Definitions for Despite
dɪˈspaɪtde·spite

Princeton's WordNet(4.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

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(4.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. DESPITEnoun

   Etymology: spijt, Dutch; dépit, French.

   1. Malice; anger; malignity; maliciousness; spleen; hatred.

   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.

   2. Defiance.

   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.

   3. Act of malice; act of opposition.

   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.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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. despectus—despicĕre.]

Matched Categories

1. • Dislike
   • Disregard

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

Anagrams for Despite »

1. seed pit

How to pronounce Despite?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Glass Lewis:

   We have strong concerns regarding pay outcomes relative to financial performance and investor outcomes in respect of the past fiscal year, in particular, we note that bonus payouts to the executive directors were at 100 percent of maximum opportunity despite the lacklustre overall performance during fiscal year 2015.

2. Antoine Mbao Bogo:

   We have counted 99 seriously wounded, some of whom are being treated. And some are dying because the there was nothing to be done, despite the work of the doctors.

3. Abu Akleh:

   I will never forget the magnitude of destruction or the feeling that death was sometimes close, we used to sleep in hospitals or under the roofs of people we did not know, and despite the danger, we were determined to keep reporting.

4. Phil Flynn:

   The overarching concern in this market is the growing inventory levels for crude, and that doesn't seem to be easing despite the strong refinery runs we've been having.

5. Xiao Shijun:

   The fall today remained propelled by profit-taking after the gains in recent weeks, with lots of reforms in the pipeline and official economy-boosting steps taken, the market will remain in a rebounding track in the medium term despite short-term volatility.

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