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despicio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word despicio

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (speciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [deːsˈpɪ.ki.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [desˈpiː.t͡ʃi.o][1]

Forms

dēspiciō (present infinitive dēspicere, perfect active dēspexī, supine dēspectum); third (-iō variant) conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- (“down”) and speciō “to look at”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, of looking down.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to look down on, as Plautus' character looking down through the skylight and Cicero's image of looking down on peoples and cities from Pacuvius' chariot, also of a place to command a view over, and to look down, relax one's attention.[2][5][6] Figuratively it meant to despise, disdain, look down on, as in Cicero, and to show contempt by gesture.[2] Döderlein says one dēspicit what is beneath oneself, while one contemns what seems great and one spurns what should be rejected.[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to neglect, disdain, hate.[8] Through Old French despire it is the source of English despise about 1300, and English despite comes from its participle dēspectus “contempt”.[3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of looking down.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the perfect dēspexe.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of despising.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English despise is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To look down (on).[2]
  2. (of a place) To command a view over.[2]
  3. To despise, disdain.[2]
  4. To show contempt for.[2]

Word family

  • dēspectiō
  • despector
  • despectrix
  • dēspectus
  • despica
  • dēspicientia
  • indespectus
  • dēspectō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Despicio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/despicio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·