▪ I. despite, n.
(dɪˈspaɪt)
Forms: 3–5 despit, (3–4 -yt, 4 despitt(e, -iit, -yt, -ijt, -iȝt, -ithe), 4–6 despyte, (5– -spyȝte), 6–8 despight, 4– despite; also 3–7 dis-, 3–6 dys- with same variants, 6 Sc. dispyit.
[ME. despit, a. OF. despit (:—*despieit), mod.F. dépit, = OCat. despeit, Sp. despecho, It. dispetto:—L. dēspectu-m (u-stem) a looking down on, f. ppl. stem of dēspicĕre to look down on, despise. Down to 17th c. often spelt dis-, dys-, by confusion with words in the prefix des-, dis-. The 16th c. dis-, despight (cf. spight, spite) was under the influence of sight, right, etc.]
1. The feeling or mental attitude of looking down upon or despising anything; the display of this feeling; contempt, scorn, disdain. Obs. or arch.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2037 (Cott.) If o þi fader þou haue despite [v. rr. -it, -ithe, -yte]. 1340 Ayenb. 19 Þe oþer boȝ þet comþ out of þe stocke of prede zuo is onworþnesse (despit). 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 46 Persey..Wes in the castell..Fulfillit of dispit and pride. 1382 Wyclif Rom. ix. 21 Power..to make sothli o vessel in to honour, anothir forsothe in to dispyt. c 1440 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 72 Þe firste fote is dyspyȝte; þat is, in doyng no worschype to gode men dewly, but in dyspysing hem. 1483 Cath. Angl. 101 A Dispite, or a disspisynge, despeccio, contemptus. 1565 Sc. Metr. Ps. x. 5 He puffeth with despight. 1650 Jer. Taylor Holy Living (1727) 245 Liberality..consists in the despite and neglect of money. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iv. xlvi. 377 Any Attribute, that is given in despight. a 1845 Longfellow King Christian iv, Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight, Goes to meet danger with despite. |
† b. to hold or have in († to) despite: to hold in contempt; to have or show contempt or scorn for.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2610 (Cott.) Yone lasce..als in despit sco haldes me. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶452 Perauenture Crist hath thee in despit. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 74 Scho..haþ me to despit. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 162/2 He had in despyte fader and moder. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 122 b, The good man sholde haue them in despyte..in comparyson of the thynges to come. |
† c. The object of contempt or scorn. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 18232 (Cott.) Skorning þou art o god angel, Despit [v.r. dis-] of al rightwis and lel. a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxviii. 22 Now til proude men and enuyouse i am despite and hethynge. |
2. Action that shows contemptuous disregard; contemptuous treatment or behaviour; insulting action; outrage, injury, contumely. to do despite to: to treat with injury and contumely; to outrage.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 464 Alle þulke, þat clerkes such despyt dude & wo. a 1300 Cursor M. 7825 (Cott.) For to do him despitte or schame. c 1340 Ibid. 6785 (Fairf.) To childer do ȝe na dispite. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1822 Lucretia, Whi hast thou don despit to Chivalrye. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13700 Þe schalke, that..so dernely hym did dere & dispit. 1535 Coverdale Lam. iii. 47 Feare and snare is come vpon vs, yee despite and destruccion. 1631 Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 24 Loath he was that his dead bodie should either suffer despight, or receive fauour from his enemies. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. I. 325 There is not one Person of the Trinity that he hath not done despight to. 1803 Wordsw. Sonn. Liberty i. xviii, To work against themselves such fell despite. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xiii. 319 The despite done by him to the holy relics. |
b. Disregard of opposition, defiance. Obs.
