contempt
[ kuh n-tempt ]
/ kənˈtɛmpt /
noun
the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.
the state of being despised; dishonor; disgrace.
Law.
- willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court (contempt of court) or legislative body.
- an act showing such disrespect.
Origin of contempt
1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin
contemptus a slighting, equivalent to
contemn(ere) to despise, scorn (see
contemn) +
-tus suffix of verb action (with loss of
n and intrusive
p)
synonym study for contempt
1.
contempt ,
disdain ,
scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and aversion toward what seems base, mean, or worthless.
contempt is disapproval tinged with disgust:
to feel contempt for a weakling .
disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern:
a disdain for crooked dealing .
scorn denotes open or undisguised contempt often combined with derision:
He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.
OTHER WORDS FROM contempt
self-con·tempt, nounWords nearby contempt
Example sentences from the Web for contempt
British Dictionary definitions for contempt
contempt
/ (kənˈtɛmpt) /
noun
the attitude or feeling of a person towards a person or thing that he considers worthless or despicable; scorn
the state of being scorned; disgrace (esp in the phrase hold in contempt)
wilful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law or legislative body
contempt of court
Word Origin for contempt
C14: from Latin
contemptus a despising, from
contemnere to
contemn
Idioms and Phrases with contempt
contempt
see familiarity breeds contempt.