Oct 29, 2004 00:43
19 yrs ago
English term
Responses
+13
7 mins
Selected
despite
I'm no expert on ME, but I feel sure that this is it; in modern English, we would probably says 'spite', but in olden days the word 'despite was more common. Cf OED:
despite n. arch. Also despight.ME.
[OFr. despit (mod. dépit) f. L despectus looking down (on), f. despect- pa. ppl stem of despicere]
1 Contempt, scorn, disdain. ME.
2 Contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage, injury. ME.
3 Disregard of opposition, defiance. (Foll. by to.) ME–E18.
4 Indignation, anger, esp.such as arises from offended pride or vexation; the bearing of a grudge; ill will, spite. ME.
5 An act demonstrating contempt, hatred, or malice; an outrage. Usu. in pl. ME.
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Note added at 13 mins (2004-10-29 00:57:19 GMT)
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It seems to me that in your context, meaning 1) above is appropriate:
Those that dwell in Hell no longer fear contempt from the earthly world
despite n. arch. Also despight.ME.
[OFr. despit (mod. dépit) f. L despectus looking down (on), f. despect- pa. ppl stem of despicere]
1 Contempt, scorn, disdain. ME.
2 Contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage, injury. ME.
3 Disregard of opposition, defiance. (Foll. by to.) ME–E18.
4 Indignation, anger, esp.such as arises from offended pride or vexation; the bearing of a grudge; ill will, spite. ME.
5 An act demonstrating contempt, hatred, or malice; an outrage. Usu. in pl. ME.
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Note added at 13 mins (2004-10-29 00:57:19 GMT)
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It seems to me that in your context, meaning 1) above is appropriate:
Those that dwell in Hell no longer fear contempt from the earthly world
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
1 hr
despising
+
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Peter Linton (X)
: While Dusty's answer is impeccable (as usual), we are so used to "despite" as a preposition rather than a noun that "despising" seems a better way of conveying the meaning these days.
2 days 18 hrs
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That was my thought exactly, Peter. Flow my thankes.
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