prep. & n.
--prep. in spite of.
--n. archaic or literary 1 outrage, injury.
2 malice, hatred (died of mere despite).
Phrases and idioms:
despite (or in despite) of archaic in spite of.
Derivatives:
despiteful adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF despit f. L despectus noun f. despicere (as DESPISE)