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.
例文
1. In spite of her hostility，she was attracted to him.
自分に敵意があるにもかかわらず、彼女は彼に惹かれた。
2.The blunt comment made Richard laugh in spite of himself.
という率直な言葉にリチャードは思わず大笑いした。
3.I wouldn 't trust them in spite of all their la-di-da manners.
彼らはどこも上品な様子をしているが、私は彼らを信じない。
4.In spite of his illness，he clung tenaciously to his job.