SPITE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Spite

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/spaɪt/ Listen

noun

Spite n.

1.

Ill-will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite. "This is the deadly spite that angers."

2.

Vexation; chargrin; mortification. (R.)

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." "And saved me in spite of the world, the devil, and myself." "In spite of all applications, the patient grew worse every day." See Syn. under Notwithstanding.

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

Synonyms: 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." "Consider eke, that spite availeth naught." See Pique.

verb

Spite v. t. (past & past part. spited; pres. part. spiting)

1.

To be angry at; to hate. (Obs.) "The Danes, then... pagans, spited places of religion."

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."

See images of 'Spite'

Etymology of 'Spite'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Spite" Quotes from Famous Books

... spite of himself. His nostrils alone would give him away," she told herself, smiling. "He is cross, the other inscrutable; Ruth is frightened, and I am amused. We look like four school-children seated in a row, with Uncle Bernard as the teacher... When ...

— The Fortunes of the Farrells • Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey

... forty-five cents would more than suffice to take her there. She would see the casting director. She would get a job. With food to eat and a place to sleep as a starting point she would find her own way to wickedness, releasing the prince in spite of all the mishaps which kept her ...

— The Dust Flower • Basil King

... exclaimed the holy Bishop. "Here is a brave soldier and a great statesman, fretted by the merest trifles, and unhappy because he cannot die in exactly the circumstances which he would have chosen for himself." I am glad to be able to add that in spite of all this the poor man made a ...

— The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales • Jean Pierre Camus

... end of the Broadstairs holiday, the house in Devonshire Terrace was vacant, and the family returned to it in October. All this year Charles Dickens had been at work upon the monthly numbers of "Dombey and Son," in spite of these many interruptions. He began at Broadstairs a Christmas book. But he found that the engrossing interest of his novel approaching completion made it impossible for him to finish the other work in time. So he decided ...

— The Letters of Charles Dickens - Vol. 1 (of 3), 1833-1856 • Charles Dickens

... companion, but only about twice as heavy! Here is a very great contrast; and this point will appear even more forcible if we contrast the companion of Sirius with our sun. The companion is slightly heavier than our sun; but in spite of its slightly inferior bulk, our sun is much more powerful as a light-giver. One hundred of the companions of Sirius would not give as much light as our sun! This is a result of very considerable significance. ...

— The Story of the Heavens • Robert Stawell Ball

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