Selvakumar  +  443102 Fri, 16 Nov 07 02:05 AM Is "in spite of" a corruption of "in despite of"? Selvakumar Joined on Fri, Dec 30 2005 Junior Member 52

	Selvakumar  +  443104 Fri, 16 Nov 07 02:12 AM 1. Merriam Webster: Main Entry:1de·spite Function:noun — in despite of:  in spite of 2. Frederick T. Wood's English Prepositional Idioms (1976) 3. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition: Short for in despite of Selvakumar Nouns, Idioms

	Clive  +  443108 Fri, 16 Nov 07 02:53 AM Hi, You might like to look at a dictionary of etymology. eg   despite 1297, from O.Fr. despit, from L. despectus "a looking down on," from despicere (see despise). The preposition (1593) is short for in despite of (1292), a loan-translation of Fr. en despit de "in contempt of." Almost became despight during 16c. spelling reform.   http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=despite&searchmode=none     spite (n.) c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to M.Du. spijt, M.L.G. spyt, M.Swed. spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.   http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=spite&searchmode=none   Despite all this information, please note this. If you say  'In despite of  . . . ' today, most people willl simply think that you are speaking poor English that sounds odd and unidiomatic.   Best wishes, Clive     Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,575 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Verbs, Prepositions, Spelling, Translation

	Terryxpress  +  443128 Fri, 16 Nov 07 04:38 AM ...and someone might like to tell this learner of the English language just how archaic and unused that expression is! Terryxpress

	Selvakumar  +  443164 Fri, 16 Nov 07 08:40 AM  Terryxpress wrote: ...and someone might like to tell this learner of the English language just how archaic and unused that expression is! Why, is it too condescending for you to tell it yourself to this learner of the English language? Get off your cotton-picking high horse, and read my initial posting once again! (How anachronistic your attitude is!) Selvakumar

	Clive  +  443200 Fri, 16 Nov 07 02:02 PM Hi, Having said all that, please let's turn our focus back to the original question if anyone has anything else useful to add. Thank you, Clive Clive

	Yoong Liat  +  443353 Fri, 16 Nov 07 08:06 PM Hi Selvakumar Is "in spite of" a corruption of "in despite of"? Nowadays, nobody writes 'in despite of'. Instead, we use 'despite' (one word), which has the same meaning as 'in spite of'. I hope the above helps. Best wishes Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,757