I. di-ˈspīt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French despit, from Latin despectus, from despicere
Date: 13th century
1. : the feeling or attitude of despising : contempt
2. : malice , spite
3.
a. : an act showing contempt or defiance
b. : detriment , disadvantage
I know of no government which stands to its obligations, even in its own despite , more solidly — Sir Winston Churchill
•
- in despite of
II. transitive verb
( de·spit·ed ; de·spit·ing )
Date: 14th century
1. archaic : to treat with contempt
2. obsolete : to provoke to anger : vex
III. preposition
Date: 15th century
: in spite of
played despite an injury