† despitous, a. Obs.
Forms: 4–7 despitous; 4–5 des-, dis-, dys-pitous, -pytous, -pitus, -petous, -pytws, -pytuws.
[ME. a. AF. despitous = OF. despitos, despiteus (mod.F. dépiteux), f. despit despite n.: see -ous. After 1400 associated with piteous, † pituous, and spelt -uous, -ious, -eous: see despiteous. Originally stressed on last or first syllable; subsequently on second.]
1. orig. Full of despite; exhibiting contempt or haughtiness; hence, insulting, vexing.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter Comm. Cant. 517 Þai þat ere proude and despitus. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 196 Sa hawtane and dispitous. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 516 (Harl.) He was to senful man nought dispitous [6 texts He was nat to synful men despitous] Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne. ― Pars. T. ¶321 Despitous is he þat haþ desdayn of his neighebour. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 241 Meny dispitous worde [multæ contumeliæ]. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 410 The prouocacyon & dispytous wordes of y⊇ Frenshmen. |
2. Cruel; exhibiting ill-will, or bitter enmity, malevolent.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 23235 Mony harde & dispitous dynt shul þe wrecches þere hynt. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1409 (1458) Dispitous day þyn be þe pyne of helle! c 1400 Rom. Rose 2212 Keye was..Of word dispitous and cruelle. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6494 Two speirus full dispitus he sparet to cast. 14.. Hoccleve Compl. Virgin 131 His despitous deeth with me compleyne. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Ep. 68 Then..with dispitous nayles I rent my face. 1571 Campion Hist. Irel. ii. ix. (1633) 120 Except that one despitous murther at Tartaine. 1578 T. Proctor in Heliconia I. 99, I sterve through thy dispitous fault. |
b. transf. Violent.
| c 1450 Lonelich Grail xii. 356 Vndir wheche ȝate ran there Ryht a wondir dyspetous ryvere. |