despite
9.9
A feeling of strong dislike and no respect for someone or something
- noun
- /dɪˈspaɪt/
- Archaic
:
desprecio
- She held him in despite and refused his offers of reconciliation.
Examples
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He acted out of pure despite, caring nothing for the consequences.
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Old letters revealed a tone of despite that surprised her descendants.
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He showed despite towards his critics.
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The despite he felt was evident.
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His actions were driven by sheer despite, a contempt that he could not hide.
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The letter expressed a deep despite for the decisions made by the council.
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She regarded the insults with despite, showing how little they affected her feelings.
Antonyms
How Contemptuous
Surface Forms
Etymology
Despite comes from an old French word despit, which in turn comes from Latin despicere, made of de- 'down' and spec- 'to look'. So a despite was originally a 'looking down' — that is, 'contempt' or 'scorn', which explains the archaic noun meaning an insult or scornful feeling.