Etymology of the English word despite
the English word
despitederived from the Old French word
despitderived from the Latin word
despectus (despicable; suffering contempt; insignificant; view down, from above; prospect)
derived from the Latin word
despicere (look down on, over; relax attention)
derived from the Latin word
specere (to look at; look at, see)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*spek-using the Late Latin prefix
de-derived from the Latin word
de (away; down)
derived from the Latin word
spicere (look at, see)
Date
The earliest known usage of despite in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
despiteful,
despited,
despitingUsage
Word found in Modern English
