Spite

Pronunciation

• enPR: spÄ«t, IPA: /spaɪt/
• Rhymes: -aɪt

From a shortening of Middle English despit, from Old French despit (whence despite). Cf. also Dutch spijt.

Full definition of spite

Noun

1. Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; a desire to vex or injure; petty malice; grudge; rancor.He was so filled with spite for his ex-wife, he could not hold down a job.They did it just for spite.
• ShakespeareThis is the deadly spite that angers.
2. (obsolete) Vexation; chagrin; mortification."The time is out of joint: O cursed spite." Shakespeare, Hamlet

Verb

1. (transitive) To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.She soon married again, to spite her ex-husband.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To be angry at; to hate.The Danes, then ... pagans, spited places of religion. — Fuller.
3. (transitive) To fill with spite; to offend; to vex.Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavoured to abolish not only their learning, but their language. — Sir. W. Temple.

Related terms

• spiteful
• in spite of
• despite

Preposition

1. Notwithstanding; despite.

Anagrams

• piets, piste, stipe