de·spite / diˈspīt/ • prep. without being affected by; in spite of: he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity.• n. archaic or poetic/lit. 1. outrage; injury: the despite done by him to the holy relics.2. contempt; disdain: the theater only earns my despite.PHRASES: despite (or in despite) of archaic in spite of.despite oneself used to indicate that one did not intend or expect to do the thing mentioned: despite herself Fran felt a ripple of appreciation for his beauty.DERIVATIVES: de·spite·ful / -fəl/ adj. ( archaic or poetic/lit. ).

despite †scorn; outrage, injury XIII; indignation, vexation, spite XIV. — OF. despit (mod. dépit) :- L. dēspectus looking down (upon), f. dēspect-, dēspicere (see prec.).