# despite

Pronunciation: say "di-SPYT" /dɪˈspaɪt/

## Preposition

1. Used before a noun to show that something happens even though that thing would normally prevent it.
   - Simple: Used to say something happens even when another thing might have stopped it.
   - _Despite the heavy traffic, they arrived on time._
   - _He stayed calm despite the bad news._

## Noun

2. An act or piece of behavior that displays malice; an outrage or insult. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A cruel or insulting act that shows hate or anger.
3. Contempt and disdain toward someone or something; scornful hatred. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A strong feeling of looking down on someone with hate.

## Verb

4. To vex or annoy someone while treating them with contempt; to offend deliberately and scornfully. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To annoy or upset someone in a way that shows you look down on them.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A feeling of malice or ill will; the desire to harm or annoy another person.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–3** — Latin dēspiciō ('to look down, despise') gave dēspectum ('looking down on'), which became Old French despit and then Middle English despit, the source of the noun. The preposition grew out of a Middle English phrase, in dispit of ('in despite of').
**Meaning 4** — Old French despitier is the source; Middle English had it as despite, with spellings such as dispite and dyspite.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/despite (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).