adv. [f. prec.]
1. In a spiteful manner; with spite.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, 45. If the deuyll sholde hym self syt & deuise to speke spyghtfully.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 433. Marques Albert had written certen thinges spitefully and bitterly.
1635. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 30. Having been spightfully used with unworthy reproaches.
1646. Crashaw, Poems (1904), 139. Cruel Auster … Sham’d not spitefully to wast All his leaves.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Lett. to M. Burghope, Wks. 1711, IV. 255. I could dwell spightfully upon this Subject for an hour or two.
1714. Swift, Imit. Hor., I. vii. The farmers, spitefully combin’d, Force him to take his tithes in kind.
1855. Poultry Chron., III. 388. A basket coop placed over a spitefully disposed hen.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, 11. The spit of sandy rock which juts Spitefully northward.
† 2. Excessively, extremely. Obs.–1
1567. Trial Treas. (Percy Soc.), 38. My littell finger is spitefully sore: You will not beleue how my hele doth ake.
