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.—