Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
- a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
- Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.
verb (used with object), spit·ed, spit·ing.
- to treat with spite or malice.
- to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
- to fill with spite; vex; offend.
- cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face. nose(def 23).
- in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite: She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.
noun
- maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
- an instance of such malice; grudge
- archaic something that induces vexation
- in spite of (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding
verb (tr)
- to annoy in order to vent spite
- archaic to offend
c.1300, shortened form of despit “malice” (see despite). Corresponding to Middle Dutch spijt, Middle Low German spyt, Middle Swedish spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.
Regardless of, in defiance of, as in They kept on in spite of their fears. [c. 1400]
see in spite of.