A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Desert], sb. merit, C2.—AF. and OF. deserte, see Ducange (s.v. deservire).

[ Deserven], v. to merit, MD; disserued, pp., well served, W.—AF. deservir; Late Lat. deservire.

[ Desi], adj. foolish, MD; see [Dusi].

[ Despeir], sb. despair, MD.—AF. despeir.

[ Despeiren], v. to despair, MD; despeired, pp., C2.—OF. desperer, Lat. desperare.

[ Desperate], adj. outrageous, S3.—Lat. desperatus.

[ Despisabil], adj. despicable, H; dispisable, W2.

[ Despit], sb. contempt, injury, S2, C3; despyt, C2; despite, WW; dispit, W.—AF. despit; Lat. despectum (acc.).

[ De-spiteful], adj. full of contempt, WW.

[ Despitous], adj. ignominious, MD, C; dispitous, contemptuous, S3; despitus, H.