despite English · revision 2645

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la specere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈspaɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|despit]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|despit]] (modern French dépit),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|dēspectus|t=a looking down on, scorn, contempt]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from the past participle of [[m|la|dēspicere|t=to look down on, scorn]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|dē-|t=down]] and [[m|la|specere|t=to look at]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*spek-|t=to observe]].^(Etymonline) The preposition is short for in despite of, a loan translation of Old French en despit de.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[despise]].^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, “contemptuous challenge, defiance; an act meant to insult”: about 1300,^(Etymonline) 1297 in the OED,^(OED 1989) or probably before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Scorn, contempt” is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and “indignation, anger, malice” from about 1325.^(OED 1989) ''In despite of'', “in defiance of”, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the preposition alone, “notwithstanding”, from before 1420, in Lydgate's ''Troy Book'',^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The word nearly became despight in the spelling reforms of the 16th century.^(Etymonline) The noun and the verb, “to show contempt for”, are now archaic.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – contemptuous treatment.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – ''in despite of''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – scorn, contempt.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1375 – verb, to treat with contempt.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1420 – preposition, notwithstanding.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # In spite of; [[notwithstanding]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(archaic)'' Contemptuous [[defiance]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[spite|alt=Spite]]; malice.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[despiteful]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[despise]]

+ * [[spite]]

+ * [[despicable]]

+ * [[spectacle]]

+ * [[spy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}