contemn
/kənˈtɛm
/verb [with object] archaic
Treat or regard with contempt: it lay in Deronda’s nature usually to contemn the feeble...
- And viciously contemning the Church more often than not entails a disdainful sidelong glance at the benighted faithful who persist in allegiance to her.
- While it may be that a person's contemning an order made in the main action would be strong evidence of deliberate frustration, it does not automatically follow that it is.
- When he balks, she reminds him that ‘No Lover should his Mistriss Pray'rs withstand: / Yet you contemn my absolute Command ’.
Synonyms
despise, scorn, treat with contempt, feel contempt for, look down on, disdain, slight, undervalue, disregard, deride, scoff/jeer at, mock, revile, spurn
Derivatives
contemner
- As ye deal with my contemners, So with you my grace shall deal
- The judgment has also not found any motive on the part of the contemners to threaten the Judges.
- Judges are enjoined to extend to an alleged contemner the same rights accorded to an accused.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin contemnere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + temnere 'despise'.