Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-SPITE', n. [Fr. depit; Norm. despite; Arm. desped; It. despetto, spite, malice. Qu. from L. despectus, despicio. See Spite.]

1. Extreme malice; violent hatred; malignity; malice irritated or enraged; active malignity; angry hatred. With all thy despite against the land of Israel. – Ezek. xxv. Thou wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee. – Shak.
2. Defiance with contempt, or contempt of opposition. He will rise to fame in despite of his enemies. [See Spite.]
3. An act of malice or contempt; as, a despite to the Most High. – Milton.