de•spite
Pronunciation: (di-spīt'), [key]
— prep., n., v., -spit•ed, -spit•ing.
—prep.
- in spite of; notwithstanding.
—n.
- contemptuous treatment; insult.
- malice, hatred, or spite.
- in spite of; notwithstanding: He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.
—v.t.
- to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.