despisingly 
despisingly (des-pi'zing-li), adv. With con- 
tempt. 
despite (des-plf), [Formerly often spelled, 
erroneously, despight; < ME. despite, despit, 
despyte, dispite, dispit, < OF. despit, despeit, F. 
depit = Pr. despieyt, despicg = Sp. despecho = 
Pg. despeito = It. dispetto, < L. despcctus, a look- 
ing down upon, contempt, < despicere, pp. de- 
spectus, look down upon, despise: see despise. 
Hence by apheresis spite, q. v.] 1. Scorn; 
contempt; extreme malice; malignity; con- 
temptuous aversion ; spite. 
Gawein vndirstode her manaces, and hir pride, and he 
hadde ther-of grete dispite. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), iii. 462. 
Wherin, as it is sayde, Absolon is buryed, and whan so 
euer any Sarrasyn conietli by yt sepulcre he casteth a 
stone tliereat with grete violence and despyte, bycause yt 
the sayd Absolon pursued his father kyng Dauid and 
caused hym to fle. Sir R. Oaylforde, Pylgrymage, p. 34. 
Thou hast . . . rejoiced in heart with all thy despite 
against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6. 
2. Defiance with contempt of opposition ; con- 
temptuous challenge. 
Eeceive thy friend, who, scorning flight, 
Goes to meet danger with despite, 
Proudly as thou the tempests might, 
Dark-rolling wave ! 
LrngftOaw, tr. of Evald's King Christian. 
8. An act of malice or injury. [Poetic.] 
Do not presume, because you see me young ; 
Or caste despites on my profession. 
Fletcher, Beggars' Bush, ii. 3. 
Which would be all his solace and revenge, 
As a despite done against the Most High. 
Hilton, P. L., vi. 906. 
But, as I said to him, his own despites 
Are for his breast the fittest ornaments. 
Longfellow, tr. of Dante s Inferno, xiv. 71. 
In despite Of, in defiance or contempt of ; in defiant op. 
position to; notwithstanding: later abbreviated to in spite 
of, or simply despite as a preposition. 
Why doo I longer live in lifes despight, 
And doo not dye then in despight of death ? 
Spenser, Daphnaida, vi. 
Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary. 
Irving. 
despite (des-pif), v. t. ; pret. and pp. despited, 
ppr. despiting. [< OF. despiter^ML. despitare), 
Y. depiter = Pr. despechar, despeytar = Sp. de- 
spechar = Pg. tlespeitar It. dispettare, < L. de- 
spectare, look down upon, despise, freq. of de- 
spicere, pp. despectus, look down upon, despise : 
see despise. Hence by apheresis spite, v. t.] 1. 
To treat with contempt ; set at naught; despise. 
[Bare.] 
Hee chuseth him as the fittest subiect in whose ruine 
to despite his Maker. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 25. 
The great founder of Rome, I heard In Holland, slew 
his brother for despiting the weakness of his walls. 
Landor, Peter the Great and Alexis. 
2. To vex; offend; spite. [Rare.] 
Saturn, with his wife Rhea, fled by night, setting the 
town on fire, to despite Bacchus. Sir W. Raleigh. 
despite (des-plf), prep. [Short for in despite 
of: see despite, n.] In despite of; notwithstand- 
ing. See in despite of, under despite, n. 
But archwyfes, eger in their violence, 
Ferse as a tigre for to make affray, 
They haf, despite and agayne conscience, 
list not of pride theyre hornya cast away. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 40. 
Plants of great vigor will almost always struggle into 
blossom, despite impediments. 
Marg. Fuller, Woman in 19th Cent., p. 49. 
Faith held fast, despite the plucking flend. 
Browning, King and Book, I. 199. 
Xhe moon will draw the sea, despite the storms and 
darkness that brood between. 
Stedman, Viet. Poets, p, 123. 
= Syn. Notwithstanding, In spite of, Despite. See not- 
withstanding. 
despiteful (des-pit'ful), a. [Formerly often 
spelled, erroneously, despightful; < despite + 
-Jul, 1. Hence by apheresis spiteful.'] Full of 
despite or spite; malicious; spiteful: as, a de- 
spiteful enemy. [Bare.] 
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud boasters. 
Rom. i. 30. 
Wrinkled face for looks delightful, 
Shall acquaint the Dame despiteful. 
Lodge (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 15). 
despitefully (des-pit'ful-i), adv. With despite; 
maliciously ; viciously. 
Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute 
you. Hat. v. 44. 
despitefulness (des-pit'ful-nes), . Malice; 
ill will ; malignity. 
Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, 
that we know his meekness, and prove his patience. 
Wisdom, ii. 19. 
despiteous, dispiteous (des-, dis-pit'e-us), a. 
[Extended from earlier despitous, dispUous (as 
despot 
I should despair, or at least despond. Scott, Letters. 