| 1380–1601 [see 5 c]. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 93 Chardges so furiously and so close, that in despight he mounts the wall. 1706 E. Ward Hud. Rediv. II. vii, That all who see..may triumph, in Despite to Rome. 1719 Young Revenge iv. i. Wks. 1757 II. 170 What think you 'twas..But doing right in stern despite to nature? |
3. (with pl.) An act that shows contempt, hatred, malice, or spite; an outrage, a shameful injury.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 547 The Londreis ther biuore a gret despit wroȝte To the quene. 1382 Wyclif Rom. i. 24 That thei ponysche with wrongis or dispitis [Vulg. contumeliis] her bodies. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 230 Herynge hys frende greued wyth repreues and dyspites. 1480 Caxton Cron. Eng. ccxxv. 230 Many harmes shames and despytes they dyden vnto the Quene. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxlvi. 174 They of Calays hathe done hym suche contraryes and dispyghtes. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 336, I think I could not do him a greater Despite, than to bestow a woman on him. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xii. 76 My declared aversion, and the unfeigned despights I took all opportunities to do him. 1820 Wordsw. Sheep-washing, The turmoil that unites Clamour of boys with innocent despites Of barking dogs. 1870 Longfellow tr. Dante's Inf. xiv. 71 His own despites Are for his breast the fittest ornaments. |
4. Indignation, anger, evil feeling, especially such as arises from offended pride, vexation, or annoyance. In later use, esp. The entertaining of a grudge, evil feeling with a desire to harm or vex; ill-will, aversion; settled malice or hatred; spite.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. C. 50 What dowes me þe dedayn, oþer dispit make? 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 455 And for dispyte bad draw and hing All the prisoneris. c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 667 Sith that maydens hadde such despit To ben defouled with mannes foul delit. c 1400 Destr. Troy 10684 [He] put hym of horse, With a spar of a speire in dispit felle. 1483 Cath. Angl. 98 A Despite, auersio. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxv. 36 The kyng had great dispyte, that the duke shuld so dele with hym. 1548 Hall Chron. 202 b, After many greate woordes and crakes..the Lorde Stafford..in greate dispite departed with his whole compaignie. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 52/2 For they are at despite & fret, bicause they see God so against them. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. i. 50 He thought have slaine her in his fierce despight. 1598 Hakluyt Voy. I. 64 A man full of all malice and despight. 1603–21 Knolles Hist. Turks 1231 Two Monkes, whom the souldiors in despight cut into many pieces. 1697 C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 27 Don Lewis had a secret Despight, in comprehending the Marquess so well satisfied. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) II. 418 Formed by the gods merely from despight to Prometheus. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxiv, He died soon after..of pure despite and vexation. 1846 Trench Mirac. xix. (1862) 326 Wounded pride, disappointed malice, rancorous despite. |
5. phr. in despite of. † a. In contempt or scorn of; in contemptuous defiance of. Obs. departure in despite of the court: see departure 6.
| [1292 Britton i. v. §1 En despit et damage de nous et de noster poeple.] c 1290 Beket 1903 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 161 Þeos þreo bischopus..to þe kinge heo come..And tolden..hov in despit of him, he dude swuch luþer dede. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 5807–9 He..haþ now in dispyt of me My bysshop y-bete sore: And afterward, in þe dyspyt of crysst, Spet on þe fant. 1494 Fabyan Chron. cxcviii. 205 In dyrision and despyte of the Danys. 1548 Hall Chron. 183 b, And sent all their heddes..to be set upon poles, over the gate of the citie of Yorke in despite of them, and their lignage. c 1592 Marlowe Massacr. Paris i. vii, In despite of thy religion, The Duke of Guise stamps on thy lifeless bulk! 1628 [see departer2]. 1641 [see departure 6 b]. a 1735 Arbuthnot John Bull Swift's Wks. 1751 VI. 140 Let it never be said, that the famous John Bull has departed in despite of court. |
† b. In anger or indignation at; in punishment of. Obs. rare.
| [1292 Britton ii. xv. §2 En despit de lour defaute. transl. By way of punishment for the default of the parties.] 1528 Lyndesay Dreme 1100 In dispyit of his Lycherous leuyng, The Romanis wald be subiect to no kyng. |
† c. In open defiance of, in overt opposition to. Cf. 2 b. Obs.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2192 Now haþ he my dore y-broke; ous alle in dispyte. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xii. 67 A gret ost..in þe north of Ingland past In dyspyt of þat Tyrand. 1601 Bp. W. Barlow Serm. Paules Crosse 40 To see Gods word alleadged in despight of Gods ordinance. |
d. Notwithstanding the opposition or adverse efforts of (a person). Now rare except with reflexive pronouns (in despite of himself, etc.).
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 121 They [the Danes] landed in despight of the people. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1159 Collonitz in despight of the enemie, in safetie brought backe his souldiors. 1639 Fuller Holy War v. xii. (1647) 250 At last this warre ended it self in despite of the Pope. 1820 Shelley To Mar. Gisborne 318 We..in despite of God and of the devil Will make our friendly philosophic revel Outlast the leafless time. 1876 Ouida Winter City vii. 198 The lottery tries to allure in very despite of themselves the much wider multitude. |
e. Notwithstanding, in spite of (opposition, some opposing force).
