Main Entry:

¹de·spite

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈspīt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French despit, from Latin despectus, from despicere

Date:

13th century

1: the feeling or attitude of despising : contempt2: malice, spite3 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

: in spite of