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While vs Notwithstanding - What's the difference?

while | notwithstanding |

As nouns the difference between while and notwithstanding

is that while is an uncertain duration of time, a period of time while notwithstanding is an instance of the word "notwithstanding", often characteristic of legalese.

As conjunctions the difference between while and notwithstanding

is that while is during the same time that while notwithstanding is although.

As a verb while

is to pass (time) idly.

As an adverb notwithstanding is

nevertheless, all the same.

As a preposition notwithstanding is

in spite of, despite.

while

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An uncertain duration of time, a period of time.
  • He lectured for quite a long while .

    Conjunction

    (wikipedia while) (English Conjunctions)
  • During the same time that.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=While the powwow was going on the big woman came back again. She was consider'ble rumpled and scratched up, but there was fire in her eye.}}
  • * 1948 , , North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States , J. B. Lippincott Company, page 25,
  • While De Anza was exploring the Bay of San Francisco, seeking a site for the presidio, the American colonists on the eastern seaboard, three thousand miles away, were celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.}}
  • Although.
  • * 2013 September 28, (Kenan Malik), " London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013):
  • While Britain’s recession has been deep and unforgiving, in London it has been relatively shallow.
  • (Northern England, Scotland) Until.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight.
  • As long as.
  • * I. Watts
  • Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.

    Verb

    (whil)
  • To pass (time) idly.
  • * Longfellow
  • The lovely lady whiled the hours away.
  • To loiter.
  • (Spectator)

    Derived terms

    * while away * meanwhile * the while

    notwithstanding

    English

    Alternative forms

    * noughtwithstanding (obsolete and rare)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Nevertheless, all the same.
  • * 1599 , , i 4:
  • But notwithstanding , man,
    I'll do you your master what good I can;
    *

    Synonyms

    * (nevertheless) all the same, nevertheless, nonetheless

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • Although.
  • * 1724 , , 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;
    *

    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 .).

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • 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.
  • * Dr. H. More
  • Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition, proclaim the wonders he had done.
  • * 1826 , , ch. 26:
  • Notwithstanding the high resolution of Hawkeye he fully comprehended all the difficulties and danger he was about to incur.
  • * 1679 , 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 .
    *

    Usage notes

    * Often used after its complement, the etymology of its name notwithstanding.

    Synonyms

    * (in spite of) despite, in spite of, maugre

    Derived terms

    * notwithstanding clause (Canada)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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 .
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