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spite - 6 dictionary results

spite

[spahyt] noun, verb, spit⋅ed, spit⋅ing.
–noun
1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
2. a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
3. Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.
–verb (used with object)
4. to treat with spite or malice.
5. to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
6. to fill with spite; vex; offend.
7. cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose (def. 23).
8. in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite: She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME; aph. var. of despite


spiteless, adjective


1. malevolence, maliciousness, rancor, venom, spleen. See grudge. 7. See notwithstanding.
spite   (spīt)   
n.  
  1. Malicious ill will prompting an urge to hurt or humiliate.
  2. An instance of malicious feeling.
tr.v.   spit·ed, spit·ing, spites
    1. To show spite toward.
    2. To vent spite on.
    3. To fill with spite.
    4. To annoy: He did it just to spite her.
    1. To fill with spite.
    2. To annoy: He did it just to spite her.

[Middle English, short for despit; see despite.]

Spite

Spite\, n. [Abbreviated fr. despite.]

1. Ill-will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite. --Pope.

This is the deadly spite that angers. --Shak.

2. Vexation; chargrin; mortification. [R.] --Shak.

In spite of, or Spite of, in opposition to all efforts of; in defiance or contempt of; notwithstanding. "Continuing, spite of pain, to use a knee after it had been slightly ibnjured." --H. Spenser. "And saved me in spite of the world, the devil, and myself." --South. "In spite of all applications, the patient grew worse every day." --Arbuthnot. See Syn. under Notwithstanding.

To owe one a spite, to entertain a mean hatred for him.

Syn: Pique, rancor; malevolence; grudge.

Usage: Spite, Malice. Malice has more reference to the disposition, and spite to the manifestation of it in words and actions. It is, therefore, meaner than malice, thought not always more criminal. " Malice . . . is more frequently employed to express the dispositions of inferior minds to execute every purpose of mischief within the more limited circle of their abilities." --Cogan. "Consider eke, that spite availeth naught." --Wyatt. See Pique.

Spite

Spite\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiting.]

1. To be angry at; to hate. [Obs.]

The Danes, then . . . pagans, spited places of religion. --Fuller.

2. To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.

3. To fill with spite; to offend; to vex. [R.]

Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavored to abolish not only their learning, but their language. --Sir. W. Temple.
Language Translation for : spite
Spanish: rencor,
German: die Boshaftigkeit,
Japanese: 悪意

spite  (n.)
c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to M.Du. spijt, M.L.G. spyt, M.Swed. spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.

spite

see in spite of.

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