Search the Dictionary

enerally in contempt; a poor poet; a poetaster. This would make them soon perceive what despicaple creatures our common rhymers and playwriters be. Milton.

An herb (Epilobium spicatum) with showy purple flowers, common in Europe and North America; -- called also great willow herb.

A dwarf; also, a mean, despicable, boorish person; -- used opprobriously. Before I buy a bargain of such runts, I'll buy a college for bears, and live among 'em. Beau. & Fl.

Mean; paltry; despicable; as, shabby treatment. "Very shabby fellows." Clarendon.

Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.

owish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic (Lavendula Spica), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.

A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.] What defence can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn Milton.

Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable. A poor man in vile raiment. James ii. 2. The craft either of fishing, which was Peter's, or of making tents, which was Paul's, were [was] more vile than the science of physic. Ridley. The inhabitants account gold but as a vile thing. Abp. Abbot.

ation of the zodiac, now occupying chiefly the sign Libra, and containing the bright star Spica.

A perennial herb (Epilobium spicatum) with narrow willowlike leaves and showy rose-purple flowers. The name is sometimes made to include other species of the same genus. Spiked willow-herb, a perennial herb (Lythrum Salicaria) with willowy leaves and spiked purplish flowers.

A grass used for making ropes or for plaiting, esp. Agrostis Spica-ventis. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Shelley.

One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.

Hatefully contemptible; despicable; wicked. [Obs.] "Wretched ungratefulness." Sir P. Sidney. Nero reigned after this Claudius, of all men wretchedest, ready to all manner [of] vices. Capgrave.

In a wretched manner; miserably; despicable.

A wretched object; anything despicably. [Obs.] Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer.