† spitousadj.adv.

Forms: α. Middle English spitus, spitous, Middle English spitouse, spituose; Middle English spytus, spytous, spytows. β. Middle English spetos, Middle English spetous(e, spetows.

Etymology: Aphetic < Anglo-Norman despitous, < despit : see spite n.

Obsolete.

1. = despitous adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > [adjective]

teenfulOE

atteryc1175

ondfula1200

maliciousa1250

doggedc1300

enviousc1330

venoma1350

spitous?a1366

despitousc1374

heinous?a1400

venomyc1400

sinister1411

sputousc1420

doggish?a1425

cankered?a1439

doggya1450

sinistrous1460

spity1481

despiteful1488

spiteful1490

despiteous?1510

viperious?1510

peevisha1522

maliceful1522

envyful1530

viperinec1540

viperous?1542

vipered1560

uncanny1596

dogged-sprighted1600

maliced1602

ill-minded1611

virulent1613

ill-hearteda1617

doleful1617

spitish1627

splenial1641

litherlya1643

venomsome1660

slim1674

viper1721

vipereal1750

viperish1755

vicious1825

waspish1855

viperian1866

viperan1877

cattish1883

catty1886

bitchy1928

the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adjective]

loathOE

teenfulOE

nithefulOE

ondfula1200

maliciousa1250

doggedc1300

enviousc1330

venomousa1340

venoma1350

spitous?a1366

despitousc1374

heinous?a1400

unkindlya1400

venomyc1400

sinister1411

sputousc1420

doggish?a1425

cankered?a1439

doggya1450

sinistrous1460

spity1481

despiteful1488

spiteful1490

despiteous?1510

viperious?1510

peevisha1522

envyful1530

viperous1535

viperinec1540

vipered1560

bad-minded1588

uncanny1596

dogged-sprighted1600

toothsome1601

maliced1602

ill-minded1611

virulent1613

ill-hearteda1617

doleful1617

spitish1627

ill-meaning1633

splenial1641

litherlya1643

venomsome1660

slim1668

cat-witted1672

vipereal1750

viperish1755

méchant1813

vicious1825

maliceful1840

mean1841

waspish1855

viperian1866

viperan1877

cattish1883

catty1886

bad mind1904

bitchy1908

α.

?a1366 Romaunt Rose 979 That arowe was as with felonye Envenymed, and with spitous blame.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14097 Martha thoght sco helpe ne wald, A spitus plaint to crist sco tald.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 845 Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spitous fylþe.

c1400 N. Love tr. Bonaventura Mirror Life Christ (1908) 256 Was there euere eny theef or worse odyus man so sone dampned and putte to so spitouse deth?

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 2830 More Feers he was & more hydows, Also more egre, & mochel more Spytows, Thanne the whyte [dragon] was.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 99 Isegrym wende wyth thyse mockyng and spytous wordes to haue goon out of his wytte.

β. a1400–50 Alexander 2458 Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis.a1400–50 Alexander 4567 He was spetous of speche & spised his driȝtins.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 209 A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quo-so myȝt.a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 2850 So spetows was þe bataylle betwixen hem.

2. As adv. = spitously adv.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > [adverb]

despitouslyc1320

maliciouslya1325

doggedlyc1380

spitouslya1387

venomly1387

spitousc1400

enviouslyc1430

venomously1449

sputouslyc1450

evilfullyc1475

despitefully1487

despiteouslya1500

unhappily1509

peevishly?1529

spitefully1532

cankeredly1535

viperiously1538

malignly1543

sinisterlyc1550

doggishly1576

cankerly1580

viperously1587

sinistruouslya1615

despitely1619

viciously1841

dolefully1880

cattishly1913

cattily1924

bitchily1938

the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adverb]