dispiteous

American  

[dis-pit-ee-uhs] / dɪsˈpɪt i əs /

adjective

Archaic.

1. malicious; cruel; pitiless.

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Other Word Forms

• dispiteously adverb
• dispiteousness noun

Etymology

Origin of dispiteous

1795–1805; earlier despiteous, alteration, after piteous, of dispitous, despitous, Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French; despite, -ous; later taken as dis- ¹ + piteous

Example Sentences

Be but as sweet as is the bitterest, The most dispiteous out of all the gods, I am well pleased.

From Project Gutenberg

This dispiteous and abominable tyrant prohibits the bodies of the warriors fallen in the celebrated siege of that city from burial.

From Project Gutenberg

Aeneas was our king, foremost of men in righteousness, incomparable in goodness as in warlike arms; whom if fate still preserves, if he draws the breath of heaven and lies not yet low in dispiteous gloom, fear we have none; nor mayest thou repent of challenging the contest of service.

From Project Gutenberg

The second thought made plain the dispiteous hardness of it all, showing me how I had reasoned like a boy in planning for retrieval.

From Project Gutenberg

XV   The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide, Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous, Gan fairely couch his speare, and towards ride: 130 Soone meete they both, both fell and furious, That daunted with their forces hideous, Their steeds do stagger, and amazed stand, And eke themselves, too rudely rigorous, Astonied with the stroke of their owne hand 135 Doe backe rebut, and each to other yeeldeth land.

From Project Gutenberg