I. ˈspīt, usu -īd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, short for despite (I)
1.
a. obsolete : an injury, hurt, or disgrace incurred or inflicted
it is a great spite to be praised in the wrong place — Ben Jonson
b. obsolete : something that vexes : a petty annoyance
2.
a. : often petty ill will or hatred toward another accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart : envious or rancorous malice
a little insignificant: not really hate at all, but spite — C.D.Lewis
b. : an instance of spite : an individual malicious feeling : grudge
a normal child has no spite against work until you have drilled one into him — C.E.Montague
Synonyms: see malice
•
- in spite of
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English spiten, from spite, n.
1. obsolete : to regard with spite : dislike , hate
2. : to treat maliciously (as by shaming or thwarting)
children are still ready to spite the older generation — E.H.Erikson
3.
a. : to fill with spite
b. : annoy , offend