a. and adv. Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 spitus, -ous, 5 -ouse, -uose; 5 spytus, -ous, -ows. β. 4 spetos, 5 -ous(e, -ows. [Aphetic ad. AF. despitous, f. despit: see SPITE sb.]
1. = DESPITOUS a.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 14097. Martha thoght sco helpe ne wald, A spitus plaint to crist sco tald.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 845. Whatt! þay spaten & speken of so spitous fylþe.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 979. That arowe was as with felonye Envenymed, and with spitous blame.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 256. Was there euere eny theef or worse odyus man so sone dampned and putte to so spitouse deth?
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 2830. More feers he was & more hydows, also more egre, & mochel more spytows, thanne the whyte [dragon] was.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 106. Isegrym wende wyth thyse mockyng and spytous wordes to haue goon out of his wytte.
β. 13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 209. A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle que-so myȝt.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2458. Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis. Ibid., 4567. He was spetous of speche & spised his driȝtins.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 2850. So spetows was þe bataylle betwixen hem.
2. As adv. = next.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 7480. Then was wroth Episcropus That Ector spake to him so spitous; Dispitusly Ector he myssayde.
