Contempt

Contempt
Contempt Con*tempt" (k[o^]n*t[e^]mt"; 215), n. [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See {Contemn}.] 1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. [1913 Webster]

Criminal contempt of public feeling. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. [1913 Webster]

Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. An act or expression denoting contempt. [1913 Webster]

Little insults and contempts. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]

The contempt and anger of his lip. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority. [1913 Webster]

Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn: Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • contempt — con·tempt /kən tempt/ n 1: willful disobedience or open disrespect of the orders, authority, or dignity of a court or judge acting in a judicial capacity by disruptive language or conduct or by failure to obey the court s orders; also: the… …   Law dictionary

  • contempt — ► NOUN 1) the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration. 2) (also contempt of court) the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law. ● beneath contempt Cf. ↑beneath contempt ● hold in contempt… …   English terms dictionary

  • contempt — late 14c., from L. contemptus scorn, from pp. of contemnere to scorn, despise, from com , intensive prefix (see COM (Cf. com )), + *temnere to slight, scorn, of uncertain origin. Phrase contempt of court is attested from 19c., though the idea is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • contempt — [n1] disdain, disrespect antipathy, audacity, aversion, condescension, contumely, defiance, derision, despisal, despisement, despite, disesteem, disregard, distaste, hatred, indignity, malice, mockery, neglect, recalcitrance, repugnance, ridicule …   New thesaurus

  • contempt — [kən tempt′] n. [OFr < L contemptus, scorn, pp. of contemnere: see CONTEMN] 1. the feeling or attitude of one who looks down on somebody or something as being low, mean, or unworthy; scorn 2. the condition of being despised or scorned 3. the… …   English World dictionary

  • contempt — despite, disdain, scorn (see under DESPISE vb) Analogous words: abhorrence, detestation, loathing, hatred, hate (see under HATE vb): aversion, *antipathy: repugnance, distaste (see corresponding adjectives at REPUGNANT) Antonyms: respect… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • contempt — et mespris de justice, Iurisdictionis contemptus et legum ludibrium, B …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Contempt — Disdain redirects here. For other uses, see Disdain (disambiguation). For the legal term, see Contempt of court. For other uses of Contempt, see Contempt (disambiguation). Contempt is an intensely negative emotion regarding a person or group of… …   Wikipedia

  • contempt — /keuhn tempt /, n. 1. the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. 2. the state of being despised; dishonor; disgrace. 3. Law. a. willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or …   Universalium

  • contempt — noun 1 lack of respect ADJECTIVE ▪ complete, deep, great, open, outright, pure, utter, withering ▪ cold …   Collocations dictionary

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