Also 6 spyte, 6–8 spight. [Aphetic form of DESPITE v. (OF. despiter): cf. prec. and MDu. spīten (Da. spijten, WFris. spite), MLG. spîten.]
† 1. trans. To regard with contempt or spite.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2346. Þire athils of Atenes … kest vp a crie…. Sum in comending of his carpe & on [read oþer] clene it spitid.
1483. Cath. Angl., 355/2. To spite, despicere.
1541. Paynell, Catiline, v. 9. It doth not a lytte helpe…, that the ryches of these men is spyted amonge strange nations.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., I. xiv. E v. Not any there with waywarde eyes for my good lucke shal spyte me.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, V. iii. (1905), 121. While these … applaud my poemes; I would not wish but such as you should spight them.
1659. N. R., Prov., Eng. Fr., etc. 64. It is better to be spited then pitied.
1690. Norris, Beatitudes (1694), I. 185. Envy, which, indeed, spites every thing that is excellent.
2. To treat spitefully or maliciously; to annoy or thwart in a spiteful manner.
It is doubtful whether the pa. pple. spit in the Destr. Troy 2114 belongs here.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. v. 55. Beguild, diuorced, wronged, spighted, slaine, Most detestable death, by thee beguil’d.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence (1607), 139. They spighted me miserably.
1658. Whole Duty of Man, xvi. 133. Not caring what they suffer themselves, so they may spite their enemy.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. i. 7. I should be sorry to say anything about spiting the Spitalfields weavers.
1864. Dasent, Jest & Earnest (1873), I. 161. You have been spited by the Kellner, whom you have perhaps not saluted that day…. You have been spited, and only had a little piece.
1885. Manch. Exam., 26 June, 5/3. The double object of gratifying themselves and spiting the English.
b. In the phr. to spite (one), in order to vent spite or spleen upon (another); with the object or intention of vexing or annoying.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 209. For nothing else but to spight the Pope.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. i. 111. I am recklesse what I doe, To spight the World.
1683. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 72. Thanksgiving day: appointed I presume on that day to spite the Presbyterians.
1880. ‘Ouida,’ Moths, I. 31. I’ll keep the child to spite her.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, xi. I don’t fancy Deering will cut off his nose to spite his face.
3. To fill with spite or vexation; to annoy, offend, irritate.
c. 1563. Jack Juggler, C iv b. It spiteth my hart to haue lost it by suche open negligence.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 41 b. There is nothing spites us more than to heare a man commend himselfe.
1627. Lisander & Cal., II. 26. He … was iustly spighted to see aswell his brother as all the rest take them to their aduantage.
1686. F. Spence, trans. Varillas’ Ho. Medicis, 293. It spighted him infinitely, when people discoursed him upon the modesty of his ancestors.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Comm., Wks. 1755, II. I. 27. The nobles, spighted at this indignity done them by the commons, firmly united in a body.
1756. Home, Douglas, III. i. One whom distress has spited at the world.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, xvi. The danger of intrusting thyself … in the power of one so spited against humanity.
1865. Le Fanu, Guy Dev., III. v. 50. She was spited with it, as so many others are, because it won’t do for us what we must do for ourselves.
† 4. intr. To be angry or annoyed; to cherish spite. Obs.
c. 1560. Ingelend, Disobed. Child, D j b. Wherfore let my father spyte and spurne, My fantasye wyll neuer turne.
1577. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 188. Let fortune spight, and boldly take thine ease.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Fabius Max. (1895), II. 80–1. This Livius spighted to see suche honour done to Fabius, so that one daye … he burst out and sayed [etc.].
† b. With at (a person or thing). Obs.
1567–8. Gismond of Salerne, I. iii. 16. It was my cruel fate that spited at my pleasant life forepast.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 164. Wherat my mother spited much, and eke did iealous grow.
1616. Breton, Good & Badde, An Atheist, Wks. (Grosart), II. 10/2. He spightes at the gracious, and spurnes the godly.
1641. Prynne, Antipathie, 42. In this Bishops time, the Italians had gotten many Benefices in England, who being much spited at [etc.].
Hence Spited ppl. a., Spiting vbl. sb.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxiv. 286. Wyst I that he spake it in spytyng of me Tytt shuld I spede forto spyll hym.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 159. Not minding by writing to kindle a spiting.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., II. 423. A Pattern of reproached and spighted Innocence.
