1. A desire to offend and implies a grudge, a desire to offend or to hurt the feelings of someone by actions or words.
2. Feeling a need to see others suffer or wishing evil on others.
3. Malevolence by virtue of being nasty or having the intention to cause harm.
4. Etymology: a shortened form of despit, "malice" from Old French despit (12th century, Modern French dépit, from Latin despectus, "a looking down on, scorn, contempt"; from Latin despicere, "to look down on, to scorn"; from de-, "down" + spicere or specere, "to look at".

To deliberately annoy, upset, or to hurt someone: "The daughter dropped the plates on the floor while she was washing the dishes to spite her mother for not letting the girl go to the dance."

Regardless of, even though; without being affected by: "The tourist had difficulty communicating when she went to Germany in spite of all the years she studied German."

"In spite of the high prices, there is still enough demand for oil to keep the costs of gas higher than some people can afford."

"Note that unlike 'despite' being spelled as one word, 'in spite' [of] should always be spelled as two separate words and not as 'inspite [of]'. Remember: inspite of, NO; in spite of, YES!"