de-spit', de-spit'-fool: "Despite" is from Latin despectus, "a looking down upon." As a noun (= "contempt") it is now generally used in its shortened form, "spite," while the longer form is used as a preposition (= "in spite of"). In English Versions of the Bible it is always a noun. In the Old Testament it translates Hebrew she'aT, inEze 25:6, and in the Revised Version (British and American)Eze 25:15;36:5("with despite of soul"). InHeb 10:29("hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace") it stands for Greek enubrizo, "to treat with contempt."
The adjective "despiteful" occurs in the King James VersionEze 25:15;36:5; Sirach 31:31 ("despiteful words," the Revised Version (British and American) "a word of reproach");Ro 1:30(the Revised Version (British and American) "insolent" = Greek hubristes, from huper, "above"; compare English "uppish").
D. Miall Edwards