| 释义 |
spiteful, a. and adv.|ˈspaɪtfʊl|
Forms: α. 5–6 spyteful, -full (5 -fulle), 6–7 spytfull; 5– spiteful, 5–7 -full (7 spitfull). β. 6 spyght-, 6–8 spightfull, -ful.
[f. spite n. + -ful.]
†1. Expressive of, characterized by, contempt or disdain; contemptuous, disdainful, opprobrious.
c1440Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 227 With wordis greete and spiteful ooþ Þou defendist þee of þi foule folie. c1450Myrr. our Ladye 243 She knew before that he shulde be greatly payned wyth spyteful repreues and harde tormentes. 1533More Debell. Salem v. Wks. 939/1 When he called the chief priest a whyted wal, whiche was a spyghtfull word among them. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 130 b, The Parisians..taunted the Englishmen with the most spitefull wordes, and shameful termes. 1639S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 115 He returned her answeres..full of reproaches, and spitfull termes. a1700Evelyn Diary 25 Dec. 1657, These were men of high flight and above ordinances, and spake spiteful things of our Lord's Nativity.
†b. Bringing contempt or opprobrium; disgraceful, shameful. Obs.
1550Becon Jewel of Joy Wks. 1564 II. 40 b, Jesus Chryst..suffred the moste spitefull death of the crosse. 1577–82Breton Toyes Idle Head Wks. (Grosart) I. 54/2 Dame Venus game. Which spightfull sporte for to attaine Some so doo dull their sences all. c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. xcii. iv, Mine eye shall spy My spies in spightfull case.
2. Full of, possessed or animated by, spite; malicious, malevolent. Also fig. of things.
1490Caxton Eneydos xii. 46 The influences of the heuens so spytefull. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. (1634) 70 He is of nature froward, spiteful, and malicious. 1591Lyly Endym. iv. iii, Belike you cannot speake except you bee spightfull. 1663Butler Hud. i. iii. 362 The distress He suffer'd from his spightful Mistress. 1699Garth Dispens. i. 5 A spightful noise his downy Chains unties, Hastes forward, and encreases as it flies. 1820Keats Lamia ii. 228 Let..the spiteful thistle wage War on his temples. 1841Browning Pippa Passes Poems (1905) 166 She'll still face down The spitefullest of talkers in our town. 1874Holland Mistr. Manse 73 And in the midnight came the rain; In spiteful needles at the first.
b. Of the tongue, words, etc.
1557Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 212 Of wicked wiues this is the lot, To kill with spitefull tong. 1576Gascoigne Steele Glas (Arb.) 47 For spyteful tongs..Deeme worst of things, which best..deserued. 1640Bp. Hall Episc. ii. xvii, Pamphlets with spightfull invectives. a1656― Rem. Wks. (1660) 102 Bitter or spightfull words against his Brethren. 1711Addison Spect. No. 169 ⁋11 A spiteful Saying gratifies so many little Passions. 1868Tennyson Spiteful Let. i, It is here, the close of the year, And with it a spiteful letter. 1884F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 16 People are saying many spiteful things about him.
c. Of feelings, actions, etc.
1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 356 b, Whan they uttered their malice and spitefull hatred against us. 1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 61 In father his presence with spightful villenye cancred. 1662Evelyn Chalcogr. 54 The famous S. Roch and the spitefull coronation with thornes. 1730Bailey (fol.), Spitefulness, a spiteful Temper. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxii, The old man was muttering, with spiteful impatience, ‘Am I for ever to be recalled to the affairs of earth from those of heaven?’ 1862Burton Bk. Hunter (1863) 285 Having torn through a life of spiteful controversy with his fellow-men.
†3. Distressing, annoying, vexing. Obs.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 84 His name and fame was spitefull and dreadfull to the common people. 1606G. Woodcock Hist. Ivstine xii. 53 Afterwardes that all thinges might seeme more spightfull, he gaue generall commaundement to his company, that they should..adore him. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Assurance i, O spiteful bitter thought! Bitterly spiteful thought! Couldst thou invent So high a torture!
†4. As adv. Excessively, extremely. Obs.
c1440Alph. Tales 306 It was spitefull dere. c1548in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 12 A spightfull gay thynge, of all that ever I wyst. |