despite
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L319344 on Wikidata ↗preposition
- used to indicate that something happens or is the case even though there is an obstacle, difficulty, or another opposing factor
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /dɪˈspaɪt/
noun
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English despit, dispit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). The preposition is derived from Middle English dispit, itself derived from the phrase in dispit of (in despite of). Compare typologically Russian несмотря́ на (nesmotrjá na) (< смотре́ть (smotrétʹ)); невзира́я на (nevzirája na) (< взира́ть (vzirátʹ)), презре́в (prezrév) (< презре́ть (prezrétʹ) <~ зреть (zretʹ)) (compare despite—despise relation).
- Disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.
“A fals double tunge is more fiers and fell Then Cerberus the cur couching in the kenel of hel; Wherof hereafter, I thinke for to write,”
“Thou waſt euer an obſtinate heretique in the deſpight of Beautie.”
- Action or behaviour displaying such feelings; an outrage, insult.
“he aſked kynge Arthur yf he wold gyue hym leue to ryde after Balen and to reuenge the deſpyte that he had done Doo your beſt ſaid Arthur I am right wroth ſaid Balen I wold he were quyte of the deſpyte that he hath done to me and to my Courte”
“Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall hee be thought worthy, who hath troden vnder foote þe Sonne of God, and hath counted the blood of the couenant wherwith he was sanctified, an vnholy thing, and hath done despite vnto the spirit of grace?”
- Evil feeling; malice, spite, annoyance.
“How often am I obliged to speak mal à propos, because my features are not sufficiently charming in a state of repose!—how often is my ingenuity racked to find a word, when a look would have been far better! I am compelled to be amusing, in my own despite.”
“And for these Corcyraeans—neither receive them into alliance in our despite, nor be their abettors in crime.”
prep
Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English despit, dispit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). The preposition is derived from Middle English dispit, itself derived from the phrase in dispit of (in despite of). Compare typologically Russian несмотря́ на (nesmotrjá na) (< смотре́ть (smotrétʹ)); невзира́я на (nevzirája na) (< взира́ть (vzirátʹ)), презре́в (prezrév) (< презре́ть (prezrétʹ) <~ зреть (zretʹ)) (compare despite—despise relation).
- In spite of, not with standing.
“Despite being a near-mirror image my of right, my left hand is terrible at these stuff.”
“So thou through windowes of thine age ſhalt ſee, Diſpight of wrinkles this thy goulden time.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English despite, dispite, dyspite, dyspyte, from Old French despitier.
- To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.
“to despite his opposites”