Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Despite

Despite , noun

[Old French despit, French dépit, from Latin despectus contempt, from despicere. See Despise, and compare Spite, Despect.]

1.
Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate.
With all thy despite against the land of Israel. — Ezek. xxv. 6
2.
An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt.
A despite done against the Most High. — Milton
Collocations (3)
In despite , in defiance of another's power or inclination.
In despite of , in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary. — W. Irving
In your despite , in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obsolete]

Despite , transitive verb

[Old French despitier, from Latin despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.]

To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obsolete] — Sir W. Raleigh

Despite , preposition

In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.