spite

[spahyt] /spaɪt/
noun
1.
a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
2.
a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
3.
Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.
verb (used with object), spited, spiting.
4.
to treat with spite or malice.
5.
to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
6.
to fill with spite; vex; offend.
Idioms
7.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose (def 23).
8.
in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite:
She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite
Related forms
spiteless, adjective
unspited, adjective
Synonyms
1. malevolence, maliciousness, rancor, venom, spleen. See grudge. 7. See notwithstanding.
Examples from the web for in spite of
  • The frame itself contains mechanisms that move the mirror smoothly in spite of its heavy weight.
  • in spite of its seeming advantages, the dinosaur possessed little ability to respond to changed conditions.
  • in spite of his eloquence, the grand steward remains unmoved.
  • But in spite of the absence of definite organization, there was essential unity of belief among the dissenters.
  • Perhaps, in spite of himself, writing must have been still necessary to him as a means of subsistence.
  • One day he was walking up and down, trying to think in spite of his enfeebled state.
  • in spite of themselves all the players watched him closely.
  • in spite of its small size, a luggage lock can be a big help in providing you peace of mind when you travel.
  • in spite of the work involved, you can take steps to ease the stress on yourself and your dog.
  • She immersed herself in the water three times, reciting a prayer each time, in spite of inhaling water and briefly choking.
British Dictionary definitions for in spite of

spite

/spaɪt/
noun
1.
maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
2.
an instance of such malice; grudge
3.
(archaic) something that induces vexation
4.
(preposition) in spite of, in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding
verb (transitive)
5.
to annoy in order to vent spite
6.
(archaic) to offend
Word Origin
C13: variant of despite
Word Origin and History for in spite of

spite

n.

c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to Middle Dutch spijt, Middle Low German spyt, Middle Swedish spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.

Idioms and Phrases with in spite of

in spite of

Regardless of, in defiance of, as in They kept on in spite of their fears. [ c. 1400 ]

spite

see: in spite of