dēspectus

I. A looking down upon; hence, a view or prospect from an elevated place (repeatedly in Caes.; elsewh. rare; not in Cic.): erat ex oppido Alesia despectus in campum, Caes. B. G. 7, 79, 3: in mare, id. ib. 3, 14 fin.: sub terras, Lucr. 4, 417: qua longe pelago despectus aperto, Stat. Th. 5, 351.—In plur., concr., points of view, heights: cum ex omnibus partibus altissimas rupes despectusque haberet (oppidum), Caes. B. G. 2, 29, 3.—

II. Transf. (only dat.), a spectacle, an object of contempt: despectui me habet, Vulg. Gen. 16, 5; id. 2 Esdr. 4, 4.—

B. A despising, contempt: ludibrio et despectui esse oppositum, Auct. Her. 4, 39, 51.