[f. as prec.] The quality, character or fact of being spiteful.
1530. Palsgr., 274. Spytefulnesse, despitevseté.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 197. You abhorre that principalitie, with equall proportion of spightfulnesse.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., III. 1119. With spightfulnesse, that scarce can matched be.
1648–9. Eikon Bas., 124. The spightfulness of a few.
1711. W. King, trans. Naude’s Ref. Politics, iv. 133. The Spightfulness of two Monks, who had no other Weapons but their Pens and their Tongues.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), IV. 69. As to the Accusation of Spitefulness.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, vii. Every little bone in Miggs’s throat and neck developed itself with a spitefulness quite alarming.
1884. Fortn. Rev., June, 813. That small spitefulness which is sometimes the concomitant of weak or effeminate natures.
