English Explanatory Dictionary

spite

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the desire to unjustifiably irritate, annoy, or thwart; a want to disturb or put out another; mild malice.
  2. Vexation; chagrin; mortification.
verb
  1. To treat maliciously; to try to hurt or thwart.
  2. To be angry at; to hate.
  3. To fill with spite; to offend; to vex.
prep
  1. Notwithstanding; despite.

Pronunciation

spīt /spaɪt/ en-us-spite.ogg

Word forms

spite spites spight spiting spited

Etymology

From Middle English spit, a shortening of despit (whence despite), from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from Latin dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). Compare also North Frisian spīt, spīd (“regret”), Saterland Frisian Spiet (“regret, remorse”), West Frisian spyt (“regret”), Dutch spijt (“regret, remorse”), German Low German Spiet (“anger, regret, remorse”), German Spiet (“annoyance, vexation”), Swedish spit (“insult, outrage, annoyance”), Norwegian spit (“insult, outrage, annoyance”).

Synonyms

grudge rancor hate on malice malign abhor detest loathe abominate can't stand can't stand the sight of despise disrelish execrate hate resent spite affront insult misbid abuse burn carry cut down disrespect dis diss give stick heckle hurt someone's feelings lapidate qualifier misrespect misuse offend send scandal scandalize slag slag off sledge slight slur sneap wound

Related words

malignant malicious

Derived words

Hamiltonian spite in spite of in spite of oneself in spite of someone's teeth spite fence spiteful spite house spiteless spitesome spite wall spitish cut off one's nose to spite one's face spiter unspited
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