What does despite mean?

Definitions for despite
dɪˈspaɪtde·spite

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word despite.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. contempt, disdain, scorn, despitenoun

    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

    "he was held in contempt"; "the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary"

  2. despitenoun

    contemptuous disregard

    "she wanted neither favor nor despite"

Wiktionary

  1. despitenoun

    Disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.

  2. despitenoun

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

  3. despitenoun

    Evil feeling; malice, spite.

  4. despitepreposition

    in spite of

  5. Etymology: From despit, from despectum, from despicere.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. DESPITEnoun

    Etymology: spijt, Dutch; dépit, French.

    Thou wretch! despite o’erwhelm thee! William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

    With men these considerations are usually the causes of despite, disdain, or aversion from others; but with God they pass for reasons of our greater tenderness towards others. Thomas Sprat.

    The life, thou gav’st me first, was lost and done;
    ’Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate,
    To my determin’d time thou gav’st new date. William Shakespeare, H. VI.

    My life thou shalt command, but not my shame;
    The one my duty owes; but my fair name,
    Despite of death, that lives upon my grave,
    To dark dishonour’s use thou shalt not have. William Shakespeare, Rich. II.

    Know I will serve the fair in thy despite. John Dryden, Fab.

    I have not quitted yet a victor’s right;
    I’ll make you happy in your own despite. John Dryden, Aurengzebe.

    Say, would the tender creature, in despite
    Of heat by day, and chilling dews by night,
    Its life maintain? Richard Blackmore, Creation.

    Thou, with rebel insolence, did’st dare
    To own and to protect that hoary ruffian;
    And in despite, ev’n of thy father’s justice,
    To stir the factious rabble up to arms. Nicholas Rowe, Amb. S. Moth.

    His punishment, eternal misery,
    It would be all his solace and revenge,
    As a despite done against the most High,
    Thee once to gain companion of his woe. John Milton, Par. Lost.

  2. To Despiteverb

    To vex; to affront; to give uneasiness to.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    Saturn, with his wife Rhea, fled by night, setting the town on fire, to despite Bacchus. Walter Raleigh, History.

ChatGPT

  1. despite

    Despite is a preposition used to indicate the occurrence of an action or event even though something might have hindered or prevented it. It generally signifies a contrast or contradiction, essentially meaning "in spite of" or "regardless of".

Webster Dictionary

  1. Despitenoun

    malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate

  2. Despitenoun

    an act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt

  3. Despitenoun

    to vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously

  4. Despite

    in spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices

  5. Etymology: [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Despite

    de-spīt′, n. a looking down upon with contempt: violent malice or hatred.—prep. in spite of: notwithstanding.—adj. Despite′ful.—adv. Despite′fully.—n. Despite′fulness.—adj. Despit′eous (Spens.). [O. Fr. despit (mod. dépit)—L. despectusdespicĕre.]

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'despite' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #625

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'despite' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2698

How to pronounce despite?

How to say despite in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of despite in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of despite in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of despite in a Sentence

  1. Kathryn Masterson:

    Despite constitutional considerations and legal scrutiny of water rates, rate increases remain one of the most viable tools utilities have in the face of greater conservation and lower revenues.

  2. Energy Aspects:

    Global oil demand continues to surprise to the upside, with April data showing no signs of slowdown despite a pick-up in prices.

  3. Franois Margolin:

    We are going to lose a lot of money despite the fact that we risked our lives to shoot some scenes.

  4. Anthony Valeri:

    The momentum is still skewed to the positive despite the earnings data and some of the mixed economic data.

  5. Ken Mehlman:

    But despite these differences, so many of our faiths and traditions are rooted in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would want done to you. Isn’t allowing adults to marry the person they love consistent with the Golden Rule?

Popularity rank by frequency of use

despite#1#2813#10000

Translations for despite

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"despite." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/despite>.

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    weak or sickly person especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health
    A naiant
    B bristly
    C valetudinarian
    D irascible

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