= Syn. Despair, Despond. Despair implies a total loss of 
hope ; despond does not. Despondency produces a dispo- 
sition to relax or relinquish elfort ; despair generally stops 
all elfort. See despair, n. 
I shall despair. There is no creature loves me. 
Shak., Rich. III., v. 3. 
I have seen, without desponding even for a moment, the 
hours which America has styled her gloomy ones. 
Washington, in Bancroft's Hist. Const., I. 281. 
despond (des-pond'), n. [< despond, v.] De- 
spondency. [Archaic.] 
This miry slough is the descent whither the scum and 
filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run ; 
and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond. 
Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress. 
despondence (des-pon'dens}, )). [< desponden(t) 
+ -ce.] A despondent condition; despondency. 
[Rare.] 
The people, when once infected, lose their relish for hap- 
piness, saunter about with looks of despondence, 
(foldsmith, Citizen or the World, Ixviii. 
despondency (des-pon 'den-si), . [< despon- 
den(t) + -ci/.] A sinking or dejection of spirits 
from loss of hope or courage in affliction or diffi- 
culty; deep depression of spirit. 
Let not disappointment cause despondency, nor difficulty 
despair. Sir T. Browne, Christ. Jlor.,i. 1. 
We poets in our youth begin in gladness : 
But thereof come in the end dettpontlency and madness. 
Wordiworih, Resolution and Independence, St. 7. 
= Syn. Desperation, etc. (see despair), discouragement, 
melancholy, gloom. 
despondent (des-pon'dent), a. [< L. despon- 
de(*-)s, ppr. of despondere, despond: see de- 
spond, v.] Losing courage; falling into dejec- 
tion; depressed; spiritless. 
A man might be despondent had he spent a lifetime on 
a difficult task without a gleam of encouragement. 
Jemns, Pol. Econ., II. 8. 
despondently (des-pon'dent-li), adv. In a de- 
spondent manner. 
He thus despondently concludes. 
Barrow, Sermons, p. 319. 
desponder(des-pon'der),. One who desponds. 
I am no desponder in my nature. Sw\ft. 
desponding (des-pon'ding), p. a. Given to or 
caused by despondency ; despondent. 
There is no surer remedy for superstitious and despond- 
ing weakness than, . , . when we have done our own parts, 
to commit all chearf ully, for the rest, to the good pleasure 
of Heaven. Sir Ji. L Estrange. 
despondingly (des-pon'ding-li), adv. In a de- 
sponding manner ; with dejection of spirits. 
Swift, without a penny in his purse, was despondingly 
looking out of his window to gape away the time. 
Sheridan, Swift. 
desponsaget (des-pon'saj), n. [As desponsate + 
-age.] Betrothal. 
Ethelbert . . . went peaceablie to King Offa for despon- 
sage of Athilrid, his daughter. Foxe, Martyrs, p. 103. 
And thei made despoile the queue to go to lur bedde. _ r . T , 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 463. desponsatet (des-pon'sat), v. t. [< L. despon- 
satits, pp. of desponsare (> It. disposare = Sp. Pg. 
desposar), betroth, intensive of despondere, pp. 
desponsus, promise to give : see spouse and de- 
spond, v.] To betroth. Cockeram. 
desponsationt (des-pon-sa'shon), . [< LL. 
desponsatio(n-). < L. desponsare, betroth: see 
desponsate.] A betrothing. 
1566 
piteous from earlier pilous), < ME. despitous: 
see despitous. In mod. poet, use appar. re- 
garded as < dis- priv. + piteous.'] Despiteful ; 
malicious; furious. [Archaic.] 
I Pilate am, . . that by unrighteous 
And wicked doome, to Jewes despiteout 
Delivered up the Lord of life to dye. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 62. 
The most dispiteous out of all the gods. 
A. C. Swinburne, Phaedra. 
despiteouslyt (des-pit'e-us-li), adv. [Extended 
from earlier despitously, q. v., as despiteous from 
despitous.] Despitefully; cruelly. Spenser. 
despitoust, dispitoust, a. [ME. despitous, dis- 
pitous, < OF. despitous, despeitos, despitetis, later 
despiteux, F. depiteux (= Sp. despechoso = Pg. 
despeitoso = It. dispettoso), < despit: see despite, 
n. Cf. despiteous, the later form of despitous.] 
Same as despiteous. 
And though he holy were, and vertuons, 
He was to sinful man nought despitous. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 516. 
Thei ben . . . more dispytous than in ony other place, 
and han destroyed alle the Chirches. 
tlandeville, Travels, p. 112. 
despitouslyt, dispitquslyt, adv. [ME. despi- 
tously, despitusly, dispitously; < despitous + -ly*.] 
Despiteously; maliciously; angrily; cruelly. 
