De-spīse', v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DESPISED; p. pr. & vb. n. DESPISING.] [O. Fr. despiz, p. p. of despire, to despise, Lat. despicere, to look down upon, to despise, from de and spicere, specere, to look.] 1. To look down upon with contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion of. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. i. 7. Let not your ears despise my tongue forever. Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound That ever yet they heard. Shak. 2. To look upon; to contemplate. [Obs.] Thy God requireth of thee here the fulfilling of all his precepts, if thou despisest to live with him forever. Bacon. Syn.—To contemn; scorn; disdain; slight; undervalue. See CONTEMN.