A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Dispitous, -uous, -eous, a. Also: dyspytus, -ws, dispytus, -pit(t)us, -pittous, -pitousse; dyspytwous, -wows, -uws, dispytwos, -pytuus, -pit(t)uus, -pitwus, -pituos, -pit(t)uousse; dyspytwys, -uis(e, dispitwys, -wis, -uis, -ois; dispetews, -pitteous, -pitious. [ME. dispitous, -us (14th c.), -pitious (15th c.), -pituous (1483), etc., var. of despitous, -us (a 1430), AF. despitous, OF. despitos. The later forms are due to association with piteous.] a. Displaying scorn or contempt. b. Full of malice or spite; cruel, pitiless.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 196.
Officeris … off Inglis nation, That worthyt than … swa hawtane and dispitous c1420 Wynt. v. 4524.
Wyth dispytws wordys he Deffamyd the Haly Trinyté Ib. vi. 213.
Thir dyspytws traytowris fell, That demembryd … This Leo ?1438 Alex. ii. 4192.
Thay knichtis rais, that war curagius, Hardy and stout and dispittus a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 250.
Dathane deuillis sone, and dragon dispitous 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6706.
Scho him gaue sum wordis outrageous, Hie and haltand, and verray dispittous(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 5015.
Dispytwus and rycht fell scho wes Till the gud knycht Ib. vii. 2607.
Till Scotland dyspytuws He wes all tyme and grevus c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 69/25.
I haue bene dispituos and rebellious and nocht obeyand to wisdome 1533 Boece ii. v. 65 b.
To this dispituos araynge of Dovale ansuerit the king in furie a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlvii. 60.
Be nocht haltane nor dangerous, Nor on na wys dispituous(c) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 217.
Thai ware sa fel and dyspytuise, That nane wald herbry tham in house 1459 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 82.
Iamys Mathys is in a marcyment of this curt … for the dyspytwys langagis that he spak of Florimunde of Meldrum c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 253.
Thought I dour wes, & dane, dispitois, & bald(d) c1420 Wynt. ii. 1210.
A fell were ras … And a dispetews in thai dayis c1420 Wynt. vii. 2607 (W).
Till Scotland full dispitious He wes all tyme and invyous 15.. Clar. v. 1155.
Clariodus … hit him sik ane strake dispiteous, That horse and man went both unto the ground c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 829.
With peruerst will and venemous, Corrupt intent, and dispitteous Ib. iv. 59.
Sa far as he Did lichtlie hir with … Richt dispiteous language of greit disdane
