Despise Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Psychology

• Feeling this way often links to perceived threats to one’s self-esteem or values.
• Studies show that strong feelings of contempt can affect interpersonal relationships, leading to conflicts.
• This emotion can also reveal underlying insecurities—the things we despise in others can sometimes reflect our own flaws.

Pop Culture

• In literature, characters who despise others often serve as antagonists, showcasing moral conflict.
• Famous songs and movies frequently explore the theme of despising a person after a betrayal, such as in break-up anthems.
• Reality TV often highlights moments of despise as dramatic turning points in relationships between contestants.

Literature

• Classic works often depict characters who despise the institutions or social norms of their time, such as in works by Charles Dickens.
• Shakespeare’s plays often include themes of disdain, where characters express strong dislike toward others in their soliloquies.
• Literary analysis sometimes explores how despising others can reveal hidden desires or ambitions within a character.

Philosophy

• Many philosophical discussions focus on the moral implications of despising others, often linking it to concepts of virtue and ethics.
• Existentialists argue that despising others can lead to a crisis of personal authenticity when one judges others harshly.
• Utilitarian philosophers might debate whether feeling this way can ever be justified if it leads to greater happiness or good.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Latin 'despicere', meaning 'to look down upon', highlighting a sense of disdain.
• It entered the English language in the 14th century and has been used to express strong feelings of contempt.
• The prefix 'de-' suggests removal, combined with the idea of looking down on someone.

The word 'despise' originated from the Latin word 'despicere', which means 'to look down on'. Over time, the meaning evolved to convey a strong feeling of dislike or contempt towards someone or something. The usage of 'despise' can be traced back to Middle English, where it was commonly used in literature and everyday language to express disdain or hatred.

See also: despicable.

Ranked #11,841, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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