DESPITE

despite

(noun) contemptuous disregard; “she wanted neither favor nor despite”

contempt, disdain, scorn, despite

(noun) lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike; “he was held in contempt”; “the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Preposition

despite

In spite of, notwithstanding, regardless of.

Synonyms

• in spite of, maugre; see also despite

Noun

despite (countable and uncountable, plural despites)

(obsolete) Disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.

(archaic) Action or behaviour displaying such feelings; an outrage, insult.

Evil feeling; malice, spite.

Verb

despite (third-person singular simple present despites, present participle despiting, simple past and past participle despited)

(obsolete) To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.

Anagrams

• seed pit, septide

Source: Wiktionary


De*spite", n. Etym: [OF. despit, F. dépit, fr. L. despectus contempt, fr. despicere. See Despise, and cf. Spite, Despect.]

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. In despite, in defiance of another's power or inclination.

– In despite of, in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. "Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving.

– In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obs.]

De*spite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.] Etym: [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.]

Definition: To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

De*spite", prep.

Definition: In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.

Syn.

– See Notwithstanding.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

3 April 2025

WHOLE

(noun) an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity; “how big is that part compared to the whole?”; “the team is a unit”


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