despite
preposition
without being affected by; in spite of:
〖譲歩〗(ある状況や状態の成立を妨げる要因があるが)…にもかかわらず (!(1)in spite ofよりもかたい語であるが, despiteの方が簡潔な言い方なので｟報道｠ では好まれる. (2)しばしば好ましくない事柄を導入する. (3)しばしばbutと共に用いる)
e.g. he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity.
noun archaic
1. outrage; injury:
｟文･古｠悪意, 憎しみ; 危害
e.g. the despite done by him to the holy relics.
2. contempt; disdain:
｟文･古｠ 侮辱, 無礼
e.g. the theater only earns my despite.
PHRASES
despite of (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:
e.g. despite herself Fran felt a ripple of appreciation for his beauty.
ORIGIN
Middle English (originally used as a noun meaning ‘contempt, scorn’ in the phrase in despite of): from Old French despit, from Latin despectus ‘looking down on’, past participle (used as a noun) of despicere (see despise).