despite

Definition

In spite of, not with standing.

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English despit, dispit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). The preposition is derived from Middle English dispit, itself derived from the phrase in dispit of (in despite of). Compare typologically Russian несмотря́ на (nesmotrjá na) (< смотре́ть (smotrétʹ)); невзира́я на (nevzirája na) (< взира́ть (vzirátʹ)), презре́в (prezrév) (< презре́ть (prezrétʹ) <~ зреть (zretʹ)) (compare despite—despise relation).

Example Sentences

• "Despite being a near-mirror image my of right, my left hand is terrible at these stuff."
• "So thou through windowes of thine age ſhalt ſee, Diſpight of wrinkles this thy goulden time."
• "Yet doe thy worſt old Time diſpight thy wrong, My loue ſhall in my verſe euer liue young."

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