(v. n.P. a.) : dē-spĭcĭo, exi, ectum, 3 (
* Inf. perf. despexe, Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 72), v. n. and a.
* To look down upon any thing (for syn. cf.: contemno, sperno, aspernor).
* Lit. (mestly poet.).
* To look away, not to regard, not to attend: simul atque ille despexerit,Cic. Rosc. Am. 8, 22.— Hence, P. a., dēspectus, a, um, contemptible, despicable: natura ejus,Tac. A. 13, 47: Euphrates, ingens modo, inde tenuis rivus, despectus emoritur, Mela, 3, 8, 5.—Comp.: improbos despectiores facere, Boëth. Cons. Phil. 3, pros. 4, p. 47 Obbar.
* Trop. as v. act., to look down upon, to despise, disdain (class. and very freq. —syn.: contemnere, spernere): ut omnes despiciat, ut hominem prae se neminem putet,Cic. Rosc. Am. 46 fin.; cf. id. Fin. 3, 18 fin.; id. Rep. 1, 17: divitias (with contemnere honores),id. Lael. 23: suos,Caes. B. C. 3, 59, 3; ipsos,id. B. G. 1, 13, 5: legionem propter paucitatem,id. ib. 3, 2, 3; cf. copias,id. B. C. 3, 23; 87: paucitatem militum,id. ib. 3, 111; id. B. G. 6, 39 fin.: ullum laborem aut munus,to disdain, decline, shun,id. B. C. 3, 8 fin. et saep.: dum despicis omnes,Verg. E. 8, 32; Ov. M. 9, 438 et saep.—In part. perf.: homines despecti et contempti,Cic. Sest. 40, 87; cf.: huic despecto saluti fuit,Nep. Thras. 2, 2 (corresp. with contemptus and contemnentibus).—Partic. with the gen.: despiciens sui,Cic. de Or. 2, 89 extr.; and poet.: despectus taedae,Sil. 8, 54.—*

s. TLL