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
spite (n.)
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.
spite (v.)
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.
雙語例句
1. In spite of her hostility, she was attracted to him.
盡管自己心存敵意，她還是為他所吸引。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The blunt comment made Richard laugh in spite of himself.
這番率直的話讓理查德不由自主地大笑起來。
來自柯林斯例句
3. I wouldn't trust them in spite of all their la-di-da manners.
盡管他們處處顯得很高雅的樣子，我還是不相信他們。
來自柯林斯例句
4. In spite of his illness, he clung tenaciously to his job.
盡管有病在身，他仍頑強地堅持工作。
來自柯林斯例句
5. I refused her a divorce, out of spite I suppose.