Question about "notwithstanding" term

[Reformed_Rob]

Ok, this might be kind of technical, but probably some of you can answer it pretty easily. Sometimes, people use a phrase like “all other things notwithstanding” and I have no idea what that means! I’m not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I can usually understand conceptual things, but that phrase and similar ones always make me go " - huh?" you know what I mean?

I’ll give 2 examples that are pertinent, and maybe you can see where my difficulty lies, and help me out.

1. From Pope Leo XIII Bull “Apostolicae Curae”

1. We decree that these letters and all things contained therein shall not be liable at any time to be impugned or objected to by reason of fault or any other defect whatsoever of subreption or obreption of our intention, but are and shall be always valid and in force and shall be inviolably observed both juridically and otherwise, by all of whatsoever degree and preeminence, declaring null and void anything which, in these matters, may happen to be contrariwise attempted, whether wittingly or unwittingly, by any person whatsoever, by whatsoever authority or pretext, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.

1. From Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Const. "Misalle Romanum"

     We wish that these Our decrees and prescriptions may be firm and effective  now and in the future, notwithstanding

, to the extent necessary, the apostolic constitutions and ordinances issued by Our predecessors, and other prescriptions, even those deserving particular mention and derogation .

Like, what does all that “notwithstanding” stuff mean?

 

[DeFide]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I think the English language would be better off without that mismash. Googling:

not·with·stand·ing (nŏt’wĭth-stăn**’**dĭng, -
prep.
In spite of: The teams played on, notwithstanding the rain.

adv.
All the same; nevertheless: We proceeded, notwithstanding.

conj.
In spite of the fact that; although.

 

[Reformed_Rob]

Well thanks DeFide,

I’ll ponder on that for a while,

-Rob

 

[Liberian]

Rob,

In simple English, in the context of the papal writings, it means “No matter what any of this other stuff may say, … .”

• Liberian

 

[Catholic2003]

So, “all things to the contrary notwithstanding” means “even in spite of all things to the contrary”.

 

[JimG]

Notwithstanding the title of this thread, I would like to talk about something else entirely.

 

[Chipper]

Reformed Rob:

Ok, this might be kind of technical, but probably some of you can answer it pretty easily. Sometimes, people use a phrase like “all other things notwithstanding” and I have no idea what that means! I’m not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I can usually understand conceptual things, but that phrase and similar ones always make me go " - huh?" you know what I mean?

I’ll give 2 examples that are pertinent, and maybe you can see where my difficulty lies, and help me out.

1. From Pope Leo XIII Bull “Apostolicae Curae”
2. From Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Const. "Misalle Romanum"
   
   .

Like, what does all that “notwithstanding” stuff mean?

It is interchangeable with the word “despite”. From Meriam’s dictionary :"…
: DESPITE <notwithstanding their lack of experience, they were an immediate success> – often used after its object <the motion passed, our objection notwithstanding>"

So just substitute the word Despite wherever you see nowithstanding, although the word Despite doesn’t look so good when it is after the object.

For instance “…our objection Despite”. This phrase doesn’t read right.

So they use “…our objection Notwithstanding”, which means “despite our objection”.

Chipper

 

[Reformed_Rob]

Chipper:

It is interchangeable with the word “despite”. From Meriam’s dictionary :"…
**: **DESPITE <notwithstanding their lack of experience, they were an immediate success> – often used after its object <the m

Chipper

Thanks Chipperino, I’ll remember to use that little switch there to help!

Everyone else, thanks as well. There seems to be some consistency there in your explanations. Maybe we just need to use that word more, both in the subject and in the predicate. You’d have to have a predicate nominative to use it after the subject, wouldn’t you? Whoah, stop right there!! Flashbacks from sitting at that table next to the cute girl in 7th grade English class!!

 

[Reformed_Rob]

JimG:

Notwithstanding the title of this thread, I would like to talk about something else entirely.

Say, perhaps… back when we were young teenagers in school?

But you’ve gotta work in the special word of the thread, “notwithstanding” at least once in each post.

One of my buddies had such a crush on that girl that set next to me. Me and her didn’t get along to well. I liked this other girl, but she had a jealous boyfriend. But we were friends, notwithstanding her boyfriend and my shyness.

 

[JimG]

But this other girl had a crush on the guy who sat behind me in English class, notwithstanding his neverending nerdiness. (We were working on alliteration that day.)

 

[Chipper]

Reformed Rob:

Say, perhaps… back when we were young teenagers in school?

But you’ve gotta work in the special word of the thread, “notwithstanding” at least once in each post.

One of my buddies had such a crush on that girl that set next to me. Me and her didn’t get along to well. I liked this other girl, but she had a jealous boyfriend. But we were friends, notwithstanding her boyfriend and my shyness.

Notwithstanding the english lesson here, it’s still fun.

Regards,
Chipper