Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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\, 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.