 Pitsc. I. 13/3. 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 46.(3) ?1438 Alex. ii. 8629.
Mony ane Grecian hes he felled, Bot neuer-the-les he had bene quelled [etc.] c1420 Wynt. viii. 5362.
Bot nevyrtheles full hardely Willame off Dowglas … Schot on thame Ib. vii. 2525.
Newyrtheles c1420 Ratis R. 673. 1456 Hay I. 204/10. Ib. 274/6.
Bot nevertheles I say nocht na [etc.] a1500 K. Hart 643. 1494 Loutfut MS. ii b.
Bot neuir the les be na resoun it suld nocht be put in range of colours a1578 Pitsc. II. 17/28.(4) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 230/3.
Quhilk was gret dolour … and neuertheles all the lordis … remanit still [etc.] a1500 Prestis of Peblis 455. 1533 Gau 84/11.
Mony prophetis … prayit mony prayers befor that our Lord ves borne and neuerthelis thay var hard with God

2. Nevertheless of, in spite of, notwithstanding. 1642 Thanes of Cawdor 287.
I thought soe long as ye wer ther that schoe wald not beine takin as ane weadow nevertheles of my absence 16.. Herries Mem. 16.
Nevertheless of this oath they murthred him