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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spite, Spyt(e, n. Also: spytt, spight, spyit, spaitt. [ME and e.m.E. spite (Cursor M.), spitt, spyt (both 14th c.), spyte (c1380), spight (1559), aphetic f. Despite n., Dispit(e n. Cf. MDu. spijt, MLG spyt, spît, MSw. spit.]

1. Spite, malice, ill-will, a strong feeling of hatred. Chiefly in possess., also fig. Also const. prep.(1) a1585 Maitl. Q. 132/7.
Be thair speiche thair spyit salbe espyit a1585 Maitl. Q. 248/25.
Be the cruell spyt Of thame that workis vneis a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii 60.
To work Apollo spyt 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 155.
Whan … the true storie … sal be examined, … thair malice & spyt against my father or flattering of vthers persons … wilbe manifest 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 63/38.
To kythe your spite 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 415.
Nothing bot his lyff could satisfie his enemies revengefull spight — c1673 Fugitive Poetry II xxxiii 4/99.
Oblig'd by France, I feare not you, Nor all that factione's spight can doefig. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvi 9.
This grit invy Of Fortun nou I find; Bot at this tym hir spyt I spy 1705 Symson Descr. Galloway 180.
My Maker shall get the praise of what I'm made partaker … by His assistance, I may well endure the spight of fortune(2) 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 596.
Hee … did not mease the causelesse spight conceau'd In hardned hearts(3) a1500 Sir Eger 2395 (L).
He was never christened … That could on me set any fault … But, that I tarryed cruellie, And that, I was not in grief nor spite 1570 Sat. P. xiii 64.
On a croce on lenth and breid him drew, And hangit vp for spyte twa theuis besyde him 1611-57 Mure Doomesday 211.
On cruell wight, Shall equall weight of vengeance light With byting vsurie, with spight 1643 Fugitive Poetry ii xx 10/30.
They fought in spight with mutuall counterbuffe 1680-6 Lauder Observes App. iv 304.
His enemies … might perhaps (through deadly spite) have put some crooked prin intil it

2. In spite of (a person, action, etc.), in defiance of, in the face of, notwithstanding. Also, in (the) spyte of (all) thair, his, etc. heades, teeth, nois and in tyms spyt. Also, (the) spite of …, = in spite of … .(1) 1567 Sempill in Sat. P. viii 4.
In spyte of thé and all the laif The bastard bairne sall beir the bell c1600 Montg. Suppl. v 15.
In spaitt of thé, itt selbe sene, Fra leuff I sell leif ever fre — 1640 Fugitive Poetry II xix 1.
Scotland's triumph in spight of Rome and Spaine Who would curst Jericho's wals heer build againe(2) c1590 Fowler I 146/13.
Nochttheles, your servant sal abyde in spyte of ruid repulse c1650 Spalding I 335.
Generall Leslie … resolved to pas there in spight of all oppositioun(3) 1554 Knox III 283.
In the spyt of their heades, the plagues of God shall stryke them. They shalbe comprehended in the snare which they prepare for other 1570 Sat. P. x 183.
Thay … reft him from hir in spyte of his nois, Syne schot him furth quicklie amang his fois, Quha stickit him 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 39.
The Frenchmen … hame thay past in spyt of all thair noisfig. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xl 49.
Ȝit I will on hir permanence repose, In spyte of Fortuns nose(4) 1622-6 Bisset I 24/5.
The piramidis, quhiche to the hevins, did bend, Invyous tyme, hes brought tham all to end. Ȝit in tyms spyt they live in glorious famis — c1615 Chron. Kings 120.
Scho hoipitt that within few dayis scho suld be at hame the spytt of hir [sc. Elizabeth] and all hir onfreindis(5) 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxxviii 84.
The Inglismen helpit at Leith, And gart thame [sc. the French] gang hame agane, spyte of thair teith