v. Also 5–6 vylypende (5 philipend), 6 vilypend, 7 villipende, 8 -pend; 6 velipend, Sc. weliepend; 6–7 vilepend(e. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vilipender, or ad. L. vīlipendĕre, f. vīlis vile, worthless + pendĕre to consider, esteem. Cf. It. vilipendere, Sp. and Pg. vilipendiar.]
1. trans. To rate or regard as being of little value or consequence; to contemn or despise; to treat contemptuously or slightingly.
Very common c. 1500–1660, in some cases not clearly distinguishable from sense 2.
c. 1470. G. Ashby, Active Policy, 105. For youre birthe of theim discended, In whome al vices ben vilipended.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Lion & Mouse, 135. For thy trespas thow can mak na defens, my noble persoun thus to vilipend.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xxxvi. 41 b/1. The chyrches were pylled; and the sacred vesselis vylypended or dyspysed.
1502. Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, III. xlvii. (1893), 234. The more profoundly … he descendeth in humble consyderacion of hym selfe and vylypendynge hym selfe.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 157. Phidias … was threatned with death, to vilipend so great a Goddess and to make her in Ivory, which was wont to be honoured in Marble.
1606. Holland, Sueton., Annot. 25. Whom they did vilipend and despise, they were wont to cast stones at their Images and Statues.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., vii. § 3 (1643), 331. The terrible accidents that succeed eclipses may not be forgotten nor vilipended.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. 251. Since, thanks to Jove’s Benignity you’re valid, Choose not a frigid State, while yours is calid, Unless Salubrity you vilipend.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 4 Aug. I would not willingly villipend any Christian, if peradventure he deserveth that epithet.
1814. Scott, Wav., xiii. A youth devoid of that petulant volatility, which is impatient of, or vilipends, the conversation and advice of his seniors.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., I. 182. One Richard Hunt was summoned … for vilipending his lordship’s jurisdiction.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 213. This then is the proof that the doctrine of Justification is not contrary to Scripture, and does not vilipend, but really establish the Law.
2. To speak of with disparagement or contempt; to represent as contemptible or worthless; to abuse or vilify. (Common in 19th c.)
a. 1529. Skelton, Bk. 3 Foles, Wks. 1843, I. 202. If that I am exalted vnto honoure … thou wylt vilepende me with thy wordes.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 246 b. Vilipendyng all holy Religion, affirmyng it to bee an abusion of the people.
1584. Leycesters Commw. (1641), 90. Hee … did diminish, vilipend, and debase among his friends, the inestimable benefites hee hath received from her Majesty.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1120. Wherein he doth vilipend and mocke Socrates most, in that he demaundeth the question, What is man?
1651. C. Cartwright, Cert. Relig., I. 76. You shall find Luther … vilipending those books of Scripture, which were received into the Canon.
a. 1806. C. J. Fox, Reign Jas. II. (1808), p. viii. Even Dryden, who speaks with proper respect of Corneille, vilipends Racine.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xviii. Menacing the youth with maledictions … and vilipending the poor innocent girl as the basest and most artful of vixens.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 227. I am the object of her detestation … She will seize her opportunity to vilipend me.
Hence Vilipended ppl. a.; Vilipending vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Also Vilipender, one who vilipends; Vilipenditory a., abusive.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trump., I. 9. Pleasant was the well-known revenge of the *villipended author.
1849. H. Mayo, Pop. Superst. (1851), 197. The long-vilipended influence of Mesmer.
1832. Westm. Rev., July, 133. He … would deserve to be laughed at with the mathematical *vilipender of Milton’s poem.
1566. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 463. In manifest *vilipending of thair Hienessis autoritie.
a. 1626. Bp. Andrewes, Comm. Decalogue, 508 (T.). If it be to the scorning and vilipending of a man, it may be called the sin of the men of Succoth, who slighted Gideon.
1659. C. Noble, Answ. Immod. Queries, 6. What greater vilipendings … can be cast upon any man?
1884. Manch. Exam., 20 Feb., 4/7. An occasion for a wholesale vilipending of the Government.
1618. Hist. Perkin Warbeck, 15. Neither security or presumption … of their owne greatnesse,… nor *vilipending and slight regard of the contrary.
a. 1722. Fountainhall, Decis., I. 548. The Lords … considered his … vilipending expressions and carriage, and thought that deserved a fine.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xii. Sir Bingo … was … in a thoughtless and vilipending humour.
a. 1849. H. Coleridge, Ess. (1851), II. 195. The passionate Romeo, and the vilipending Mercutio.
1884. Kendal Merc. & Times, 22 Feb., 5/3. If *vilipenditory rhetoric could overthrow a Government then Mr. Gladstone ought to have collapsed.
