Middle English Dictionary Entry
despīsāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | despīsāble adj. Also dispisable. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Looked down upon; lowly, of little value; (b) deserving reproach or contempt; contemptible, despicable.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.1.28 : God chees the vnnoble thingis and dispisable thingis of the world.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.10.4 : Whanne watir dide awei the erthe, wisdom heelide eft, gouernynge a iust man bi a dispisable [L contemptibile] tre.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)48.19 : That is a despisabile shrift that ese makis, bot that is of mykil meryt that na sorow may fordow.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)83.11 : I chese mare to seme meke & despisabile as to [vr. att the] sight of men.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)103/19 : Þat gold and siluer, and all swylk accident þinges of þe world, be dispysable to hym.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)95/20 : So þat as gladly he wol be lest as a noþir wol be most..& as gladly despisable..as more worshipful.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.49.7 : To the despisable [L contemptibilem] soule, and to the wlated folc.
- c1410 St.Anselm Medit.(UC 97)443 : Þi lif..outher it is in synne & dampnable, or it is vnfruytful & despisable.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.18.1 : He that wole go a wei fro a frend..schal be dispisable [L exprobeabilis].
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)101/3 : What is more despisable þanne to be cleped a foole, and not be wroth nor speke ayene?
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)35a : Dispisabyll: contemptibilis, despicabilis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Mac.7.24 : Antiok demyde hym for to be dispised, and also bi dispisable [L despecta] vois of a repreuere.
Note: New sense: expressing contempt, insult, or disrespect.--per MLL