spite: [13] Spite was adapted from Old French despit ‘scorn, ill will’, which was also borrowed intact as despite [13]. This came from Latin dēspectus, the past participle of dēspicere ‘look down on’ (source of English despise [13]), which was a compound verb formed from the prefix dē- ‘down’ and specere ‘look’ (source of English spectacle, spy, etc). The use of in spite of and despite for ‘notwithstanding’ goes back via an intermediate ‘in defiance of’ to an original ‘in contempt of’. => despise, species, spectator, spy
c. 1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to Middle Dutch spijt, Middle Low German spyt, Middle Swedish spit. In 17c. commonly spelled spight. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c. 1400, literally "in defiance or contempt of," hence "notwithstanding." Spite-fence "barrier erected to cause annoyance" is from 1889.
c. 1400, "dislike, regard with ill will," from spite (n.). Meaning "treat maliciously" is from 1590s (as in "cut off (one's) nose to spite (one's) face"); earlier "fill with vexation, offend" (1560s). Related: Spited; spiting.
双语例句
1. In spite of her hostility, she was attracted to him.
尽管自己心存敌意，她还是为他所吸引。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The blunt comment made Richard laugh in spite of himself.
这番率直的话让理查德不由自主地大笑起来。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I wouldn't trust them in spite of all their la-di-da manners.
尽管他们处处显得很高雅的样子，我还是不相信他们。
来自柯林斯例句
4. In spite of his illness, he clung tenaciously to his job.
尽管有病在身，他仍顽强地坚持工作。
来自柯林斯例句
5. I refused her a divorce, out of spite I suppose.
