in spite of

in spite of
despite, in spite of
These two prepositions are largely interchangeable and both can be followed by nouns or noun phrases or by constructions introduced by a participle (a verb ending in -ing): played despite an ankle sprain / had a restless night, despite cuddling for hours / stayed in Munich in spite of Wagner's seduction of his wife / were not admitted in spite of having higher grades. In all these examples, despite could be replaced by in spite of and vice versa. If a clause with a verb has to follow, this must be linked with the fact that and not simply that: He earned more than her despite [or in spite of] the fact that she worked longer hours. But note that although or even though can often replace the unwieldy sequence ‘despite the fact that’ without any loss of meaning.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • Spite — Spite, n. [Abbreviated fr. despite.] 1. Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite. Pope. [1913 Webster] This is the deadly spite that angers. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spite of — Spite Spite, n. [Abbreviated fr. despite.] 1. Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite. Pope. [1913 Webster] This is the deadly spite that angers.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spite (disambiguation) — Spite or Spiteful may refer to: *a human sentiment, see spite (sentiment) *Spite, in fair division problems, a phenomenon in which a player s value of an allocation decreases when one or more other players valuation increases *HMS Spiteful… …   Wikipedia

  • Spite and Malice — is a card game for two or more players; it is a form of competitive solitaire. It is also known as Cat and Mouse and commercially sold as Skip Bo. A different card game also known as Spite and Malice is sold by Hasbro… …   Wikipedia

  • spite — ► NOUN ▪ a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend. ► VERB ▪ deliberately hurt, annoy, or offend. ● in spite of Cf. ↑in spite of ● in spite of oneself Cf. ↑in spite of oneself …   English terms dictionary

  • Spite (sentiment) — Spite is a strong feeling of contempt, hatred, grudge, desire to injure, motivated by envy or perceived suffering of injustice.The infamous Underground Man, of Fyodor Dostoevsky s well known novella Notes From Underground, is a widely known and… …   Wikipedia

  • spite´ful|ness — spite|ful «SPYT fuhl», adjective. full of spite; eager to annoy; behaving with ill will and malice: »a spiteful remark. The spiteful little girl tore up her older sister s papers. SYNONYM(S): malicious, malevolent. –spite´ful|ly, adverb.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • spite´ful|ly — spite|ful «SPYT fuhl», adjective. full of spite; eager to annoy; behaving with ill will and malice: »a spiteful remark. The spiteful little girl tore up her older sister s papers. SYNONYM(S): malicious, malevolent. –spite´ful|ly, adverb.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • spite|ful — «SPYT fuhl», adjective. full of spite; eager to annoy; behaving with ill will and malice: »a spiteful remark. The spiteful little girl tore up her older sister s papers. SYNONYM(S): malicious, malevolent. –spite´ful|ly, adverb. –spite´ful|ness,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Spite — Spite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spiting}.] 1. To be angry at; to hate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The Danes, then . . . pagans, spited places of religion. Fuller. [1913 Webster] 2. To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spite — [spīt] n. [ME, aphetic < despite: see DESPITE] 1. a) a mean or evil feeling toward another, characterized by the inclination to hurt, humiliate, annoy, frustrate, etc.; ill will; malice b) an instance of this; a grudge 2. Obs. something… …   English World dictionary

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