English

Noun

despight ‎(countable and uncountable, plural despights)

1. Obsolete spelling of despite
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene,

     In haste Duessa from her place arose,

     And to him running said, O prowest knight,

       That ever Ladie to her love did chose,

       Let now abate the terror of your might,

       And quench the flame of furious despight,

       And bloudie vengeance; lo th' infernall powres,

       Covering your foe with cloud of deadly night,

       Have borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres.

     The conquest yours, I yours, the shield, the glory yours.

   • 1714, Jonathan Swift, Dennis' Invitation to Steele,

     I'll bid adieu to gravity, and drink;

     And, though I can't put off a woful mien,

     Will be all mirth and cheerfulness within:

     As, in despight of a censorious race,

     I most incontinently suck my face.

   • 1880, Richard Francis Burton, Os Lusiadas (The Lusiads), translation of original by Luís de Camões, Canto III, stanza 119, page 126:

     Thou, only thou, pure Love, whose cruel might
     obligeth human hearts to weal and woe,
     thou, only thou, didst wreak such foul despight,
     as though she were some foul perfidious foe.
     Thy burning thirst, fierce Love, they say aright,
     may not be quencht by saddest tears that flow;
     Nay, more, thy sprite of harsh tyrannick mood
     would see thine altars bathed with human blood.

Preposition

despight

1. Obsolete spelling of despite