English Explanatory Dictionary

contempt

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
  2. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
  3. Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
  4. Ellipsis of contempt factor.

Pronunciation

/kənˈtɛmpt/ en-us-contempt.ogg

Word forms

contempt contempts cōtempt cõtempt

Etymology

From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemnō (“to scorn, despise”), from com- + temnō (“to despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

Synonyms

contempt despect despiciency despisal despisement disdain scorn

Antonyms

honor respect reverence sympathy veneration

Related words

contemn contemnor despise ridicule cheeky bah

Derived words

beneath contempt contemptible contemptive contempt of Congress contempt of cop contempt of court contempt of Parliament contempt trap contemptuous familiarity breeds contempt hold in contempt in contempt self-contempt
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