despise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb look down on with disdain
    scorn; disdain; contemn.
    • He despises the people he has to work for
    • The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately

WordNet

De*spise" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Despicable, Despite.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Despised ; present participle & verbal noun Despising
Definitions
  1. To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of.
    Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. i. 7.
    Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
    Syn. -- To contemn; scorn; disdain; slight; undervalue. See Contemn.

Webster 1913