vilipend, v.
(ˈvɪlɪpɛnd)
Also 5–6 vylypende (5 philipend), 6 vilypend, 7 villipende, 8 -pend; 6 velipend, Sc. weliepend; 6–7 vilepend(e.
[a. OF. (also mod.F.) vilipender, or ad. L. vīlipendĕre, f. vīlis vile, worthless + pendĕre to consider, esteem. Cf. It. vilipendere, Sp. and Pg. vilipendiar.]
1. trans. To rate or regard as being of little value or consequence; to contemn or despise; to treat contemptuously or slightingly.
Very common c 1500–1660, in some cases not clearly distinguishable from sense 2.
| c 1470 G. Ashby Active Policy 105 For youre birthe of theim discended, In whome al vices ben vilipended. c 1480 Henryson Fables, Lion & Mouse 135, For thy trespas thow can mak na defens, my noble persoun thus to vilipend. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xxxvi. 41 b/1 The chyrches were pylled; and the sacred vesselis vylypended or dyspysed. 1502 W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. xlvii. (1893) 234 The more profoundly..he descendeth in humble consyderacion of hym selfe and vylypendynge hym selfe. 1573 L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. (1653) 157 Phidias..was threatned with death, to vilipend so great a Goddess and to make her in Ivory, which was wont to be honoured in Marble. 1606 Holland Sueton. Annot. 25 Whom they did vilipend and despise, they were wont to cast stones at their Images and Statues. 1635 Swan Spec. M. vii. §3 (1643) 331 The terrible accidents that succeed eclipses may not be forgotten nor vilipended. 1694 Motteux Rabelais v. 251 Since, thanks to Jove's Benignity you're valid, Choose not a frigid State, while yours is calid, Unless Salubrity you vilipend. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 4 Aug., I would not willingly villipend any Christian, if peradventure he deserveth that epithet. 1814 Scott Wav. xiii, A youth devoid of that petulant volatility, which is impatient of, or vilipends, the conversation and advice of his seniors. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. 182 One Richard Hunt was summoned..for vilipending his lordship's jurisdiction. 1879 Farrar St. Paul II. 213 This then is the proof that the doctrine of Justification is not contrary to Scripture, and does not vilipend, but really establish the Law. |
2. To speak of with disparagement or contempt; to represent as contemptible or worthless; to abuse or vilify. (Common in 19th c.)
| a 1529 Skelton Bk. 3 Foles Wks. 1843 I. 202 If that I am exalted vnto honoure..thou wylt vilepende me with thy wordes. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 246 b, Vilipendyng all holy Religion, affirmyng it to bee an abusion of the people. 1584 Leycesters Commw. (1641) 90 Hee..did diminish, vilipend, and debase among his friends, the inestimable benefites hee hath received from her Majesty. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1120 Wherein he doth vilipend and mocke Socrates most, in that he demaundeth the question, What is man? 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 76 You shall find Luther..vilipending those books of Scripture, which were received into the Canon. a 1806 C. J. Fox Reign Jas. II (1808) p. viii, Even Dryden, who speaks with proper respect of Corneille, vilipends Racine. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xviii, Menacing the youth with maledictions..and vilipending the poor innocent girl as the basest and most artful of vixens. 1880 Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 227, I am the object of her detestation..She will seize her opportunity to vilipend me. |
Hence
ˈvilipended ppl. a.;
ˈvilipending vbl. n. and ppl. a. Also
ˈvilipender, one who vilipends;
viliˈpenditory a., abusive.
| 1836 Hor. Smith Tin Trump. I. 9 Pleasant was the well-known revenge of the *villipended author. 1849 H. Mayo Pop. Superst. (1851) 197 The long-vilipended influence of Mesmer. |
| 1832 Westm. Rev. July 133 He..would deserve to be laughed at with the mathematical *vilipender of Milton's poem. |
| 1566 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 463 In manifest *vilipending of thair Hienessis autoritie. a 1626 Bp. Andrewes Comm. Decalogue 508 (T.), If it be to the scorning and vilipending of a man, it may be called the sin of the men of Succoth, who slighted Gideon. 1659 C. Noble Answ. Immod. Queries 6 What greater vilipendings..can be cast upon any man? 1884 Manch. Exam. 20 Feb. 4/7 An occasion for a wholesale vilipending of the Government. |
| 1618 Hist. Perkin Warbeck 15 Neither security or presumption..of their owne greatnesse,..nor *vilipending and slight regard of the contrary. a 1722 Fountainhall Decis. I. 548 The Lords..considered his..vilipending expressions and carriage, and thought that deserved a fine. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's xii, Sir Bingo..was..in a thoughtless and vilipending humour. a 1849 H. Coleridge Ess. (1851) II. 195 The passionate Romeo, and the vilipending Mercutio. |
| 1884 Kendal Merc. & Times 22 Feb. 5/3 If *vilipenditory rhetoric could overthrow a Government then Mr. Gladstone ought to have collapsed. |