Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
preposition
- in spite of; notwithstanding.
noun
- contemptuous treatment; insult.
- malice, hatred, or spite.
verb (used with object), de·spit·ed, de·spit·ing.
- Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.
- in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding: He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
preposition
- in spite of; undeterred by
noun
- archaic contempt; insult
- in despite of (preposition) rare in spite of
verb
- (tr) an archaic word for spite
c.1300, originally a noun, from Old French despit (12c., Modern French dépit), from Latin despectus “a looking down on, scorn, contempt,” from past participle of despicere (see despise).
The preposition (early 15c.) is short for in despite of (late 13c.), a loan-translation of Old French en despit de “in contempt of.” Almost became despight during 16c. spelling reform.