Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » despise

despise

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of despise is to strongly dislike, or to treat with scorn.

(verb)

To dislike heavy metal music is an example of despise.
To hate your noisy neighbor so much that you ignore her is an example of despise.

See despise in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to look down on with contempt and scorn
to regard with dislike or repugnance

Origin: ME despisen < OFr despis-, stem of despirer < L despicere, to look down upon, despise < de, down, from + specere, to look at: see spectacle

See despise in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb de·spised, de·spis·ing, de·spis·es

To regard with contempt or scorn: despised all cowards and flatterers.
To dislike intensely; loathe: despised the frigid weather in January.
To regard as unworthy of one's interest or concern: despised any thought of their own safety.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English despisen

Origin: , from Old French despire, despis-

Origin: , from Latin dēspicere

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: