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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·spise

Audio Help [di-spahyz] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object), -spised, -spis·ing.

to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; scorn; loathe.

[Origin: 1250–1300; ME despisen < OF despis-, s. of despire < L déspicere; see despicable

]

—Related forms

de·spis·a·ble, adjective

de·spis·a·ble·ness, noun

de·spis·er, noun

de·spis·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms contemn, detest.

—Antonyms admire.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Despise

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·spise Audio Help (dĭ-spīz') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·spised, de·spis·ing, de·spis·es

To regard with contempt or scorn: despised all cowards and flatterers.
To dislike intensely; loathe: despised the frigid weather in January.
To regard as unworthy of one's interest or concern: despised any thought of their own safety.

[Middle English despisen, from Old French despire, despis-, from Latin dēspicere : dē-, de- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

de·spis'al (-spī'zəl) n., de·spis'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to regard with utter contempt: despises incompetence; contemned the dictator's actions; disdained my suggestion; scorns sentimentality; scouted simplistic explanations.
Antonym: esteem

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
despise

1297, from O.Fr. despis-, stem of despire, from L. despicere "look down on, scorn," from de- "down" + specere "look at" (see scope (1)).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

despise
verb
look down on with disdain; "He despises the people he has to work for"; "The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately" [syn: contemn]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
despise1 [diˈspaiz] verb

to look upon with scorn and contempt
Example: I know he despises me for failing my exam.

Arabic:	يَحْتَقِر
Chinese (Simplified):	藐视, 轻视
Chinese (Traditional):	藐視, 輕視
Czech:	pohrdat, opovrhovat
Danish:	se ned på; foragte
Dutch:	verachten
Estonian:	põlgama
Finnish:	halveksia
French:	mépriser
German:	verachten
Greek:	περιφρονώ, καταφρονώ
Hungarian:	megvet
Icelandic:	fyrirlíta
Indonesian:	membenci
Italian:	disprezzare

Japanese:	軽蔑する
Korean:	경멸하다
Latvian:	nicināt
Lithuanian:	niekinti
Norwegian:	forakte
Polish:	gardzić
Portuguese (Brazil):	desprezar
Portuguese (Portugal):	desprezar
Romanian:	desconsidera
Russian:	презирать
Slovak:	pohŕdať
Slovenian:	prezirati
Spanish:	despreciar
Swedish:	förakta, ringakta
Turkish:	hor görmek, küçümsemek

despise2 [diˈspaiz] verb

to refuse to have, use etc; to scorn
Example: She despises such luxuries as fur boots.

Arabic:	يَزْدَري، يَسْتَخِف ب
Chinese (Simplified):	鄙视
Chinese (Traditional):	鄙視
Czech:	pohrdnout
Danish:	foragte
Dutch:	verfoeien
Estonian:	põlastama
Finnish:	väheksyä
French:	dédaigner
German:	verschmähen
Greek:	περιφρονώ, αψηφώ, αρνούμαι να έχω
Hungarian:	lenéz
Icelandic:	hafa andstyggð á
Indonesian:	tidak suka
Italian:	disdegnare

Japanese:	ひどくきらう
Korean:	몹시 싫어하다
Latvian:	nicināt; nievāt
Lithuanian:	niekinti
Norwegian:	forakte, se ned på
Polish:	gardzić
Portuguese (Brazil):	desprezar
Portuguese (Portugal):	desprezar
Romanian:	a dispreţui
Russian:	презирать
Slovak:	opovrhnúť
Slovenian:	zaničevati
Spanish:	desdeñar, despreciar
Swedish:	förakta
Turkish:	hoşlanmamak

See also: despicable

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Despise

Con*temn"\ (k[o^]n*t[e^]m"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contemned (-t[e^]md); p. pr. & vb. n. Contemning (-t[e^]m"n[i^]ng or -t[e^]m"[i^]ng).] [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.] To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.

Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. --Milton.

One who contemned divine and human laws. --Dryden.

Syn: To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook.

Usage: To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term, and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an abhorrence of what is base.

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