What would the noun form for *despise* be? My current two ideas are *despite* and *derision.* According to Google, the etymology of *despite* is >Middle English (originally used as a noun meaning ‘contempt, scorn’ in the phrase in despite of): from Old French *despit*, from Latin *despectus* ‘looking down on,’ past participle (used as a noun) of *despicere* (see despise). <br> For *derision*, I get >late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin *derisio(n-)*, from deridere ‘scoff at.’ <br> Thus, I think that *despite* makes more sense based on its etymology, but what would be generally accepted?