Please explain 'notwithstanding', only in terms of the adverb 'not' and the root verb 'withstand'.
[ Grammarist: ] Notwithstanding is mainly a preposition meaning in spite of. Most dictionaries also list it as an adverb meaning nevertheless, but this sense is rarely used in modern English. Notwithstanding is always one word, and this has been the standard spelling for many centuries.
Although notwithstanding usually means exactly the same as in spite of, it is often positioned differently. In spite of always comes before its object—e.g., “In spite of your feedback, I’m not changing anything.” But notwithstanding is often postpositive, meaning it comes after its object—e.g., “Your feedback notwithstanding, I’m not changing anything.” Of course, it can come before its object as well—e.g., “Notwithstanding your feedback, I’m not changing anything.”
This answer explains: 'notwithstanding' etymologically signifies 'not standing against' or 'can't withstand'. Then I intuited notwithstanding's signification to vary by position:
- Notwithstanding X, Y (happens) = Can't withstand X, Y. = Y, can't withstand X.
- X notwithstanding, Y. = X can't withstand, Y.
But 1 is wrong, because 1 signifies the same as 2. So what is wrong with my intuition?