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despite

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅spite

  [di-spahyt] preposition, noun, verb, -spit⋅ed, -spit⋅ing.
Use despite in a Sentence
–preposition
1. in spite of; notwithstanding.
–noun
2. contemptuous treatment; insult.
3. malice, hatred, or spite.
–verb (used with object)
4. Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.
—Idiom
5. in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding: He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
Origin:
1250–1300; orig. in despite of; ME despit < OF < L dēspectus view from a height, scorn, equiv. to dēspec-, var. s. of dēspicere (see despicable ) + -tus suffix of v. action

Synonyms:
1. See notwithstanding.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To despite
de·spite   (dĭ-spīt')   
prep.  In spite of; notwithstanding: won the game despite overwhelming odds.
n.  

  1. Contemptuous defiance or disregard.

  2. Spite; malice: "He died soon after . . . of pure despite and vexation" (Sir Walter Scott).


[Short for in despite of, from Middle English despit, spite, from Old French, from Latin dēspectus, from past participle of dēspicere, to despise; see despise.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

despite 
1297, from O.Fr. despit, from L. despectus "a looking down on," from despicere (see despise). The preposition (1593) is short for in despite of (1292), a loan-translation of Fr. en despit de "in contempt of." Almost became despight during 16c. spelling reform.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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