nevertheless English · revision 6610

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌnɛvəðəˈlɛs/ ''(UK)''; /ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English never the lesse, from [[never]], [[the]] (in its adverbial use, as in “the more the merrier”) and [[less]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Never here means “not at all”, as in “never the wiser”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Notwithstanding: before 1300 in the OED, the early 14th century in Etymonline, as neuer þe lesse;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) written as one word from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English had several similar forms, such as neverthelater (about 1200), never-less and not-the-less;^(Etymonline) compare [[nonetheless]].^(Etymonline) Collins notes a literary contracted form ne'ertheless.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – neverthelater.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1300 – never the less.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – written as one word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In spite of that; [[however]]; all the same.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nonetheless]]

+ * [[notwithstanding]]

+ * [[never]]

+ * [[less]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}