a. and adv. Forms: α. 5–6 spyteful, -full (5 -fulle), 6–7 spytfull; 5– spiteful, 5–7 -full (7 spitfull). β. 6 spyght-, 6–8 spightfull, -ful. [f. SPITE sb. + -FUL.]
† 1. Expressive of, characterized by, contempt or disdain; contemptuous, disdainful, opprobrious.
c. 1440. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 227. With wordis greete and spiteful ooþ Þou defendist þee of þi foule folie.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 243. She knew before that he shulde be greatly payned wyth spyteful repreues and harde tormentes.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, v. Wks. 939/1. When he called the chief priest a whyted wal, whiche was a spyghtfull word among them.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 130 b. The Parisians … taunted the Englishmen with the most spitefull wordes, and shameful termes.
1639. S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 115. He returned her answeres … full of reproaches, and spitfull termes.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 25 Dec. 1657. These were men of high flight and above ordinances, and spake spiteful things of our Lord’s Nativity.
† b. Bringing contempt or opprobrium; disgraceful, shameful. Obs.
1550. Becon, Jewel of Joy, Wks. 1564, II. 40 b. Jesus Chryst … suffred the moste spitefull death of the crosse.
1577–82. Breton, Toyes Idle Head, Wks. (Grosart), I. 54/2. Dame Venus game. Which spightfull sporte for to attaine Some so doo dull their sences all.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. XCII. iv. Mine eye shall spy My spies in spightfull case.
2. Full of, possessed or animated by, spite; malicious, malevolent. Also fig. of things.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xii. 46. The influences of the heuens so spytefull.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. (1634), 70. He is of nature froward, spiteful, and malicious.
1591. Lyly, Endym., IV. iii. Belike you cannot speake except you bee spightfull.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 362. The distress He suffer’d from his spightful Mistress.
1699. Garth, Dispens., I. 5. A spightful noise his downy Chains unties, Hastes forward, and encreases as it flies.
1820. Keats, Lamia, II. 228. Let … the spiteful thistle wage War on his temples.
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, Poems (1905), 166. She’ll still face down The spitefullest of talkers in our town.
1874. Holland, Mistr. Manse, 73. And in the midnight came the rain; In spiteful needles at the first.
b. Of the tongue, words, etc.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 212. Of wicked wiues this is the lot, To kill with spitefull tong.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Glas (Arb.), 47. For spyteful tongs … Deeme worst of things, which best … deserued.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. xvii. Pamphlets with spightfull invectives. Ibid. (a. 1656), Rem. Wks. (1660), 102. Bitter or spightfull words against his Brethren.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 169, ¶ 11. A spiteful Saying gratifies so many little Passions.
1868. Tennyson, Spiteful Let., i. It is here, the close of the year, And with it a spiteful letter.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 16. People are saying many spiteful things about him.
c. Of feelings, actions, etc.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 356 b. Whan they uttered their malice and spitefull hatred against us.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 61. In father his presence with spightful villenye cancred.
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., 54. The famous S. Roch and the spitefull coronation with thornes.
1730. Bailey (fol.), Spitefulness, a spiteful Temper.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxii. The old man was muttering, with spiteful impatience, ‘Am I for ever to be recalled to the affairs of earth from those of heaven?’
1862. Burton, Bk. Hunter (1863), 285. Having torn through a life of spiteful controversy with his fellow-men.
† 3. Distressing, annoying, vexing. Obs.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 84. His name and fame was spitefull and dreadfull to the common people.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist Ivstine, XII. 53. Afterwardes that all thinges might seeme more spightfull, he gaue generall commaundement to his company, that they should … adore him.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Assurance, i. O spiteful bitter thought! Bitterly spiteful thought! Couldst thou invent So high a torture!
† 4. As adv. Excessively, extremely. Obs.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 306. It was spitefull dere.
c. 1548. in Hazl., E. P. P., IV. 12. A spightfull gay thynge, of all that ever I wyst.
