despite Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    scorn; contempt; disdain.
    • he was held in contempt
    • the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary
  2. noun contemptuous disregard
    • she wanted neither favor nor despite

WordNet

De*spite" noun
Etymology
OF. despit, F. dépit, fr. L. despectus contempt, fr. despicere. See Despise, and cf. Spite, Despect.
Definitions
  1. Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate.
    With all thy despite against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6.
  2. An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt.
    A despite done against the Most High. Milton.
De*spite" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Despited; present participle & verbal noun Despiting
Definitions
  1. To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. Obs. Sir W. Raleigh.
De*spite" preposition
Definitions
  1. In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices. Syn. -- See Notwithstanding.

Webster 1913