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lii. 175 In dyspyte of his teth I wyll se my nece. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 132 A receiu'd beleefe, in despight of the teeth of all rime and reason, that they were Fairies. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 132 To assaile the entrie of the mouth of Lisbone, in despite of all the fortresses that were there. a 1631 Donne Poems (1650) 17 Love which in dispight of darkness brought us hither, Should in dispight of light keep us together. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. i. 23 Some force whole Regions in despight O' Geography to change their site. 1747 Carte Hist. Eng. I. Pref. 6 Learning..cultivated by private persons in despight of all difficulties. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 116 Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary. 1868 M. E. Braddon Dead Sea Fr. I. i. 2 In despite of its solemn tranquility, this Villebrumeuse is not a dreary dwelling-place. |
f. archaic const. in his, her, their, others', one's own despite: in the various preceding senses.
| 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. i. 361 What would you bury him in my despight. 1591 Spenser Daphn. 442 Why doo I longer live in lifes despight. ? a 1600 Beggars D. of Bednall Green xxxiii, Thus was faire Bessey matched to the knight And then made a lady in others despite. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 539 Born to be sav'd, even in their own despight. 1725 Pope Odyss. ix. 250 Some rustic wretch, who lived in heaven's despight, Contemning laws, and trampling on the right. 1791 Cowper Odyss. iii. 272 Much evil perpetrate in thy despight. 1794 Blake Songs Exper., Clod & Pebble, Love seeketh only self to please..And builds a hell in heaven's despite. 1849 Sir J. Stephen Eccl. Biog. Pref. (1850) 5, I am thus an author in my own despite. 1871 Blackie Four Phases i. 127 Bearding two of the thirty tyrants, and pursuing quietly his labours of love in their despite. |
6. In later use often despite of (senses 5 d, e); whence by further shortening despite prep., rarely in despite (without of).
| c 1590 Marlowe Faust Wks. (Rtldg.) 123/2 If this Bruno..sit in Peters chair, despite of chance. 1655 Theophania 181 Having, despight of all opposition..forced their way through. 1820 Keats Hyperion i. 226 His Voice leapt out, despite of godlike curb. 1847 Mrs. A. Kerr Hist. Servia 420 Despite of her favouring his opponents, the guard of honour had been taken from her also. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. II. 92 Flushed and joyful in despite her fear. |
▪ II. despite, v. Obs. or arch.
(dɪˈspaɪt)
[a. OF. despite-r (13th c.), mod.F. dépiter, app. f. despit, dépit despite n. Cf. Cat. despitar, Pr. despeytar, -pechar, Sp. despechar, It. dispettare, which may directly represent L. dēspectāre, freq. of dēspicĕre to look down on, despise.]
1. trans. To express or show contempt for, treat with contempt, set at nought; to do despite to.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 596 Ynglis men, That dyspitit, atour all thing, Robert the bruce. 1481 Caxton Godfrey cliii. 227 They blamed and Iniured our barons, And despyted them and alle thoost. 1594 Drayton Idea 527 Reason..Despiteth love, and laugheth at her Folly. 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 181 And despiteth, which is more than despiseth the spirit..of grace. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. iv. §1 (1622) 20 Who..both despise the Temples, and despite the gods. 1652 Sir C. Cotterell Cassandra vi. (1676) 555 Have you let 'scape an enemy who despites you? 1828 Landor Wks. (1868) I. 353/2 The great founder of Rome..slew his brother for despiting the weakness of his walls. 1869 Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. iv. 4 One reason why men are so mad as to despite Christ. |
† b. with inf. Obs.
| 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scotl. iii. xxvii, A certane noble man dispytes to hear that edicte. |
† 2. To vex or provoke to anger; to spite. Obs.
| 1530 Palsgr. 520/2, I dispyte a person, I set hym at naught, or provoke hym to anger, Je despite..It dispyteth me to se his facyons. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. 670 Whose sonne he had murdered, and abused his wife to despite him therewith. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 49 It is not the shew you beare, but the pride wherewith you are carried that despiteth me. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. ii. 31 Onely to despight them, I will endeauour any thing. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. vi. §43 A vexatious deed, meerly to despight them. 1658 Whole Duty Man ii. §13 We bring..a train of his enemies to provoke and despite him. |
† 3. intr. To show despite, contempt, or ill-will. Obs.
| 1530 Palsgr. 520/2 You neuer sawe man dispyte agaynst an other on that facyon. 1627 Lisander & Cal. ix. 185 Lisander despiting at Lidian's long resistance, gave him so violent a thrust. 1736 Franklin Poor Richard's Alm. Wks. (1887) I. 461 note, These ill-willers of mine, despited at the great reputation I gained. |
▪ III. despite, prep.
(dɪˈspaɪt)
[Shortened from despite of, orig. in despite of: see despite n. 6.]
In spite of.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 179 Or thou, or I Somerset will be Protectors, Despite Duke Humfrey, or the Cardinall. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. v. Wks. 1856 I. 130 Man will breake out, despight philosophie. 1613 Heywood Silv. Age iii. Wks. 1874 III. 159 Il'e..Ransacke the pallace where grim Pluto reignes..Despight his blacke guard. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxii, I love him still, despite my wrongs. 1876 M. E. Braddon J. Haggard's Dau. II. 25 The attraction that draws me to her despite myself. |