despectus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [deːsˈpɛk.tʊs], [deːsˈpɛk.tuːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [desˈpɛk.tus], [desˈpɛk.tus]^[1]

Forms

dēspectus m (genitive dēspectūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

The adjective is the participle of dēspiciō “to look down on, despise”, and the noun is from the same verb with the suffix -tus.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for the noun is from Lucretius, “a view from a height”.^[2] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it meant a view from a height, as in Lucretius and repeatedly in Caesar, who says that from the town there was a view down onto the plain, and in Apuleius contempt, scorn.^[2][4][5] As an adjective it meant despised, despicable, insignificant, as in Tacitus.^[2][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant contempt of court, refusal to obey an order.^[6] Bede and other British Medieval Latin writers used it for contempt and insult.^[7] Through Old French despit it gave English despite about 1300, “contemptuous defiance”, and it survives in Italian dispetto and Spanish despecho.^[8][1]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a view.^[2][3]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a view onto a plain.^[5][3]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of contempt.^[2][3]
• c. 1300 – English despite is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A view from a height.^[2]
2. Contempt, scorn.^[2]

Adjective

1. Despised, despicable.^[2]

Related words

• dēspiciō
• English despite

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com