Despite, prep.
In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.
Syn. -- See Notwithstanding.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Despite, n.
1. Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate. With all thy despite against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6.
2. An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt. A despite done against the Most High. Milton. In despite, in defiance of another's power or inclination. -- In despite of, in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. "Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving. -- In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obs.]
Despite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.]
To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for despite; he lists it under notwithstanding.
Where he writes about it:
Notwithstanding simply states that circumstances shall not be or have not been allowed to withstand; despite and in spite of refer primarily to personal and perhaps spiteful opposition; as, he failed notwithstanding his good intentions; or, he persevered in spite of the most bitter hostility. — from notwithstanding
When despite and in spite of are applied to inanimate things, it is with something of personification; "in spite of the storm" is said as if the storm had a hostile purpose to oppose the undertaking. — from notwithstanding