despite

[dih-spahyt] /dɪˈspaɪt/
preposition
1.
in spite of; notwithstanding.
noun
2.
contemptuous treatment; insult.
3.
malice, hatred, or spite.
verb (used with object), despited, despiting.
4.
Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.
Idioms
5.
in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding:
He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
Origin
1250-1300; orig. in despite of; Middle English despit < Old French < Latin dēspectus view from a height, scorn, equivalent to dēspec-, variant stem of dēspicere (see despicable) + -tus suffix of v. action
Synonyms
1. See notwithstanding.
Examples from the web for despite
  • Everyone is welcome despite age or location.
  • The truly beautiful truck commands the eye despite all the vivid signs.
  • And yes, there's plenty of water in the lakes, despite the drought.
  • Whom mere despite of heart could so far please.
  • She finished with 63.76 points despite an off-balance triple flip.
  • At the time most economists thought money was easy, and firms were failing to invest despite easy money.
  • She discovered, despite what people may imagine, having nothing to lose is a lot like having nothing.
  • But despite the presence of such powerhouses, the publishing world is not necessarily shrinking.
  • It's fantastic, despite the rather curious new ending.
  • Yet despite their appearance, little is known about them.
British Dictionary definitions for despite

despite

/dɪˈspaɪt/
preposition
1.
in spite of; undeterred by
noun
2.
(archaic) contempt; insult
3.
(preposition) (rare) in despite of, in spite of
verb
4.
(transitive) an archaic word for spite
Word Origin
C13: from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus contempt; see despise
Word Origin and History for despite

c.1300, originally a noun, from Old French despit (12c., Modern French dépit), from Latin despectus "a looking down on, scorn, contempt," from past participle of despicere (see despise).

The preposition (early 15c.) is short for in despite of (late 13c.), a loan-translation of Old French en despit de "in contempt of." Almost became despight during 16c. spelling reform.