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

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

Nochtwithstanding, prep., quasi-conj., and adv. Also: noucht-, noght-, (nycht-), and -witht-, -wyth(t)-, -vith-, vyth-, -wit- and -inge, -in, -yng(e, -eing, -eng. [ME. (c 1360–1426) noght-with-standing, noughtwithstondyng, nou ȝtwithstandynge, after med. L. non obstante, OF. non obstant: cf. Nocht-obstant and Notwithstanding. More often written as one word.] Notwithstanding.

1. prep. In spite of, despite. 1439 Cop. St. A. 171.
Nochtwitstandyng ony clam that Schir Alexander Hume pretendis of tak tharof 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 44.
That noghtwythstanding the delay bigane yhe fulfil … our … souerane lordis lettres 1454 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 14. 1456 Hay I. 128/31.
Bot nochtwithstanding all thir resounis [etc.] 1492 Myll Spect. 272/14. 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 327.
Nochtvythstanding 1518 Fife Sheriff Ct. 108. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 53.
Nocht withstandyng all my besynes 1533 Bell. Livy II. 166/31.
The faderis, nochtwithstanding his divyne sprete, beleving he was bot ane vane interpretoure [etc.] c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 47.
Nochtwithstanding my wickitnes, In court I gat greit audience a1578 Pitsc. I. 362/19.
Nochtwithtstanding

b. Also in postposition. 1482 Edinb. Chart. 147.
Ony lieg, treux or saufgard, maid or tobe maid, nochtwithstanding 1501 Reg. Privy S. I. 106/1. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 32.
The acceptatioune of thir heidis nochtwithstanding, the saidis lordis [etc.]

2. In spite of. (This sense only Sc.) 1521 (1569–70) Inverness Rec. I. 184.
Nochtwythstanding of his intrusing of him 1562 Reg. Privy C. I. 227.
That nochtwithstanding of the admissioun of the saidis witnes … thair depositionis mak na faith 1600-1610 Melvill 265. Ib. 367.
Nochtwithstanding of the Lord's judgments that yeir upon Papists … [they] nevertheles war ever steiring 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 24.
Quhairvpoun the pannell askit instrumentis and nochtwithstanding thairof offerit thamselfis to the tryell c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 52.

3. Quasi-conj. a. Despite the fact that. 1448 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I. 113.
That nochtwithstandinge that the said reuerende fathir … aw na comperans in our justice ayris … ȝe cal hyme 1456 Hay I. 106/6. Ib. 107/3.
Bot nochtwithstanding that thai realmes be nocht subjectes to the empire, the Pape has power preceptive apon thame c1515 Asl. MS. I. 232/13.
And gart him kepe the preve sele nochtwithstanding that the said master James was excludit fra [etc.] 1469 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 416.
Noucht withstanding 1522–3 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 209. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 128/8; etc.
Nochtvithstandynge

b. (Without that). Even though, although. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 407.
That nocht-withstanding God … tholis synaris to ly in thar syne … lang tyme, ȝhit quhen he strikis [etc.] 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 383.
Bot nocht withstandyng thaire is mare of this lamentacioun … this ma suffyce 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 245.
Nochtwythstanding 1569 Inverness Rec. I. 175.
That nychtwythstanding he be nocht entrit in the soit roll … that the non entring thairin be nocht prejudiciall to him

4. adv. Nevertheless, despite this, even so. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 83.
And ȝhit for al this wysdome remanande euir with me and nocht-withstandinge I gaif my hart euir withgange of al plesans 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 462.
Nochtwithstanding your vniuersite sai wite that [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 74/24.
Bot nocht withstanding, the state of innocens had remanit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 191/26. 1492 Myll Spect. 281/14. 1500 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 85. 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 179.
Nochtwythtstanding Ib. 192.
Nouchtwithtstanding a1538 Abell 13 a.
Nocht with standing hoip is of his saluatioun for [etc.] c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 121. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 153/23. a1578 Pitsc. I. 107/23.
James faught … in Singular battell witht the lord of Waillis ane strang campioun … and wainquist him nochtwithstanding 1588 King Cat. fol. 223.
The same nocht with standing is accomplished in this justification of the wicked 1596 Dalr. I. 149/16. Ib. I. 5/12.
Quhen Cæsar nochtwithstandeng saw that thay war nocht lang lyklie to byd constant