spite

Etymology 1

From a shortening of Middle English despit, from Old French despit (whence despite), from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from Latin dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). Compare also Dutch spijt and German Spiet.

noun

1. Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the desire to unjustifiably irritate, annoy, or thwart; a want to disturb or put out another; mild malice
   .
   He was so filled with spite for his ex-wife, his brother was afraid of what he might do.
   They did it just for spite.
   sex with older men was a way to both internalize my spite towards my mother and to find security in a father figure I lacked with my own father. 2014, Emivita, By Any Means Necessary: My Personal Struggles with Good and Evil
2. (obsolete) Vexation; chagrin; mortification.

verb

1. (transitive) To treat maliciously; to try to hurt or thwart.
   She soon married again, to spite her ex-husband.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To be angry at; to hate.
3. (transitive) To fill with spite; to offend; to vex.

Etymology 2

prep

1. Notwithstanding; despite.