Out the child he hente 
Despitously. Chaucer, Clerk's Tale, 1. 478. 
despoil (des-poil'), v. t. [< ME. despoilen, de- 
spuilen, < OF. despoiller, despuiller (F. depouiller 
= Pr. despuelhar, despolhar = Sp. despojar = 
Pg. despojar = It. despogliare, dispogliare, spo- 
gliare, despoil, < L. despoliare, plunder, < de- in- 
tensive + spoliare, plunder, strip, rob, < spoli- 
um, spoil: see spoil. Cf. depopulate.'} 1. To 
spoliate ; take spoil from ; strip of possessions ; 
pillage : as, the army despoiled the enemy's 
country. 
The Dom schalle hegynne, snche houre as cure Lord de- 
scended to Uelle and dispoyled it. 
ilandeeille, Travels, p. 114. 
2. To deprive by spoliation; strip by force; 
plunder; bereave: with of: as, to despoil one 
o/his goods or of honors. 
The earl of March, following the plain path which his 
father had trodden out, despoiled Henry the father and 
Edward the son both of their lives and their kingdoms. 
Raleigh, Hist. World, Pref., p. 12. 
Waited with hellish rancour imminent 
To intercept thy way, or send thee back 
Despoil'd of innocence, of faith, of bliss ! 
Milton, P. L., ix. 411. 
3. To strip; divest; undress: used absolutely 
or with of. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
He bad 
That wommen sholde dispoilen hir ryght there. 
Chaucer, Clerk's Tale, 1. 318. 
And despoylled hym of alle hys clothes in to his sherte. 
Holy Rood (E. E. T. S.), p. 164. 
Though most were sorely wounded, none were slain, 
The surgeons soon despoiid them of their arms, 
And some with salves they cure, and some with charms. 
Dryden, Pal. and Arc. 
despoilt (des-poil'), n. [< despoil, v.] Spoil; 
plunder; spoliation. 
My houses be, by the oversight, despoil, .and evil behav- 
iour of such as I did trust, in ruin and decay. Wolsey. 
despoiler (des-poi'ler), . One who despoils or 
strips by force ; a plunderer. 
Henry VIII. , the founder of the reformation in this coun- 
try, and the despoiler of the clergy. 
Petre, Reflections, p. 29. 
despoilment (des-poil'ment), n. [< OF. de- 
spoillement, depoillement, f. depouillement = Pr. 
despoillament, despulhament; usdespoil + -ment.] 
The act of despoiling; a plundering. Hob- 
house. 
despoliation (des-po-li-a'shon), n. [< OF. de- 
spoliation, < LL. despoliatio(n-), < L. despoliare, 
pp. despoliatus, despoil : see despoil, v.] The 
act of despoiling, stripping, or plundering. 
despond (des-pond'), v. i. [< L. despondere, give 
up, yield (with or without animum, courage), 
lose courage, despair, despond; also (with de- 
intensive) promise, pledge ; < de, away, + spon- 
dere, promise : see sponsor, spouse. Cf. respond.] 
To lose heart, resolution, or hope; be cast 
down; be depressed or dejected in mind. 
The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to de- 
spond, and looked this way and that, but could find no 
way by which to escape the River. 
Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, p. 210. 
Others depress their own minds [and] despond at the 
first difficulty. Locke. 
The men who labour and digest things most 
Will be much apter to deapond than boast. 
Itoscommvn, On Translated Verse, 1. 162. 
For all this desponsation of her (Mary], according to the 
desire of her parents, and the custom of the nation, she 
had not set one step toward the consummation of her mar- 
riage. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 28. 
desponsoryt (des-pon'so-ri), n. [< LL. despon- 
sor, one who betroths, < L. despondere, pp. de- 
sponsus, betroth. See desponsate.'] A written 
betrothal. Worcester. 
despot (des'pot), n. [Formerly also despote; = 
D. despoot = G. Dan. Sw. despot, < OF. despot, 
despost, F. despote = Sp. despota = Pg. despota 
= It. despota, despoto, < ML. despota, despotus, 
< Gr. oeox6Tr/f, a master, lord, ruler, appar. orig. 
comp., < <5t<7-, origin unknown, + *~oTif, later 
rnkrif, husband, orig. master, = Skt. pati, lord, 
= Lith. patis, lord, = L. potis, able, cf. L. po- 
ten(t-)s, strong, potent: see potent, posse.] 1. 
An absolute ruler; one who governs according 
to his own will, under a recognized right or cus- 
tom, but uncontrolled by constitutional restric- 
tions or the wishes of his subjects ; a sovereign 
who is himself theoretically the source of all 
law. 
The case of Pausanias and other such cases were re- 
garded by the Spartans themselves as showing the ten- 
dency of generals to become despots. 
II. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., I 250. 
The nation knew that the king was not an arbitrary des- 
pot, but a sovereign bound by oaths, laws, policies, and 
necessities, over which they had sume control. 
Stubbs, Const. Hist., 5368. 
