given

[Benjamin Barrett]

It seems to me to be the same as "considering" (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/given).

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Mar 14, 2013, at 3:10 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> 
> Isn't this a weird (or at least very recent) use of "given"?
> http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ncv/case-def.html<http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ncv/case-def.html>
> 
> "The efficiency of person-to-person transmission of novel coronavirus is
> not well characterized but appears to be low, given the small number of
> confirmed cases since the discovery of the virus."
> 
> It seems to mean "if one takes cautiously or skeptically into account" or
> something. But to me, "given" means more like "because of." (OED isn't much
> help on this.)

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org