Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆spītǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆spītǒus adj. Also dispitous, dispiteous, dispetous, dispietous, dispittese. |
| Etymology | OF despitos, -eus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Contemptuous, scornful, haughty (person); (b) scornful, insulting (remark, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.395 : Despitous is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebore.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)70b/b : Pride makeþ bonde men & wymmen..proude & stoute and dispitous [L in superbie contemptum..eleuat].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2212 : Gaweyn..Was preised for his curtesy. Kay was hated, for he was fell, Of word dispitous and cruell.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3457 : Though he aforn was dispitous, He shall heere aftir be gracious.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)39 : Alle proude men and dispitouse God schal so lowe bringe.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.241 : And so were meny dispitous worde [L contumeliæ] i-seide to Iulius Cesar.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2130 : The proude dispititous [read: dispitous] diffiaunce.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.32.77b : If this heed at ony strook of counsaile þat myslyke him..sowneth ouer highe with dispietous wordes thrughe mysprowde disdeyn [etc.].
2.
Spiteful, disobedient, recalcitrant.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.395 : Despitous is he that..hath despit to doon that hym oghte to do.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.761 : How that his wyues thre Honged hem self for hertes despitus.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)22/1 : He beleuyd it noȝt, but was rebell & dyspytous.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1521 : His wyf was..Vengeable, dispitous, a chidere euery tyde.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)114/13 : If he doo contrary, holde hym enuyous and despytous.
3.
(a) Hateful, merciless, pitiless, relentless, cruel (person, beast); (b) ruthless, cruel (death); fierce, terrible (thing, act, or experience); angry (look); raging (river); harsh (medicine).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1777 : Fy Vpon a lord that wol haue no mercy..As wel as to a proud despitous [vr. dispitious] man That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.516 : Thogh he hooly were..He was noght to synful men despitous, Ne of his speche daungerous.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3261 : Þe bolis fel and dispitous Out caste her fire.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.435 : O cruel god, O dispitouse Marte!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6162 : Religious folk ben al pitous; Thou shalt not seen oon dispitous.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)75/14 : Þei ben full wykked..& cruell & more dispytous þan in ony oþer place.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.742 : His brethre..this tiraunt despitous..slouh in his malencolie.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3004 : Whilom þer was a tyraunt dispitouse.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2300 : He is..As lyownesse dispitous.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)84/32 : Herode was cruell and dispitous to her..and slow her.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.668 : The croys, vp on which he sholde suffren despitous deth.
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)131 : Þer he sauh dispitous þing..Maydens in Blac cloþing..sodun..In wellyng pich.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)66/3 : Þe fende þrowiþ at mannes soule wiþ twoo dispitouse gynnes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8213 : With woundys large, fel, & dispitous.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1458 : Allas! what have thise loveris the agylt, Dispitous day?..many a lovere hastow slayn.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.199 : To Troie is come this woful Troilus..With feloun look and face dispitous..non to hym dar speke a word for drede.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)156 : Amydde saugh I Hate stonde..grennyng for dispitous rage.
- a1425 WBible(2) Prol.Rom.(2) (Lnsd 455)302 : Ȝe distruyeden him [Jesus] with moost dispitous deeth.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)160a/a : Nouȝt with felle & dispitous [medicines], bot with familier, homely.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.356 : A wondir dyspetous Ryvere.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)339/1 : To þe dispittese dethe of þe cros dampnede.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.244 : Than are þe badde in most despitous peyne When þat þey seme þey haue no punyschment.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)109/38 : Þe Instrument þat Cenustinus made to þe vse of þe Hoste..ys a dispytous Instrument.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)663 : Thei ronne vpon the bretouns and yaf hem a dispitouse shour.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.105 : Gracian..In domys false, and in his iudgementes Fell dispiteous.