pping it, as it
were, incidentally; as, "_tho_ we are guilty, thou art good;" to say "we
are guilty, _but_ thou art good," would make the concession of guilt
more emphatic. Compare BUT; YET.

* * * * *

NOTWITHSTANDING, _prep._

Synonyms:

despite, in spite of.

_Notwithstanding_ simply states that circumstances shall not be or have
not been allowed to withstand; _despite_ and _in spite of_ refer
primarily to personal and perhaps spiteful opposition; as, he failed
_notwithstanding_ his good intentions; or, he persevered _in spite of_
the most bitter hostility. When _despite_ and _in spite of_ are applied
to inanimate things, it is with something of personification; "_in spite
of_ the storm" is said as if the storm had a hostile purpose to oppose
the undertaking.

* * * * *

OATH.

Synonyms:

adjuration, curse, profane swearing,
affidavit, cursing, profanity,
anathema, denunciation, reprobation,
ban, execration, swearing,
blaspheming, imprecation, sworn statement.
blasphemy, malediction, vow.

In the highest sense, as in a court of justice, "an _oath_ is a
reverent appeal to God in corroboration of what one says," ABBOTT _Law
Dict._; an _affidavit_ is a _sworn statement_ made in writing in the
presence of a competent officer; an _adjuration_ is a solemn appeal to a
person in the name of God to speak the truth. An _oath_ is made to man
in the name of God; a _vow_, to God without the intervention, often
without the knowledge, of man. In the lower sense, an _oath_ may be mere
_blasphemy_ or _profane swearing_. _Anathema_, _curse_, _execration_,
and _imprecation_ are modes of invoking vengeance or retribution from a
superhuman power upon the person against whom they are uttered.
_Anathema_ is a solemn ecclesiastical condemnation of a person or of a
proposition. _Curse_ may be just and authoritative; as, the _curse_ of
God; or, it may be wanton and powerless: "so the _curse_ causeless shall
not come," _Prov._ xxvi, 2. _Execration_ expresses most of personal
bitterness and hatred; _imprecation_ refers especially to the coming of
the desired evil upon the person against whom it is uttered.
_Malediction_ is a general wish of evil, a less usual but very
expressive word. Compare TESTIMONY.

Antonyms:

benediction, benison, blessing.

* * * * *

OBSCURE.