| Spite | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiting. ] 1. To be angry at; to hate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] The Danes, then . . . pagans, spited places of religion. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To fill with spite; to offend; to vex. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavored to abolish not only their learning, but their language. Sir. W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| 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. [ 1913 Webster ] This is the deadly spite that angers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Vexation; chargrin; mortification. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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 injured.” 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Pique, rancor; malevolence; grudge. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Spiteful | a. Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act. Shak. -- Spite"ful*ly, adv. Spite"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ] |
