(verb) : dē-spŭo, ĕre, and
* A., to spit out, to spit.
* Prop., Liv. 5, 40; Naev. ap. Gell. 2, 19, 6; esp. as a religious observance for averting a disease, etc.; so, act. morbos, Plin. 28, 4, 7, § 35: tenerum ignem, Claud. rapt. Pros. 2, 52; neutr., Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 27; Tib. 1, 2, 54; Plin. 10, 23, 33, § 69.— Hence
* Trop., to reject, abhor (syn.: deprecari, aspernari, spernere, etc.),Plaut. As. 1, 1, 26: preces alicujus, Catull. 50, 19: voluptates (with spernere opes),Sen. Ep. 104 fin.—With in: acre in mores,Pers. 4, 35, dub. (others: despuat, hi mores, etc.).

s. TLL