† spitous, a. and adv. Obs.
Forms: α. 4–5 spitus, -ous, 5 -ouse, -uose; 5 spytus, -ous, -ows. β. 4 spetos, 5 -ous(e, -ows.
[Aphetic ad. AF. despitous, f. despit: see spite n.]
1. = despitous a.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 14097 Martha thoght sco helpe ne wald, A spitus plaint to crist sco tald. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 845 Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spitous fylþe. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 979 That arowe was as with felonye Envenymed, and with spitous blame. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. (1908) 256 Was there euere eny theef or worse odyus man so sone dampned and putte to so spitouse deth? c 1450 Lovelich Merlin 2830 More feers he was & more hydows, also more egre, & mochel more spytows, thanne the whyte [dragon] was. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 106 Isegrym wende wyth thyse mockyng and spytous wordes to haue goon out of his wytte. |
| β 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 209 A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle que-so myȝt. a 1400–50 Alexander 2458 Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis. Ibid. 4567 He was spetous of speche & spised his driȝtins. c 1450 Lovelich Merlin 2850 So spetows was þe bataylle betwixen hem. |
2. As
adv. = next.
| c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 7480 Then was wroth Episcropus That Ector spake to him so spitous; Dispitusly Ector he myssayde. |