Definitions for despite
dɪˈspaɪtde·spite

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.3 / 3 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 4 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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. Troy Kelley:

   I am aware the U.S. Attorney has questions about some financial activities related to my prior business, The Post Closing Department, i do not know any specifics about their inquiry, despite repeated requests for information, and cannot comment further.

2. Rajeh Khoury:

   Despite what happened in Roumieh prison, which has restored some of the state's standing, the situation in the country remains fragile, the danger is still there because Lebanon stands in the middle of fires and wars that are burning around it.

3. Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg:

   Despite the ongoing challenges of the air cargo market, we continue to see the 747 as a unique and significant value creator for our customers over the long term.

4. Jos Barlow:

   Despite uncertainty about the total effect of these disturbances, it is clear that their cumulative effect can be as important as deforestation for carbon emissions and biodiversity loss, it is a really significant contribution to the global climate.

5. Jayne Dixon Weber:

   When the kids are young, Randi Hagerman’re kind of hypersensitive to what other people think, i ’m past that now, and I ’m thankful that I am. What’s up next ? Medications helpful in treating Fragile X syndrome are a portal to understanding and developing treatments for other intellectual disabilities as well, including autism, Randi Hagerman said. As for Ian, Jayne Dixon Weber said if he continues working at the food store and stays active within his community, he will continue to grow and learn. Despite his developmental delays, Ian’s energy and attitude work in his favor.

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